Kala Sangam launches new commission for Indian Classical artists.

We are excited to announce a new commission for work in or incorporating Indian classical performance artforms – The Kala Sangam Commission.

To mark 30 years of Kala Sangam supporting Indian classical artists in the UK, we are launching a bi-annual commission, offering artists £10,000 to develop a new piece of performance work. We want to support artists to create new work that showcases the breadth and variety of Indian classical artforms, that combines tradition with new ideas to challenge expectations and connect with audiences in new ways.

The commission is for artists/ companies working in any performance artform with its roots in Indian classical traditions, including dance, music or drama. It is open artists at any stage of their career and is intended to provide partial funding for the development of a new piece of work. We will work with the successful artists to help them apply for additional funding to support the project. We will also offer organisational and developmental support as needed.

The commission includes a minimum of 2 weeks studio time* and a guaranteed performance opportunity at our venue in autumn 2025 as part of our UK City of Culture programme.

Alex Croft, Creative Director of Kala Sangam said, ‘As we mark three decades of programming and developing Indian classical work in the UK, we are announcing our biggest ever commission. The Sangam commission is specifically designed to support the classical Indian performance sector, creating new work and helping artists to develop sustainable careers.

‘We are really excited to be able to support artists to create a completely new piece of work that showcases the beauty and power of Indian classical performance.’

Who can apply:

The Kala Sangam commission is open to all performance artists companies working in Indian classical artforms for the stage, including dance, music or theatre.

Multi artform work is welcome. Other artforms, such as contemporary dance, can be part of your idea, but it must have an Indian classical artform at its heart.

You could be at any stage of your career – this might be your first big project or have an established body of work.

Artists MUST be UK residents, aged over 18.

How to apply:

We just want to hear about your idea and the artforms it uses.

Send us no more than 2 sides of A4 or a 3 minute video explaining what your idea is, what artforms it includes and how you want to develop the piece.

Email your application to: Alex Corwin (Marketing and Programme Manager), a.corwin@kalasangam.org

If you have any questions, please email Alex.

Deadline: 12pm, Wednesday 20 December.

What happens next:

A panel made up of Kala Sangam staff and Indian classical performers, led by Kala Sangam’s founding Artistic Director Dr Geetha Upadhyaya will decide on a shortlist of applicants to invite for interviews taking place in January 2024 (These will be in person or via zoom).

The final decision will be made by the end of January 2024.

The next Sangam commission will launch in Autumn 2025.

(*due to Kala Sangam’s planning building work, this will be subject to availability in 2024)

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