COSI & SCRATCH

Author: Pontio and Craidd

Pontio and Craidd are looking for new work from four local artists! This is a paid opportunity to develop new work from artists creating live work (theatre, dance, circus, comedy, cabaret etc). This is an opportunity for artists at any stage of their careers.

More information and how to apply here: https://shorturl.at/e3mKA

Closing Date: 17.08.2025

Do you have a new seed of an idea that you’ve been itching to scratch? Would you like some time to work on it and get it in front of an audience? Pontio is excited to offer a paid opportunity to support 4 artists working in performance to develop and test some early ideas. The work can be in any performance discipline so long as it is live. E.g. Theatre, Dance, Circus, Comedy, Cabaret, Musical Theare etc. Cross-discipline art forms are also welcome.

Your time spent on a new idea will culminate in a Scratch performance at Pontio on Wednesday, 29th October with a paying audience. Tickets will be £5.

We’re looking for artists from North West Wales or with strong ties to this area to apply. We want to cultivate, nurture and encourage artists, theatre makers, writers, movers and performers locally.

We welcome applications from artists at any stage of their career.

What to expect:

We have offered a wage for this project as well as one days rehearsal space in the week leading up to the performance. You will have nine weeks to work on something from the date of being informed successful to the performance date. Each piece should be 15 minutes or less. After each performance there will be time for the audience to feedback about the piece just viewed. We will then arrange with you how you would like to receive this feedback.

What we can offer:

£600 – Project Fee – How you spend this is up to you. If you wish to include more artists you can, but this fee is the maximum we can offer per lead artist / project.

(If you are concerned that this fee may affect any disability or other benefits you receive, please let us know. We are happy to discuss alternative arrangements to ensure the application process remains accessible to all. Please don’t let the fee discourage you from applying)

• 1 Day’s rehearsal space in Pontio

• Professional images of your performance

• Audience and feedback

• Complimentary tickets for the Scratch Night

Equality and Diversity:

Pontio, working in partnership with Craidd are committed to the representation of Deaf, Disabled and Neurodiverse artists.

To reduce systemic barriers to professional opportunities and to help achieve a plurality of voices and perspectives, the following commissions will be reserved for artists with the following lived experience or identities:

• At least one commission will be awarded to a Deaf, Disabled or Neurodiverse artist

• At least one commission will be awarded to an artist creating work in Welsh or Bilingually

Note: when we say at least one, this is not exclusive. All four may be both of the above criteria. We state at least one to ensure representation.

We also strongly encourage artists who identify as being from lower socio-economic backgrounds to apply. Artists that may have had barriers to accessing the industry due to lack of privilege. (Privilege can come in the form of Wealth, Property or Networks.)

Application:

You can apply in writing, video or audio formats. Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can deliver a short presentation of your idea in person on Thursday 14 August to Nikki Hill (Agent for Change). It should be no longer than 15 mins long. This presentation can take any form. It will be recorded to present to the full panel along with the rest of the applications.

Dates:

• Application Deadline (Written, Video or Audio): Sunday 17 August at Midnight

• Presentation Application (in person): Thursday 14 August

• Successful Candiates Informed: Friday 22 August

• One day in Studio during week of: 25 – 28 October

• Tech day and Performance: Wednesday 29 October

• Feedback session and aftercare (4 hours): Tuesday 4 November, 11am - 3pm

(An extra fee of £80 will be paid for this session)

Accessibility:

A separate Access budget is available. Both for you as an artist and for the performance of the work itself. This could be for BSL interpreters, Audio description, Support workers, or any other Access requirements you have in the creation of and performance of the work.

Acknowledgement of Freelancers:

At Pontio we have pledged to the ‘Nothing for Nothing’ campaign. This puts freelancers into focus and acknowledges the amount of work and hours that freelancers within the industry have to put towards projects without being paid. Writing applications is one aspect of this workload that puts freelancers at a financial disadvantage. To this end, although we sadly don’t have the funds to pay artists for their applications, we have tried to make the application process as simple as possible. Also, as a token to acknowledge the work done, we’d like to offer a free cinema ticket to a film of choice for every applicant.

Questions:

If you have any questions or queries, please contact Nikki at: Nikki.hill@craidd.cymru