GROUNDWORK: NOURISHMENT FOR IDEAS, ARTISTS AND PROJECTS
WINTER mentoring week: 17- 22 August 2026
For our second GROUNDWORK week, we’re keen to hear from local artists and creatives in the Border region who have an idea, project or a practice they want to develop. GROUNDWORK offers practical advice, support and creative development opportunities for performance-based artists and their creative projects. If you attended GROUNDWORK in Autumn, you’re welcome to come back again to check in on your progress since then.
The GROUNDWORK process is about developing potential – in teams, ideas and projects – and building creative relationships and connections. We offer a confidential sounding board, an experienced ear, professional advice, contacts and/or follow-up, feedback, letters of support for grant applications etc, as useful/appropriate.
We can accommodate up to 12 participants from this EOI process, representing a range of project types, experience levels etc.
Attendance at the mentoring week is free of charge, however, participants must be available to attend both group gatherings plus 1 or 2 individual development sessions, detailed below.
#1 FIRST GROUP GATHERING Monday 17 August 5pm – 8pm
Discussion around pathways for new work, using models/examples from arts festivals, venues, performing arts companies, producers etc. Topics include practice and process, articulating a critical path; creative development/proof of concept models. Participants are invited to share a short overview of your idea with the group, but there’s no pressure, and no need to prepare anything. Bring a notebook or laptop.
#2 INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 August, by appointment
Relaxed, confidential 2-hour individual sessions, to discuss your projects, ideas or practice. We’ll listen, discuss and give first-impression guidance for next steps; follow through after the meeting with materials or research directions that may be useful; share connections to programs or organisations who might assist. There will be 3 time slots most days for the individual sessions: 10am to 12pm, 1-3pm and 3.30-5.30pm, and a few spare timeslots available if more time is needed. Some reflective tasks are set in advance of the final group gathering.
#3 SECOND GROUP GATHERING Saturday 22 August 10am-2pm
Wrap-up session to socialise your ideas in a supportive environment and consider pathways forward. You’ll discuss your work with the group with some more detail and reflection. We may invite one or two friendly, experienced observers to this session who can offer some objective feedback and an outside eye.
Submit your Expression of Interest for the Winter Artists Mentoring week, Monday 17 to Saturday 22 August 2026.
* Participants must be able to attend both group gatherings plus 1 or 2 individual development sessions
