Award-winning bilingual theatre company Deafinitely Theatre which creates performances for deaf and hearing audiences is to offer twenty new bursaries.
Each award will be for £1,000 and will be targeted to support the practice development of a deaf or hard of hearing freelance theatre practitioner or performer at any stage of their career.
The company's artistic director Paula Garfield said, “I know how incredibly difficult this period has been for all self-employed theatre makers, especially those who have upsettingly fallen through the funding gaps. Many freelance deaf and hard of hearing artists have been in touch with me about the challenges they have been facing during lockdown and my heart goes out to them.
"Thanks to the fantastic Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund, Deafinitely Theatre is so pleased to be able to offer financial assistance to support 20 deaf freelance theatre practitioners and performers with paid time to develop their creative practice at the start of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an incredibly difficult period for the arts and we are determined to come out of it with brilliant work for audiences across the country to return to, with deaf and disabled theatre makers front and centre.”
Applications will close at 12 noon on 11 January. Those aged 18 and over, UK resident and self-employed may apply via the online application form where further information is available.