About Glow Up Your Creative Practice  

 

Glow Up Your Creative Practice offers LGBTQ+ freelance theatre creatives in Greater Manchester the opportunity to 'glow up' an essential part of their creative practice across a paid 5-day self-directed residency.

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This could be building a new website, developing a 5-year business plan, spending time researching and consulting on a potential new project... or something else you feel is essential to unlock your next career goals.

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Successful applicants will receive 5 days payment, 3 days mentorship and up to £250 to cover essential resources and expenses.

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What activity is eligible?

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Glow Up Your Creative Practice is NOT about developing a creative product (e.g. a new show) but offers space, time and resource to developing your creative business offer. It could be one, or a combination of the following things:

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• Teaching yourself to build and maintain a website or online portfolio (or update an existing one)

• Spending time learning more about developing and maintaining your social media

• Developing a ‘brand’ identity for your creative practice

• Writing an artist statement, manifesto, vision and values, strategic objectives/goals or artistic policy for your work or company

• Redesigning or creating new content for your existing website (e.g. new video content)

• Exploring ways to expand your practice (e.g. new ways to monetise your skills)

• R and D or planning a new creative project (e.g. a community outreach project)

• Developing your understanding of arts funding and creating a fundraising strategy

• Creating a business plan

• Developing and strengthening your networks or partnerships

• Attending training in a specific skill (e.g. fundraising, leadership, finance)

• Researching your place in the arts industry (e.g. meeting local venues, programmers and producers to understand more about their programmes and how you can make work that appeals to them/promote your work to them)

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What's included in the residency?

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Successful Applicants will receive:

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Fee: £750 (5 x day @ £150)

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You can work 5 days in a row or spread them across the month of October. You’ll receive support from Dibby but this work will mostly be self-directed.

 

Mentorship: Up to 3 days mentorship with a suitable professional mentor

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We will work with successful applicants to find a suitable professional mentor and decide the best way for you to work together.

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Resources: Up £250

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You can claim up to £250 to cover expenses relating to your project such as:

 

• Website subscription fees

• Graphic design

• Travel and accommodation for research trips or meetings

• Space hire

• Training

• Printing and admin costs

• New kit or equipment* (e.g. mic or lighting for digital content)

• Contribution to new tech (hardware or software)*

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Your claims must relate to your Glow Up Your Creative Practice project (e.g. graphic design for new social media content). For amounts over £50 we will require proof of purchase.

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*If you have made a purchase of new equipment or tech in the past 6 months, we will accept a claim for this as part of your GUYCP as long as it is necessary to complete your project (proof of purchase required).

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How we will choose the successful applicants

 

You'll need to complete a short application demonstrating how the programme will benefit your career. We’ll choose three applicants that we feel have the most urgent need and who we know we can match well with a mentor. 

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We will provide brief feedback on unsuccessful applications on request.