Medway 2012 FUSE Festival Open for Applications

The FUSE Medway Festival is a free, outdoor arts festival for the people of Medway and beyond. The festival draws on the best talent Medway has to offer and gives the area a link to the newest and most innovative arts from the rest of the UK and Europe. For one weekend in June, Medway's public spaces are transformed, creating exciting, unexpected happenings and spectacular events.

FUSE Medway Festival is part of Medway Council's Festivals, Arts, Theatres, Events and Tourism Service. It is usually supported by the National Lottery through their Grants for the Arts and will take place from 15th to 17th June, preceded by Lighting the Fuse between 11th June and 15th June.

FUSE is committed to the development of new work and to supporting local artists. It is offering three Local Arts Commissions for 2012: one commission of up to £5,000 and two commissions of up to £2,500 open to new, developing or established organisations and individuals living or working in Medway. It provides an opportunity to explore new ways of working and of developing, with as simple a criteria as possible to allow greater opportunities for creativity.  The criteria are as follows:

•    Applicants must be based in Medway.

•    Projects must take place in Medway.

•    Projects must be specifically designed for the outdoors.

•    Applications are welcomed from any art form.

•    Projects must have an element of community engagement, which can be delivered in the week prior to the main festival (11 – 15 June).

•    Projects must be accessible and innovative.

•    The work must be delivered within budget.

•    The finished performance / installation must take place between 15 – 17 June (TBC by the Festival Director).

•    Projects that link with the river theme will be given particular attention.

ELIGIBILITY

•    Applications will be considered from individual artists, creatives and cultural organisations that live or work in Medway.

•    Applicants must consider themselves to be professionals in their field.

•    Applicants must carry public liability insurance up to a value of £5 millions, which covers everyone who will be working on the project.

•    Applicants and all associated project members must hold a current CRB or agree to be CRB checked.

•    Applications cannot be considered from any organisations that have any specific religious or political persuasion.

If you want to find out more about submitting a proposal to perform at FUSE, please contact fuse@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 338 328, write to or visit Fuse Medway Festival, The Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham, Kent ME4 4SE or visit their website.Closing date for proposals is 12 noon on January 23rd.