If you would prefer to listen to our call out, application form and monitoring form please access our audio recordings below:
Summer Summit is for a group of UK-based, early-career artists to explore queer performance practice via a rural residential retreat Friday 9th - Sunday 11th September 2022. Hosted in collaboration with The HopBarn Centre for Music and Creative Performance, Homotopia and Curious Arts, join our meeting of minds in the middle of the Midlands, for a retreat-style weekender where you can explore new skills, take time for resting in nature and build your queer family.
The weekend will be held by Milk Presents’ Artistic Director, Leo Skilbeck with other members of the Milk Presents team. The weekend’s activities will take place in several locations on-site: an indoor studio, a covered barn and the surrounding countryside.
Who’s it for?
- Artists over 18 years old
- Artists who identify as LGBTQIA+
- Artists in the first five years of their professional career as an artist
- Artists who work in performing arts, for example, but not limited to: theatre makers, writers, designers, producers, cabaret performers, dancers, choreographers, directors
What’s included?
- A free weekend of workshops, talks and activities delivered by Milk Presents.
- All meals provided
- Three days camping in the countryside, or alternative indoor accessible accommodation for up to two people who aren't able to camp or would benefit from this provision.
- £60 travel/equipment contribution
What you need to bring:
- A tent & sleeping items (sleeping bag/mat/airbed/etc.)
- Warm & wet weather clothing that’s comfortable to move about in
- Practical shoes
- A torch
- Towel and toiletries
- Notebook and pen or something to make notes on
- Snacks to keep you going in-between meals.
We will provide the following support for participants:
- A contribution towards all participants’ travel of £60
- An on-site Wellbeing Officer to support participants, taking into account the additional challenges that trans, queer, disabled, Black & Global Majority artists may encounter in a rural setting and being away from home
-Provision to respond to access needs on an individual basis including accessible rooms for up to two people who aren't able to camp or would benefit from indoor accessible accommodation. This is to support disabled, deaf, neurodivergent artists and artists who have long term health conditions and/or additional access needs
- Additional financial support is available for a small number of artists who are socio-economically disadvantaged and who would otherwise not be able to attend the weekend
- Provision to respond to care costs on an individual basis to support artists with caring responsibilities
We are happy to discuss your access needs before application. Please email lee.smith@milkpresents.com
How do I apply?
Apply here & complete the monitoring form by 5pm on Fri 29th July 2022
If you would prefer to respond to our forms by video or audio recording, please email your responses to hello@milkpresents.com by the above deadline
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by Friday 5th August.
Participants will be selected by the following criteria:
- Suitability of Summer Summit form & content with participants’ development journey
- Diversity in art form & practice
- Diversity of participant geographical location
- Places will be prioritised for those who have faced racism, discrimination and/or cultural barriers due to being Black, of the Global Majority, Disabled, Deaf, Neurodivergent, having a long term health condition and/or socio-economically disadvantaged.
We regret that we will not be able to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications but we will give an indication of how applications fared in relation to the selection criteria
As part of our Making An Entrance and QueerChange programme, Summer Summit is supported by Jerwood Arts Development Fund and Arts Council England, and delivered in partnership with The HopBarn Centre for Music and Creative Performance, Homotopia and Curious Arts.
Summer Summit illustration by Sam Prentice. Image Description: A colourful illustration of a diverse group of people sat at a campsite watching someone perform with the words ‘Summer Summit’ in the middle.
If you have any questions about the application process or require more details about Summer Summit please email lee.smith@milkpresents.com
Check out The HopBarn where Summer Summit’s taking place!
"The HopBarn Centre for Music and Creative Performance is really excited to support Milk Presents with Summit Summit. As a venue, The HopBarn can provide a rural retreat to visiting artists and companies, offering an ideal space with on-site accommodation for intense periods of creativity, spawning new ideas and new thinking towards artistic practice. This given opportunity, in supporting Milk Presents with the running of this programme, fulfills the key priorities and ambitions that The HopBarn has in contributing to developing new theatre, music and dance. We are equally excited by the prospect of the intensive workshop weekend being delivered to diverse artists from the LGBTQIA+ community." - The HopBarn