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Fringe ASN

10 February 2025 School
We want to enable more young people to experience the festival, inspiring the next generation of Fringe audiences and performers and shining a light on careers in the arts.

Applications are open for Fringe ASN 2025

We are looking for an artist and an assistant to work with an ASN school in Edinburgh. Applications close on Wednesday 19 March 2025.

Background

We offer funding for participants to run creative projects outwith Fringe time, engaging with local Edinburgh children and young people from community groups and additional support needs (ASN) schools.

We have specifically chosen to work with ASN schools on this project as a direct result of feedback from ASN teachers who find the Fringe challenging to navigate with a group of their students and are looking for ways to remove some of the barriers. With this in mind, we arrange for Fringe work to be taken to them so that they can experience performances and workshops in their own environments. This is a great opportunity for artists to engage with wider demographics, develop their practice and engage meaningfully with local communities in Edinburgh. Artists are supported by a mentor, encouraging artist development and networking.

 

'The learners engaged well with the activities from the very start, and the whole theme soon captured everyone’s imaginations. I feel that the real strength of the session lay in the involvement of the participants at every stage; their creative ideas were taken seriously and skilfully guided into creating a performance at the end of the class. The young people (and staff!) learned some simple but effective techniques for mime. The whole experience was entertaining, thought-provoking and unforgettable.'

(Martin O’Gorman, Drama and English teacher at Woodlands College, Edinburgh)

'The artist was creative, well-prepared and adaptive during each performance, which created an inclusive and enjoyable performance experience for all. The visual set of the magic show was brilliant and it set the scene for a wonderful performance. The staff team who also enjoyed the performances highlighted how engaged the young people were.'

Teacher, Woodlands School

Fringe ASN 2025 – artist call-out

Fringe artists: We are looking for an artist and an assistant to work with an ASN school in Edinburgh.

The Fringe Society is looking for a Scotland-based artist and an artist assistant to deliver a co-creative project with an ASN (Additional Support Needs) school in Edinburgh, as a part of our Fringe ASN project.

If you would like 
•    any aspect of this call-out in another format 
•    support with an application 
please get in touch via [email protected] or 0131 226 0033.

You can also read the information on this page in .pdf or Word doc formats:

About the project

To enable more people to engage with the festival and encourage the next generation of Fringe performers and audiences, we are offering the opportunity for a Fringe artist to run a creative project with local children and young people from an Edinburgh ASN school. This is a great opportunity to engage with wider demographics, develop your practice and engage meaningfully with a local community in Edinburgh. 

About the roles

Both roles are open to artists and facilitators who wish to develop their experience in working with children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

  • For the lead artist role, a basic level of experience in ASN settings is required, but you will be supported by an experienced mentor to learn more about working in these environments.
  • For the artist assistant, there is no requirement of experience in ASN settings, and it is a great opportunity to gain some hands-on experience.

If you are chosen as the lead artist, you will be expected to do the following:

  • Attend an introductory session with a mentor.
  • Meet with a member of staff from the school to get a sense of the needs and levels of their children or young people and plan your session delivery based on these needs.
  • Attend an initial first session at school (full / half day) to connect with the group and get to know their school environment. This session will focus on the importance of being present in the moment and being part of the pupil group, getting to know children, young people and staff. No planning or facilitating will be involved, just being present and part of the group for the day.
  • Prepare and deliver 12 in-person sessions (between 60 and 90 minutes per session) per week for 12 weeks between April and June 2025; this will need to be agreed with the school to ensure it suits their needs and schedule as well as yours.
  • The project should culminate in a final performance or sharing at the school, to an invited audience (to be determined by the school community, including pupils, staff and you). The details of how the young people will participate in this performance should be decided between you, pupils and school staff during planning.
  • Content, themes and ideas used in the creative process should stem from those of the young people and should be as co-creative and collaborative as possible, while also existing within a structured format to be developed after and throughout meeting the pupils involved and using staff feedback.
  • Attend three one-to-one support sessions with your mentor (a combination of online and in-person sessions).
  • Attend a reflection and feedback session with your mentor, the school and Fringe staff and contribute to the project evaluation and documentation.
  • You will be supported by an assistant in each session as well as staff from the school who know the students well. We will also be in touch to discuss any access requirements you might have; we’re aiming to make this process as flexible as possible to ensure you can deliver your project in the way that works best for everyone involved.
  • Attend one online event and one in-person event, run by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and facilitated by the project mentor, to present on the project and contribute to discussion (exact dates and details for this TBC).

