Dance is a thriving and ambitious part of Scotland’s cultural life and demonstrates huge value both in the range of performances experienced and the positive role of dance as the second most popular leisure pursuit in the lives of Scotland’s public. The 2012 Dance Sector Review mapped developments in dance and highlighted the vulnerabilities. Alongside the recent Touring in Theatre and Dance review, our 10-year plan and the Arts Strategy this has informed our considerations when making Regular Funding Decisions.
Overall, this represents a strong network of organisations with the vision and capacity to develop the potential across the dance sector, strengthening the sector with more sustainable levels of investment into programmes that are in a position to provide and support the development of paid opportunities and employment to artists and new models of working which are highly innovative and embedded within the wider geography of Scotland. It is a key goal to ensure that this dance infrastructure is not confined to the central belt, and for these Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) to work more broadly in partnership across the whole of Scotland over the next three years.
We have carefully considered what exists and, where possible, how we can support better creation, production and participation, with a focus on artists living and working with people all over Scotland. This proposal retains pathways into the profession for all as well as connectivity between organisations to build a stronger dance infrastructure across Scotland.
The Regular Funding Network 2018-21 supports innovative new business models with the addition of Dance North, the first RFO in Moray working in new partnerships across the North West of Scotland, to deliver classes for the public, as well as the internationally renowned RISE Dance Festival. Bodysurf will work in partnership with Dance Base working in the East and South of Scotland, Citymoves in the North East, and The Work Room in the West of Scotland. This group of agencies will offer new models of artist support and community participation which will build resilience and more diversity of access across the dance sector.
Dance in Scotland is highly regarded for its pioneering work led by disabled artists and has built a global reputation over the past ten years. The 2018-21 network includes Scotland’s first learning disabled artist-led RFO, 21cc which offers an aspirational and internationally renowned programme of excellent and experimental artistic work.
We continue our commitment to YDance in its role as a national youth dance agency, and Indepen-dance, these organisations offer a national programme of training which is accessible to all. Overall there is participative practice across the network with work for all ages through Curious Seed and Barrowland Ballet companies.
We are proud to support Scotland’s flagship contemporary dance company, Scottish Dance Theatre in delivering an excellent and innovative artistic programme which proposes to increase opportunities for the wider professional dance sector, whilst raising the profile of Scotland internationally
Overall the RFO network supports a range of dance festivals. Alongside the RISE festival in Moray, RFOs will present DanceLive in Aberdeen, Gathered Together and Dance International Glasgow, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme at Dance Base and the showcasing work by The Work Room at Tanzmesse and CINARS, in addition to new co-programming approach with venues across Scotland. This is complemented by the cross-disciplinary programmes of Luminate Festival for Creative Ageing and Imaginate’s Edinburgh International Children's Festival, all of which are a vital source of commissioning and deep engagement with audiences and artists of other disciplines.
Tramway is a distinctive hub for contemporary visual and performing arts and is building on its focus on dance within its artist support and performance programme. Other multi art form venues also support dance in different ways.
The national support organisation for theatre and dance, The Federation of Scottish Theatre will be funded as an RFO, adding a strong cross sectoral dimension to this ambitious and future facing network.
Creative Scotland will work to deepen understanding of dance across all of our work and the strong value it offers; both as a 21st century art-form increasing in popularity, and in its role in bringing communities together to stimulate wellbeing and creativity.
Find out more about the Regular Funding Network 2018-21.
Image: YDance, Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival / Photo: YDance