Written evidence submitted by ZENDEH (arts
154)
What arts organisations can do to work more closely
together in order to reduce duplication of effort and to make
economies of scale;
— The collaborative practice of ZENDEH.
— Sustained Theatre a network.
1) The work of ZENDEH as a company based
in Newcastle is at its heart about creating multi-dimensional
cross art form performance products that are intercultural in
artistic practice and resonate with diverse audiences; in essence
an acute awareness of what it means to be based in the UK with
international dialogues and ambitions.
2) ZENDEH (http://www.zendeh.com) thrives
through meaningful relationships at a varying scales and spectrums
of partnership that mutually nurture and progress the profile
of the collaboration by deepening the experiences of artists,
organizational teams and audiences alike, creating a space where
imagination takes not just the individual but the collective on
journey beyond the boundaries of socio-political assumptions and
misconceptions.
3) Although a young company launched in
Edinburgh, Scotland in 2005 ZENDEH has from the start been committed
to representing diversity in our artistic practice, on stages
and in spaces and in the welcoming of audiences—this has
been made possible through working with existing models of bi-lateral
and consortia based practice and where possible innovating these
models through modern trends and opportunities that have in turn
become strategic and sustainable.
4) Sustained Theatre is a network and a
call to action for all artists to lobby for positive change. This
is the first time we, as artists, have had a real opportunity
to take centre stage and have a voice in transforming the future
of our national theatre. A significant system of support has been
the opportunities in terms of knowledge, creativity, expertise
and courage from Sustained Theatre (http://sustainedtheatre.org.uk/).
Sustained Theatre is a space for creative connections, conversations
and collaborations that is nourished through the artists involved
by a network of regional hubs. These hubs are the life blood of
Sustained Theatre as they bring a focus and voice to the range
of active streams of interest including and ranging from Spaces,
International, Archives, Higher Education, Professional Development
and underpinning all of this is the artistic work and changes
in practice.
5) Through deepening our understanding of
scale, ambition and artistic integrity through equalities and
awareness, resources can be shared with transparency where the
individual voice is given strength through the collective. The
North is place where collaborative practice is celebrated and
this in turn means that it extends an invitation for new partners
be they individual specialists through to industry giants—this
is an opportunity for strategic strengthening through diversity.
September 2010
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