The Stage

Capture dance agency unveils talent fund

Published Tuesday 31 October 2006 at 15:15 by Liz Thomas

Capture, the national agency for dance and the moving image funded by Arts Council England, is this year running a production fund, offering awards of up to £20,000 for promising performers.

Artists from all career stages and backgrounds are being encouraged to apply for the scheme, now in its fifth run, which aims to encourage dance in a variety of screen mediums including film, television and video, new media and installation. Entitled Capture5, the deadline for submissions is December 31 and the financial awards will be made during February next year. Commissioned works will be showcased at different events throughout 2007/8.

Ross MacGibbon, a top dance producer at the BBC and a member of the selection panel, said that the fund contributed to the “development of the dance screen genre” in the UK. He added: “Recent Capture commissions such as Rachel Davies’ Gold have won awards in major mainstream film and television festivals and the touring exhibitions of Capture-commissioned installation works in 2004/5 was seen by over 45,000 people in England, which indicates that dance screen works now play a significant role in contemporary arts practice.”

The project has been run in conjunction with leading arts companies including Sadler’s Wells, London’s Jerwood Space, the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow, Scottish Screen and Scottish Arts.

Francis McKee, interim director at the CCA, commented: “We are extremely excited to be involved with the Capture production fund. Capture5 commissions will seek out new work that is at the forefront of inter-disciplinary practice.”