East Midlands touring company New Perspectives is to give 13 artists a year-long programme of support, training and mentorship.
In 2024, the company had its highest number of New Associates: 18. But in 2025, there will be only 13 so that it can focus on greater pastoral care for artists, which it has identified as a growing need since the pandemic.
Originally aimed at early-career artists, the programme has been extended to mid-career artists “to address the lack of support for freelancers at this stage in their career and to create a range of experiences that the group can benefit from as a collective”.
The 2025 artists are Stevie Cairns, Leah Chillery, Tom Heath, Daljinder Johal, Annis McGee, Amelia Michaels, Sneya Rajani, Anna Sharpe Jones, Ioney Smallhorne, Noor Sobka, Ione Vaughan, Ben Weatherill and Conor Wilkinson.
New Perspectives said the cohort represented a range of ages, ethnicities and artistic disciplines including 54% global majority artists and 46% working-class artists. More than three-quarters, 77%, identified as having a disability or long-term health condition.
New Perspectives artistic director Angharad Jones said, “five years post-pandemic, we’re mindful that creative careers can be non-linear and artists need support.
“It’s daunting for any artist to have the belief, self-confidence and resources to establish and sustain a career in this industry and even more difficult when contending with geographic, economic, disability or health barriers.
“We have such pride in our New Associates programme which has gone from strength to strength. After considering each application in depth, this year we’ve invited 13 artists to join the programme and have offered feedback to all applicants. As well as opening up conversations, this helps us to widen our understanding of the ongoing challenges faced by artists from across the East Midlands.
“Now, with an alumni of more than 70 East Midlands artists, our New Associates programme is proving to be an essential part of helping to sustain careers, providing support at a crucial time in an artist’s journey”.
More information about the artists can be found at the New Perspectives’ web site.