United Kingdom
External Finance: Public funding
Values: Cultural
Key takeaways of this inspiring case: Charlotte Luke, a freelance dance practitioner based in the UK, applied for a public fund to further develop her practice. The fund “Developing Your Creative Practice” (DYCP) supports individual cultural and creative practitioners who want to take time to focus on their creative development. The important aspect of her case was to align her career objectives with the criteria of that specific public funding instrument.
It is important to have a clear objective: The focus of the DYCP is on cultural and creative development for freelancers and supporting them with “reaching the next stage” in their practice. Luke, at the time of her application to the fund had already worked with many companies and produced well-received commissions and performances. What she wanted to achieve with this funding was to refocus her career as a performance artist and choreographer through various activities such as workshops and intensive courses. The particular fund that Luke applied for is in high demand, with 1,894 eligible applications and 384 individuals supported in its most recent round. It might be the case with most of the public funds targeting individual practitioners. Thus, it Is essential to pinpoint the fund’s objectives and its relevance to your goals and needs. In Charlotte’s case, she had a clear path for her artistic development, and through a public funding opportunity, she managed to expand her opportunities, to take part in larger projects in a wider scope. Thus, the funding supported her to reach the next stage in her practice.
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