What is ‘Let’s Chat’?

An exchange of ideas, concerns and (hopefully) solutions between four creatives which will be used to explore ways in which The Dance Studio Leed (DSL) and the individuals present can provide facilities, skills and /or connections to assist their fellow creatives and artists.

Who is it for?

Any working professional within the creative industries from dancer, singer, actor, photographer, visual artist, musician, videographer, multimedia artist, producer……

There is no age restriction, you can be at any stage of your career and from anywhere in the UK, however please note we cannot provide any travel or accommodation expenses.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we had a videographer, a choreographer, a producer, and a musician all sharing the room together?! Imagine the connections and possibilities that could arise :)

How does it work?

During one quarter (3 months) the four creatives have access to 6hrs of free studio time in exchange for contributing to a series of questions and discussions around artists and creatives’ current needs and how DSL can assist with those needs, whilst offering fellow peers their support. The free studio time is subject to availability and bookable a week in advance. It can be used in one block of 6hrs, 2 x 3hr blocks or 3 x 2hr blocks spread across the month.

The discussion would be held on a proposed date which all four creatives must be able to commit to for half a day (up to 4.5hrs including breaks) and is split into 2 sections:

Each creative would have up to 30 mins each to share their own ideas, concerns, questions relating to their own art and time in their career which they may want some peer advice/feedback (this is not a performance in process sharing unless you wish it to be).
The remaining 1hr is a discussion around DSL’s questions.

How to apply?

Complete the application form

The discussion will take place on Tuesday 28th February, 12pm - 4.30pm. You must be able to attend this date to apply.

Deadline for the Winter edition is Monday 20th February 5pm. You will be notified a few days after the deadline if you have been successful.

Rules

The artists will be selected at random for the edition applied for.
The free space cannot be used for funded rehearsals or projects but it can be used by a collective of up to 3 artists who wish to share the time (via a joint application) to plan or plot a project they are working on together which is in progress but unfunded. Please contact us if you wish to discuss further.
Attendance to the discussion is mandatory to receive the free studio space.
The same artist cannot apply individually twice but can be present as part of another collective application.

Why we are doing this.

... ‘the way to thrive is to help others thrive; the way to flourish is to help others flourish’ Cornelius Plantinga

We see this as an opportunity for creatives to let their voices be heard, a chance for them to contribute to how DSL plans its future initiatives and offerings to creatives which we hope will therefore benefit them going forward. We are an unfunded organisation and as such we cannot pay in cash for your time but your contribution is very much valued and respected and therefore the free studio time is an exchange for your knowledge, opinions and time.

We see this also as a chance for artists to share space and time with other creatives and bounce off their ideas, worries and offer support to each other. We hope the connections and discussions between the four participants will continue after the session but that is not a prerequisite for the project.

FAQ’s

I’ve received funding for my project and I would like to use the space in Let’s Chat to work on this project, am I eligible to apply for this?

Unfortunately, if you have received funding of any kind whether it’s ACE, Leeds Inspired, a commission or any other funding source, you wouldn’t be eligible to apply for the Let’s Chat project.

I have a project idea that I want to explore in the studio, would I be able to apply for Let’s Chat?

Yes, as long as you haven’t received funding for this project!

I want to invite some dancers/musicians/actors/etc. to join me in the studio, is this allowed?

As long as your proposed activity adheres to studio capacities and Covid guidelines you would be able to bring others into the studio for Let’s Chat.

What if I can’t make the discussion date?

The discussion date is compulsory to attend in order to receive the free studio space as this is the core of the exchange. In the event that you are unable to attend due to self isolation, we would make provisions for you to attend the session virtually.

What happens if my application is unsuccessful?

We will notify all applicants whether they are successful or not. If unsuccessful, you are welcome to reapply in future months.

How do you decide who is invited to Let’s Chat?

All applicants whose activity aligns with our covid and studio hire regulations will be added to a random name generator, and four will be selected. The selection process is purely by chance in an effort to be as fair as possible and to eliminate subjectivity.

Tell me more about the artist sharing part of Let’s Chat?

In addition to studio space, and the discussion session with DSL, there is also the opportunity to use the fellow participants as a sounding board. It is up to you how you use this time, you may wish to share a short excerpt, discuss an idea you have, ask for advice, or perhaps use it to network and learn about each other’s practice. We wanted to facilitate a space to support fellow artists especially during a time where meeting new people and networking has been hampered by the current pandemic. Please be aware that this may take place virtually, dependent on covid guidelines which may affect what and how you may wish to use your time.

Do I need to share what I’ve been using my studio time for in the artist sharing?

You can use your half an hour of peer discussion for whatever you wish! You don’t have to use your studio space to prepare something for the sharing, nor share what you’ve been doing in the studio. It’s purely a time and space for you to connect with the other creatives and use them as a sounding board if you desire.

Why do I need to fill out an application form?

We’ve tried to keep the application as simple as possible. We’re only asking for your contact details, how you define your creative practice, what you want to use the studio for, and how you found out about this opportunity. You don’t need to tell us in detail what you’re using the studio for: for example, two dancers playing with a new idea, an actor rehearsing a monologue etc. would be sufficient. We just need to ensure that what you are doing is suitable for the space, and covid guidelines.

Can I choose which studio I have?

We will try our best to honour your request, but please be aware that studio space is subject to availability and DSL reserves the right to amend or change bookings.

Can I reapply if I’ve already taken part in Let’s Chat?

In the effort to be fair, and inclusive, you are only able to take part in Let’s Chat once as an individual, however, if you’re also part of a collective/taking part in someone else's application then you would be able to apply again.

If we haven’t managed to answer your questions please drop us an email to info@thedancestudioleeds.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!