Independent arts charity IdeasTap continues to support emerging creative talent with the launch of its latest funding opportunity: The Edinburgh Fund.
In a week that will see some of the deepest public spending cuts in recent history, the online arts charity IdeasTap continues to pledge its support for the arts and the development of emerging creative talent. The £30,000 fund is available to members of promising theatre companies aged between 16-25 hoping to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011. An established platform for launching new talent, performing at the Fringe can be a huge financial risk - IdeasTap are offering young performers the chance to showcase their talent without this risk.This is the second year of the Ideas Fund, the annual funding award that sees IdeasTap giving away £150,000 on youth-led creative projects from across all of the arts. Last year's Edinburgh Fund winners were Suffolk-based HighTide, who went on to win a Fringe First for their production of Lidless; and Scottish theatre company Tortoise in a Nutshell with their show The Last Miner.
Hoping to recreate the success of last year's awards, IdeasTap are currently offering two awards of £10,000 to the theatre companies that they feel show the most promise. The remaining £10,000 will be used for delegate support at the festival, and for smaller grants that will be awarded in spring 2011. The Ideas Fund not only offers monetary support, but also includes a mentoring scheme for all winners. Last year's Edinburgh Fund mentors included director John Tiffany, who worked with HighTide, and Catherine Wheels Theatre, who worked with Tortoise in a Nutshell. This process pairs the industry professionals with emerging creatives, allowing them to create a high value productions, as well making those much-needed industry contacts.Peter De Haan, Chairman of IdeasTap said: "The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is a career defining festival and the Edinburgh Fund is a vital opportunity in these difficult times. We believe in investing in new talent, and as always we'll be putting our money where our mouth is. Last year's festival was a huge success for IdeasTap, and we're hoping this year will be even bigger and better.
Steven Atkinson, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of HighTide, added:"Edinburgh is one of the world's best market places, were you can be confident that sizeable audiences and leading critics can see your work. It's hugely competitive, but in a context where everybody is trying to stand out from the crowd, winning an Ideas Fund award is another marker of quality."The IdeasTap Edinburgh is now open to submissions, and will close on 29 November 2011. For more details and to apply, please visit www.ideastap.com
