Memorandum submitted by Chisenhale Dance
Space
Chisenhale Dance Space (CDS) is an artist-led
charitable organisation at the forefront of independent dance.
Over 21 years it had built a reputation nationally and internationally
for the unique way it supports research and development projects
proposed, produced and curated by practising artists.
The two seasons of projects programmed each
year offer small grants for artists to experiment and research
new, innovative dance/movement based ideas. Two years ago the
Artist Programme was increased to embrace the local community.
This new ReachOUT! programme offers local community and education
groups the opportunity to work with professional artists on dance
and movement projects in varied research contexts.
ARTIST-LED
ORGANISATION
CDS is unique in the way the organisation structure
is driven by artists. The fact that CDS is artist-led is crucial
to the organisation's identity. Every year the 80 members of CDS
meet to elect three Artist Associates, to drive the artistic vision
of the space. The main roles of the Artist Associates are to:
— Guide and advise the dance artists
involved in each project at CDS during their development and creative
process.
— Manage advisory sessions for artists
giving help on writing their proposals.
— Chairing any sharings or discussions
of the projects.
— Offering guidance and feedback at
the end of each research period.
— Advocate for CDS by participating
in local, national and international event and conferences.
THE ARTISTS
PROGRAMME
The Artists Programme consists of two seasons
a year of movement and dance research projects selected by elected
freelance artists.
In the last six years the Artists Programme
has supported:
— Dance and movement research projects.
— Professional development workshops,
classes and courses.
— Participatory contact improvisation
sessions for all levels of ability.
— Site-specific performance and installation
projects.
— Interdisciplinary and cross art form
projects.
— Community and education projects.
— Debut projects by recent graduates.
— Projects that explore and experiment
with traditional dance forms.
— National and international conferences.
— Programmes bringing together national
and international artists.
— Partnerships with regional and national
organisations.
MAIN CONSTITUENTS
Chisenhale Dance Space's main users and supporters
are:
— Independent dance and movement artists.
— The local community of Bow and Tower
Hamlets.
— Students and recent graduates of
the arts.
— Established dance companies and artists.
Chisenhale Dance Space hires an average 3,000
hours of space per year to:
— Independent dance and movement artists.
— Funded and unfunded dance and theatre
companies.
— Local and community groups and classes.
— Film and television companies.
— Youth and children's creative dance
classes.
MANAGEMENT
The management model of Chisenhale Dance Space
currently consists of:
— A volunteer Board of four Directors.
— Three Artist Associates elected annually
from the membership who mentor the project artists and guide the
long-term vision of the space.
— Three Selection Panel freelance artists,
also elected annually to curate the two seasons of the Artists
Programme.
— An Administrative Team consisting
of a General Manager, Programme Manager, Community and Education
Officer, Finance Officer, plus a pool of casual staff and teachers
who are all practising artists.
FUNDING
Chisenhale Dance Space receives annual revenue
funding from ACE and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Project
funding is also raised to support the Community and Education
department and other individual projects. Most other income is
earned through space and equipment hire and children's creative
dance classes.
The regular funding from ACE has greatly assisted
with the development of the organisation. However, is has been
difficult to apply for further funds from ACE for additional projects
that fall outside the usual running of the space, such as the
London International Summer School (LISS). In the previous four
years LISS has been supported by London Arts Strategic Initiatives
for Dance at ACE. However, in light of the Arts Council's restructure
this fund is no longer available making it difficult to fit the
LISS project into the new priorities of ACE when re-applying for
further funds in its fifth year.
CROSS-ART
COLLABORATION
CDS encourages collaborative projects from artists
working with a number of different art forms. CDS is keen to build
partnerships with other art organisations working in a variety
of creative fields in other artistic disciplines. These collaborations
enrich the programme of projects supported at the space.
REGULAR CLASSES
FOR CHILDREN
Chisenhale Dance Space makes a particular effort
to involve young people from the local community in the life of
the space and has been successfully running children's creative
dance classes for over 12 years. These extremely popular classes
attract 80 children to weekly dance classes. Over 95% of participants
are from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
REACHOUT!
The ReachOUT! programme at CDS offers small
grants for dance and movement projects working and involving local
people. It was started in 2002 as a direct response to demand
from artists to research their practice in community and educational
contexts. The ReachOUT! programme also satisfies the organisation's
desire to make its work more accessible to the local community
and build partnerships with other organisations. ReachOUT! projects
are always new work for both the artists and the participants
involved.
The aims of our ReachOUT! programme are:
— To nurture the creativity of individuals
and groups in our community, and artists.
— To develop a consistent and sustainable
programme of training for young people.
— To provide opportunities for training
in dance and movement for people of all ages and abilities, embracing
cultural, ethnic and social diversity.
— To provide opportunities to work
in partnership with local community groups and arts organisations.
— To provide opportunities for artists
to propose and undertake projects in community and education contexts
in and around Tower Hamlets.
— To be an accessible and welcoming
resource which embraces both the dance community and our local
community.
LONDON INTERNATIONAL
SUMMER SCHOOL
Chisenhale Dance Space has created good links
with other dance organisations across London, nationally and internationally.
For the past four years, the organisation has collaborated with
Greenwich Dance Agency and Independent Dance managing the London
International Summer School (LISS) funded by Arts Council England.
Essentially LISS provides three weeks of intensive
training for experienced artists led by top quality international
dance artists in order to develop and question practice through
collaboration with artists of international repute. The project
emerged as a response to the training needs identified by the
professional dance community and embraces physical practice, rigorous
debate and complimentary performance work. As an important cornerstone
in the capital's provision of professional development activity
it has also become a key initiative within the international training
calendar.
SPACE HIRE
Chisenhale Dance Space earns 25% of its income
through hiring its two studio spaces to independent dance artists
and local community users and the spaces are used for an average
70 hours per week for rehearsals, performances, workshops and
meetings.
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