In Good Company, an artists’ development programme for the East Midlands, has been given Arts Council England funding which will enable it to continue until 2021.
The project will expand with masterclasses and workshops, three commissioning funds for mid-career artists, two commissioning funds for young people and diversity, new writing development opportunities, platforms to showcase new work through festivals and scratch nights and a subsidised touring programme.
In Good Company began with Derby Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre, Burton Brewhouse, Lincolnshire One Venues and the Old Library in Mansfield joining together. The consortium will now include the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton which will develop a strand of work for new writing, Nonsuch in Nottingham which will offer additional commissions for work with and for young people, Curve Leicester and Nottingham Playhouse. New Diorama in London will extend In Good Company’s reach and profile into the capital.
Throughout the three-year programme, artists will be given £146,000 through commissions, performance fees and paid scratch nights.
In Good Company’s producer Emily Coleman and creative producer Ben Anderson said, “we’re really delighted to have support from Arts Council England to continue this programme. It means that artists based in the region will have access to a continued and growing level of support unlike any other in the UK.
Derby Theatre’s artistic director and chief executive Sarah Brigham added, “what started five years ago as a good idea and a desire to develop local theatre-makers across the East Midlands has now grown into this brilliant ten-venue partnership.”