Application Guidelines are available to download in Word, PDF, and Basic English version (PDF):

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The Flying Nun is a space to embrace risk, inviting artists to explore experimental and innovative concepts and formats to push their own practice and audience experience. The program supports performances that run for approximately 1 hour including theatre, dance, movement, physical theatre, spoken word and beyond.

 

Each residency includes:

• 1 week rehearsal at East Sydney Community Arts Centre (ESCAC)
• Friday and Saturday night performances at ESCAC after rehearsal week
• $1300 stipend per project for production costs
• 70-80% of box office takings
• Brand X production equipment, front of house, and shared marketing responsibilities.

 

Additional support on application includes:

• Artist with lived experience of disability and/or diversity can apply for a 2 week rehearsal period at East Sydney Community Arts Centre (ESCAC)
• Access and diversity bursary up to $1500 per project
• Emerging artist bursary up to $500 per project 

10 - 11 residencies will be supported between October 2023 - March 2024

 Come to the Open Venue on Thursday 15th June 6-7pm to check out the ESCAC space, meet the Brand X team for a chat and ask any questions.

 

How it Works

Successful projects receive one week of rehearsal followed by a two-night season at East Sydney Community Arts Centre (ESCAC).

Rehearsal takes place 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. At the end of the week artists will present their work at 8pm on Friday and Saturday night for a standard ticket price of $25. Shows run for approximately 60 minutes.

Rehearsal week begins with a technical induction and then we hand the venue over to you. Brand X has a hands-off approach, believing the best work gets made when artists have time and space to create. Everything inside the venue for rehearsal and performance is the artist's domain. Brand X shares marketing responsibilities with the artist to sell tickets, provides access to our equipment, manages ticketing and front of house, and is there in the background if you need us.

 

About the Venue

East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (ESCAC) is located at 34-40 Burton St Darlinghurst 2010.

Facilities include:

• Mirrors with curtain cover-up
• Black-out blinds
• Sprung floor with 2mm tarkett
• Flexible staging and seating
• In house 4 x speaker PA system
• Accessible toilet with shower and baby change facility
• WiFi and kitchenette
• AV Projector with HDMI input and retractable screen
• 3x ceiling lighting bars with patch points
• T/Light Nova 24 channel lighting desk
• 10x Fresnel, 14x Profile, 6x PAR64 (inc gel holders and 6x PAR64 LED lamps
• 4/8 channel sounds mixer
• 4 channel sound mixer
• Separate storage space

ESCAC has a standard analogue system and equipment available, including:

• Static, tungsten lighting rig (as opposed to LED)
• Pre-set manual lighting desk
• Analogue audio system

Throughout rehearsal and performances artists are required to bump-out at the end of each day, moving all items to a private lockable storage area connected to the rehearsal space.

Artists are responsible for securing their own technicians and show operators. Brand X will require artists to have a technician on-board 6 weeks prior to rehearsal week.

Size:

17.3m x 9.7m (168 msq)

3.4m to 4m ceiling height

If you have any questions about the venue contact Brand X Theatre Technician Jamie Exworth [email protected]

 

What We’re Looking For

The Flying Nun is for contemporary and experimental artists developing new ideas and new approaches to performance. No idea is too out-there, too fresh or too risky to be considered.

We are looking for new projects that have had creative development, or projects which are undergoing a significant re-development.

The Flying Nun is a creative development program, but you also have to sell tickets! Therefore we are looking for Sydney-based artists who can draw on their existing audience. If you are located outside of Sydney and would like to apply, you will need to demonstrate your capacity to get an audience.

Projects are selected through an Assessment process undertaken by Brand X and a Peer Assessment Panel made up of professional performing arts industry representatives.

The selection criteria includes:

• How compelling is the artist’s practice?
• Does the calibre and experience of the artist demonstrate that they have the ability to deliver the project?
• Does the artist need this opportunity? How important is this opportunity
  for the artist and their community at this time? Can they do this project elsewhere?
• Does the artist have an existing market or audience for the realised project?
• Does the artist take risk in their work – how will it stretch artists and audiences alike?
• The diversity and ecology of artists, projects and communities represented within the overall program.

 

Access and Diversity Support

Brand X is committed to providing a safe space for diversity and accessibility for artists and audiences.

We can offer:

• Hard and soft deadlines for artists with diverse lived experience - please contact us.
• 2 week rehearsal period for selected projects with key creatives who have diverse lived experience and require extra time and space.
• Access and diversity bursary up to $1500 per project for participating artists with diverse lived experience, to cover costs associated with being involved in the project such as transport or cultural protocols.
• Access bursary up to $1000 per project to cover increased accessibility for audiences, available to projects with or without artists with diverse lived experience.

Projects must apply for the additional rehearsal time and bursary support in their application.

Venue Accessibility Information including an instructional video can be found on our website. Or come along to our Open Venue on Thursday 15th June 6 - 7pm.

Dan Graham, Access Consultant and Chair of Brand X Access Committee, is available to speak to you about the program, your application, the venue or Brand X:

• Dan will be at the Open Venue on Thursday 15th June.
• Speak to Dan privately by contacting Program Coordinator, Ian Sinclair, who will connect you with Dan via your preferred form of communication.

Ian Sinclair - Program Coordinator

Email             [email protected]

Phone            (02) 8029 9040

 

If you need help to speak or listen, contact Brand X through the National Relay Service or NRS:

Phone            1800 555 660

Website          communications.gov.au/accesshub/nrs

 

Emerging Artist Bursary

Emerging artists can apply for up to $500 per project to cover the cost of having additional support people, such as outside eyes, mentors, dramaturg or collaborators in the rehearsal room.

 

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to Sydney-based contemporary performance makers, or artists who can demonstrate they can engage Sydney audiences.

Diverse projects are strongly encouraged to be led by a person or person(s) of lived experience pertinent to the project.

Only one person can apply as the primary contact, please provide any additional key creatives in the Application Form.

Artists who are currently or previously engaged in Brand X programs are welcome to apply.

 

Key Dates

Applications Open: Friday 26 May 

Open Venue: Thursday 15 June 6 - 7pm at ESCAC

Applications Close: Midnight Tuesday 27 June

Outcome Notifications: Week ending 11 August

 

If you have any questions or access requirements please contact:

Ian Sinclair - Program Coordinator

Email             [email protected]

Phone            (02) 8029 9040

 

APPLY NOW

Image by Christina Mishell: Tra Mi Dinh, Emma Riches, Emma Harrison in (UP)Holding, Flying Nun Season 7.