21 days to go

Today we launched the TRI mentoring scheme – funded by Arts Council England aimed at artists in the southwest. The project is managed by Lois Taylor, highly experienced former Director of Attik Dance. It has an impressive roster of mentors, who will work with those taking part in the scheme to identify a professional development programme that meets their needs, whether that’s studio time with a critical eye, business advice or simply a sounding board for the ‘where do I go next with my work’ process-led enquiry.
The scheme has been introduced after lengthy discussion with the Dance Partners – the 13 agencies in the south west that make up the Dance South West network. These agencies will offer support to artists taking part in the scheme, offering space for meetings, advice and regular contact as the programme unfolds.
We had an interesting discussion in the office about who we have in mind we launch such schemes: how broad is our definition of a southwest artist? I think that, given the range of work that people are currently producing, we should be open to a wide range of genres and practice – as long as applicants can meet the criteria.
As well as the Normandy project, Eckhard Thiemann, our Artistic Programme consultant has also brokered an impressive exchange project with Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, funded by the British Council, to enable exchange of emerging choreographers between England and the southwest and India. This project is still incubating but will take place February – March 2011 and is an example of how Pavilion Dance can act as a conduit for new activity in the region and beyond.
We are also delighted that NDN – the National Dance Network is holding its next meeting at Pavilion Dance in October. This is a wonderful boost to the southwest that our colleagues from dance centres and National Dance Agencies throughout the UK want to join us for our celebrations perhaps staying to see two of our opening season performances. Such peer endorsement means a great deal to a new venture such as this.
This Friday has a feeling of the calm before the storm – we know that very soon our current working life will be packed into boxes and transported across the theatre into the new dance centre with its smell of paint, plaster and new carpet. The Lower Gardens in Bournemouth are thronged with visitors (the population doubles in the summer). A wet day with a lowering sky and some families are wandering about looking for things to do. It will be great when we can offer a summer holiday programme in the dance centre with dance, music and family fun. As well as the buckets and spades, ice-creams, balloons and bandstands, of course…

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