Lead artist specification

The successful applicant will:

  • have a basic level of experience working in ASN settings or in working with children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities
  • live within travelling distance of Edinburgh (the artist fee is inclusive of travel expenses)
  • have experience and interest in performing arts for young audiences and working with children as artist collaborators
  • be willing to learn, take on feedback and receive support from an experienced mentor
  • be flexible, compassionate and thoughtful in planning and delivery when it comes to the access and sensory needs of the group
  • be willing and able to work with the scheduling and needs of the school, teachers and support staff
  • be willing and able to strike a balance between flexibility in co-creative work with young people and a structured, scaffolded approach to delivery
  • possess an up-to-date PVG background check or be willing to apply for one (the Fringe Society can cover costs of this)
  • have previously been an artist or participant of a Fringe show, in some capacity. 

If you are chosen as the artist assistant, you will be expected to:

  • support the lead artist in each session, in person, at the school
  • be on-hand to help with technical equipment and props
  • attend the final reflection and feedback session with the lead artist, mentor, school staff and Fringe staff.

Artist assistant specification

The successful applicant will:

  • live within travelling distance of Edinburgh (the artist assistant fee is inclusive of travel expenses)
  • have experience and interest in performing arts for young audiences and working with children as artist collaborators
  • be willing and able to work with the scheduling and needs of the school, teachers and support staff
  • possess an up-to-date PVG background check or be willing to apply for one (the Fringe Society can cover costs of this)
  • have previously been an artist or participant of a Fringe show in some capacity.

About the school

This year we are working with Oaklands School, situated in the north-west of Edinburgh.

‘Oaklands School provides a significantly adapted and supportive learning environment for learners with profound and multiple learning disabilities and often associated health care needs, aged 3 to 18 years old. Our students have a range of complex disabilities. Many, but not all, of our students use wheelchairs and the majority are non-verbal.

‘At Oaklands we benefit from on-site multi-disciplinary therapy and medical teams in addition to our education staff. This helps our learners achieve their full potential.’

Key information for the lead artist

This project will include:

  • one session per week for 12 weeks between April and June 2025. Please bear in mind that schools will only be available during school hours; exact times and dates will be decided between artist and school.
  • an intro session and reflection session with project mentor.
  • three one-to-one support sessions with a mentor.
  • one online event and one in-person event, run by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and facilitated by the project mentor. The artist should present on the project and contribute to discussion (exact dates and details for this TBC).

Total fee of £3,375 (inclusive of all delivery, planning and expenses).

Additional support is available for access requirements.

You will be provided with a separate budget for production costs for the final performance (exact amount TBC).

Key information for the assistant artist

This project will include:

  • one session per week for 12 weeks between April and June 2025. Please bear in mind that schools will only be available during school hours; exact times and dates will be decided between artist and school.
  • a reflection session with the lead artist, project mentor, school staff and Fringe Society staff.

Total fee of £1,200 (inclusive of all delivery, planning and expenses). Additional support is available for access requirements.

Application process and key dates

The application deadline for both roles is 09:00 GMT on Wednesday 19 March 2025.

After the application deadline, we will consult with Oaklands School to select candidates based on what works best for their learners.

We will let all applicants know the outcome by Tuesday 25 March 2025. All applicants will be asked if they would like written feedback.

The dates of the project delivery will be agreed with the selected artist, mentor and school. The project will be delivered between April and June 2025 with the final performance in June 2025.

How to apply for either role:

Apply in writing

If you would like to apply for either the lead artist or artist assistant role in writing, please send us a cover letter (one or two pages of A4). In your cover letter, please tell us:

  • a bit about yourself
  • where you are based in Scotland
  • your relevant experience and / or your artistic practice
  • why you are interested in the role.

Apply by film, voice recording or BSL

If you would like to apply for either the lead artist or artist assistant role by film, send us a link to your video or voice recording (no more than three minutes). If you use BSL, you can record your film in BSL. In your film, please tell us:

  • about yourself
  • your relevant experience and / or your artistic practice
  • why you are interested in the role
  • where you are based.

Contact information

Please include the following information in all applications:

  • your name
  • the number of Fringes in which you have participated creatively
  • the name and year of your most recent Fringe show
  • main contact phone number
  • main contact email address
  • your location.

Submitting your application

Please email your cover letter or video link to [email protected].

Use Fringe ASN 2025 application as the email subject line.  

Please do not send us any CVs or any other additional documents.

The application deadline is 09:00 GMT on Wednesday 19 March 2025.

We are particularly interested in hearing from artists who identify as under-represented in the arts, or are neurodivergent, D/deaf or disabled.

Additional budgets are available if you have any access requirements for the application process, meetings and / or for the project itself including providing BSL translators. You can contact us at [email protected] if you would like to set that up.