Press Releases

Date: 15 September 2003

Visiting Arts and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation are delighted to announce the second year of Awards which will continue to support the creation of new work by Portuguese performing artists in the UK. The Portuguese Performing Arts Awards fund UK performing arts organisations wishing to commission Portuguese artists not resident in the UK to come and work with their UK counterparts. Last year's Awards supported successful collaborations between Brouhaha International (Liverpool) and Toca' Rufar; Dodgy Clutch (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) and Teatro Ka; Phoenix Dance Theatre (Leeds) and Random Dance Company (London) both working with Rui Horta; Ridiculusmus (London) and Miguel Antunes and Workhorse Productions (London) working with Guilherme de Mendonca.

The residencies and the period of joint exploration that the Awards provide will nurture and support the development of new artistic commissions, allow for educational and professional development for artists and members of the general public and encourage public UK performance of new work by Portuguese artists. The Awards invite applications from arts organisations based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wishing to collaborate with Portuguese artists(s) working in the fields of drama, dance, music, physical theatre and performance art.

The Awards, ranging between £3,000 and £10,000, will be available for projects taking place between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005. All applications should be addressed to Nelson Fernandez, Visiting Arts, Bloomsbury House, 74-77 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DA and received by Monday 1 December 2003. The Award recipients will be announced in January 2004.

The Portuguese Performing Arts Awards are part of Visiting Arts' ongoing commitment to developing opportunities for UK and foreign artists to work and develop together projects of mutual interest.

For further information please contact:

Nelson Fernandez, Head Performing Arts & Training

Visiting Arts
Telephone (direct) - 020 7291 1619
E-mail nelson.fernandez@visitingarts.org.uk

or

Miguel Santos, Programme Director, Anglo-Portuguese Cultural Relations
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Telephone (direct) - 020 7908 7622
E-mail miguel.santos@gulbenkian.org.uk

For a copy of the application guidelines please contact:

Donna Vose, Performing Arts Projects Manager
Visiting Arts
Telephone (direct) - 020 7291 1626
E-mail donna.vose@visitingarts.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

Visiting Arts
Visiting Arts is an independent educational charity, which promotes cultural relations through the arts. It is funded by the British Council, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the four main Arts Councils of the UK with additional support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It's work covers funding, consultancy, advisory services, publications, training and project development to facilitate the presentation of international arts in the UK. www.visitingarts.org.uk

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian was an Armenian born in 1869. He became a British citizen, conducted much of his work in Britain, and finally settled in Portugal. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was established in Lisbon in 1956, a year after his death. The UK Branch of the Foundation, which is based in London, has a history of initiating or supporting pioneering developments in the fields of Arts, Education, Social Welfare and Anglo-Portuguese Cultural Relations. The Anglo-Portuguese Cultural Relations programme aims to help projects that promote contemporary Portuguese culture in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. www.gulbenkian.org.uk

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