Artistic Director of MGC, Michael Grandage today announces that the second round of MGCfutures Bursary Programme is now open for applications. MGCfutures is a charity, formed in 2012 by Michael Grandage, the Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning Director.
The bursaries programme was launched last year for arts practitioners who show a commitment to their chosen career and look to progress to the next stage of their development. This year, for the first time, the charity has partnered with the Mercury Theatre in Colchester to offer a Trainee Director position. The recipient of this £5,000 bursary will work as Assistant Director on two Made in Colchester productions.
MGCfutures applicants can apply for bursaries from £500-£5000, to support careers across the theatre industry. Bursaries in round one supported a range of projects including directors and producers who needed help towards funding a workshop, a theatrical milliner who need help to buy tools for his work and designers who needed to invest in computer assisted design programmes or workshop space.
Michael Grandage said:
It’s vital for us as a charity to actively support the next generation of theatre-makers, especially in a time of great financial uncertainty within the arts. MGCfutures Bursary Programme is an important part of the breadth of the work we undertake in this area. We’re very proud of the recipients of our inaugural bursaries, who come from a diversity of disciplines across the theatre world. As we open our second round, we look forward to engaging with more brilliant young artists. We’re also looking forward to collaborating with the Mercury Theatre Colchester – where I began my own directing career – to appoint a Trainee Assistant Director on two Made in Colchester productions.
Mercury Theatre Artistic Director Daniel Buckroyd said:
MGCfuture’s bursary could be transformational for a future director. The Mercury is working hard with our partners to ensure that theatre-making continues to survive and thrive in the East. I look forward to working with MGCfutures to engage a brilliant young artist as Trainee Assistant Director on two Made in Colchester productions.
Applications must be submitted via the MGCfutures website – www.mgcfutures.com – before 12 noon on Friday 12 May 2017. Please note, bursaries are not available to support training or as commercial investments in productions.
ENDS
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For further information, please contact: Kate Morley 07970 465 648 / [email protected]
About MGCfutures
The future of theatre depends on young people. They are the theatre makers and theatre goers of tomorrow. MGCfutures reaches out to people of different ages and backgrounds, providing information, guidance and support through mentorship, the Bursary scheme, online resources, workshops and participatory activities. It is also committed to enabling young people to visit the theatre who might otherwise not be able to do so.
MGCfutures is a charitable organisation, governed by a Board of Trustees. MGCfutures Education Associates, Dominic Francis and Samantha Lane, develop workshops and online materials to support theatre-goers to get the most out of their experience, especially those visiting a theatre for the first time.
MGCfutures is also supported by the charity’s patrons: Judi Dench, Dawn French, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale, Sheridan Smith, David Walliams and Ben Whishaw.
“MGCfutures understands that artists need practical support, as well as encouragement and mentorship, in order to be empowered to make good work. It’s exactly the investment I need at this stage in my career to keep raising my ambitions.” : Isley Lynn – MGCfutures Bursary recipient, 2016
To find out more about the charity’s work, and how to get involved, please contact via the Education Associates at [email protected]
- The MGCfutures Bursaries are funded through money raised by the company itself. As the company continues to expand the scheme, individual donors and supporters are being sought.
- The recipients of the awards are selected from an industry panel including Michael Grandage. After the panel, each recipient will be met with to discuss their bursary and the support MGCfutures will give each one moving forward.
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About the Mercury Theatre
The Mercury Theatre Colchester is the most active producing theatre in East Anglia, and is a vital centre of excellence in the East’s growing creative economy. The Mercury exists to put theatre at the heart of the community it serves and to make work in Colchester that reaches audiences and generates critical attention regionally and nationally.
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