Brief for Reviewer Scheme
Background
The North East Artist Development Network is led by a small group of organisations committed to support artists to develop their work. It grew out of the NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues Creative Programmers group coming together with the North East Venues group to form an independent network.
The Network has recently secured funding to support activity and so now moves into a new delivery phase.
Members
The following venues are members of the Network:
Alnwick Playhouse
ARC, Stockton
Arts Centre Washington
Customs House, South Shields
Dance City, Newcastle
Gala Theatre, Durham
Gateshead Arts Development
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
Live Theatre
Middlesbrough Theatre
Northern Stage, Newcastle
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
Seaton Delaval Arts Centre
The Maltings, Berwick
The Witham, Barnard Castle
Review scheme
Many artists and companies struggle to get their work reviewed by the mainstream press and media. The Network’s review scheme is intended to provide an alternative, to offer artists and companies the opportunity to be reviewed by someone passionate about new work.
All reviews will appear on a dedicated North East Reviews website. Whilst reviews commissioned by the scheme are unlikely to appear in the mainstream press and media, member venues are committed to using them on their own websites and circulating via social media.
We are looking for up to 10 people who are passionate about new performance work – theatre, dance or spoken word – who regularly attend work, have a critical appreciation and can communicate their thoughts effectively in writing.
Each reviewer will be offered the opportunity to review three shows over the 12 month period. Opportunities to review will be circulated by email and allocated on a first come, first served basis, up to three per reviewer.
Shows will take place at venues across the North East, and we will seek to achieve a geographical spread across the 12 month period.
Reviewers will be expected to make their own travel arrangements, but will receive a free ticket and a contribution of £75 towards their time and expenses on submission of each review.
Reviews (no less than 400 words and no more than 600) must be completed and sent to ARC within seven days of the show.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying, please send us a statement (no more than 2 x A4 pages) including the following:
• Your contact details including postal and email address
• Your review of a show you have seen recently (no more than 500 words)
• A list of relevant shows (ie new performance work) you have attended in the last six months
• A list of which member venues you have previously visited
• A short statement indicating why you would like to be a reviewer, and what skills and experience you can bring to the role
Please send your statements to [email protected] by 10am on Mon 11 Aug 2014.