New Work Co-Ordinator
Talawa is committed to supporting the development of Black emerging and established artists, and in particular we have been championing writers through our twice yearly script reading service, the annual showcase event Talawa Firsts, and through offering residencies and commissions, supported by the Orseis Trust and the John Ellerman Foundation. The Literary Department has grown in recent years, and has developed a reputation for finding some of the most exciting Black writers from across the country.
Artists tell us they need a stronger network and more opportunities to work together. In response to their needs and the concerns of the wider industry, we have created MAKE, a community of Black emerging artists, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. We believe a strong community of Black artists is the key to changing the future of the theatre landscape.
MAKE offers a national programme of activity that offers support at each stage of a Black artist’s career. There are four stages to the programme: ENGAGE – an introduction to theatre at grassroots level; GROW – support for artists to develop their craft; COLLABORATE – opportunities to play and take risks with peers, and SUSTAIN – a clear pathway to sustaining a career in theatre.
In 2018 we will be launching MAKE Online, an online community for Black artists based in the UK.