The Emerging Producers Development Programme, run by the Fringe Society, aims to support emerging UK producers to expand their professional networks and develop their learning and creative insight at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Programme will offer creative and professional development for up to 15 emerging, UK-based producers interested in using the Fringe as a platform for progressing their careers.
Who's it for?
The programme is open to UK-based independent producers:
- working across all disciplines and genres of the performing arts
- who would not qualify for Arts Industry accreditation through the Fringe Society’s Arts Industry Office.
Further information on eligibility below.
How are EPDP participants chosen?
Participants will be selected by open application as outlined below. In the spirit of the Fringe’s open-access ethos, the Fringe Society welcomes applications from all sectors of the arts community.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and intend for the programme to reflect the diversity of UK society. Places on the programme will be prioritised for producers who identify as disabled, working class and / or part of the global majority. If you are applying as a disabled, working class and / or global majority producer, please clearly state this in your application.
In addition to the open call process, we are working with select partner organisations across the UK who are best placed to identify promising emerging producers from within their networks. Please also make it clear in your application if you are applying for the Emerging Producers Development Programme on recommendation from a partner organisation (stating the organisation name).
What's included?
The programme consists of:
- a £100 ticket voucher to assist participants see a wider breadth of work at the Fringe than their own budgets would allow
- a travel / accommodation bursary of up to £250 to attend the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from within the UK
- accreditation and access to all resources provided by the Arts Industry Office (excluding the complimentary ticketing service)
- a £50-per-day stipend for the five days of the programme
- a tailored programme of workshops, discussions and events addressing the shared development needs of the participants
- invitations to
- the Emerging Producers Development Programme Welcome Reception to meet fellow participants and programme alumni
- networking events hosted in collaboration with similar programmes (Emerging Programmers, Arts Council Wales’ Seeding for the Future, CanadaHub Emerging Producers Programme, etc)
- a meeting with the Fringe Society’s Artist Development Manager or the Arts Industry and Marketplace Manager to discuss professional development opportunities at the Fringe and beyond
- “match-making” with relevant arts industry professionals attending the Fringe
- bespoke advice and help navigating the Fringe programme to find artists / shows of interest
- access to Fringe Central (our in-person participants’ hub) and its services and resources, including the Fringe Central Events Programme, an extensive programme of professional development workshops, discussions and networking events.
Access adjustments
To make the programme more accessible to applicants who have additional support needs, a fee of up to £150 per day is available to cover the cost of a Personal Assistant over the five days of the programme, plus a travel bursary for the Personal Assistant that is equal to that of the participants, should it be needed.
If you require access adjustments or support to enable your participation in this programme, please specify these in your application so we can include these in our planning.
Eligibility
Applicants should be able to demonstrate existing professional partnerships, producing credits or affiliations within their chosen field and clearly identify how this programme will further the work they are already doing and / or further develop their creative practice. This opportunity is suitable for those early in their career of producing in the performing arts.
If applying for one of the spaces reserved for disabled, working-class and / or global-majority producers, applicants should clearly state this in their application.
Essential criteria
- Applicants must be working in a professional producing capacity in the performing arts; this need not be full time.
- Applicants must be over the age of 18 (there is no upper age limit).
- Applicants must be UK-based.
- Applicants must be working independently / freelance in their producing practice. Applications will not be considered from organisations on behalf of candidates or those established in an organisational role which would make them eligible for Arts Industry accreditation.
- Applicants must be able to be in Edinburgh during the EPDP focus dates, 22 – 26 August.
- Applications will not be considered if the applicant has participated in the programme previously.
You are not eligible if:
- you are an established producer with five or more years’ experience of producing independently or within an organisation
- you are working in an established organisational role which would make you eligible for Arts Industry accreditation
- you are not working towards a producing career and have no partnerships, producing credits or affiliations within your chosen producing field.
Further guidance
- Applicants need not be presenting work at the Fringe or have done so in the past.
- Applications will be accepted from those in higher education as long as they meet the other essential criteria.
- The programme is not designed to help you bring a show to the Fringe.
Apply now
To apply, please send your CV detailing relevant experience and eligibility along with a personal statement (no more than one page) explaining why you are interested in this opportunity. You should send your application via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Emerging Producers Application” by 10:00 BST on Thursday 05 May 2022.
We welcome applicants who wish to apply in an alternative format (eg video application, voice recording, etc). Please contact [email protected] to discuss options.
If you are part of an organisation that works with emerging producers who identify as disabled, part of the global majority and / or working class and you would like to enquire about recommending an individual, please contact us at [email protected].
If you have any questions about an existing application or the programme in general, the Artist Development Service is open year-round and can be contacted on [email protected].