Developing Practice Grants, (or ‘go see’ grants) are for artists, producers, curators and dance sector professionals based in Birmingham or the West Midlands (Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) and aim to support them in growing and sustaining their practice in the region.

With up to four grants available in this round Dance Hub Birmingham is keen to support those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to access professional development and experience work that will create a step change in their practice as well as those with a willingness to share their learning across the dance sector. Recipients of the first round of go see grants are developing their skills at the Ailey School in New York, the Women in Dance Leadership conference also in New York and mentoring with UK choreographers.

The second round of Artistic Commissions is for artists who are based in Birmingham or the West Midlands (Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) and who will be developing and presenting work in the region.

Dance Hub Birmingham is particularly interested in commissioning ambitious and distinctive projects that are focused on creating dance that is part of the fabric of the city-region reaching the widest possible audience – indoors, outdoors and digitally – in conventional and unusual performance spaces within the region and beyond.

Dance Hub Birmingham is looking for co-commissions, diverse and inclusive work and work that uses digital technology in creation and/or distribution, and work that raises the reputation of Birmingham as an international centre of excellence for dance nationally and internationally. Recipients from round one included Autin Dance Theatre, Humanhood and Sampad, all creating new and diverse work in the region.

Director Monique Deletant said: “We had a fantastic response to our first round of Grants and Commissions, it was wonderful to see the diversity of artists and dance sector professionals in our region. We are delighted to start the New Year by inviting further applications and continuing our commitment to investing in dance in the West Midlands.

“Through investing in organisations to create new work and in individuals to develop their practice we will continue to position Birmingham as an international centre of excellence for dance and in doing so amplify the story of dance locally, regionally and nationally.”