The creative initiative for the performing and visual arts community welcomes a new wave of artists

Lise Bell and Than Hussein Clark, of the newly founded London Performance Studios creative initiative announce the second round of Seeding Space applications open. Over 100 free space bursaries for artists built within converted warehouse spaces were made available in spring this year through 2021 and onwards in South East London.
Seeding Space is the first in a series of exciting initiatives from the group created with artists at the centre, offering spaces across the next 15 months to support the creative freelance workforce to rebuild as we begin to navigate our way out of lockdown. The spaces can be accessed through an open call for applications that is open now.
Exploring new and risk free structures for creatives, London Performance Studios’ bursaries provide artists with one to three weeks of free space in its South Bermondsey rehearsal rooms for theatre companies, community groups, and independent artists working across the performing or visual arts fields, to develop new or existing works.
The stark numbers of freelancers that have fallen through the cracks over the past year and long before across different demographic groups remains an alarming issue that requires urgent attention within the creative industries. Seeding Space is meeting some immediate requirements of artists by democratising this SE15 space in London.
The aim is to remove some of the current barriers to creative development for the visual and performing arts community – identified through a queer, anti-racist, feminist, and equalist lens – through both the provision of free space and learning development opportunities.
More than just the provision of free space, the successful applicants will have access to the London Performance Studios’ rehearsal space including kitchen, breakout space and rehearsal room; access to a fully-equipped workshop, industry advice and career support and an outside eye or dramaturgical support. There is also an opportunity to participate in the future of London Performance Studios wider vision and to become a part of the community with priority access to other upcoming initiatives.
New to this round of bursaries, successful applicants will now have access to two fundraising masterclasses and one on one support provided by social business Cause 4. To be delivered in August / September 2021.
Applications are open to all artistic and community ideas no matter how ‘out of the box’. Anyone is welcome to apply who can clearly demonstrate a need for the space be it for R+D rehearsals, full rehearsals, gallery exhibitions, creation of a large scale piece of art, a community gathering, a public sharing or long table event.
The first group of successful applicants featured a variety of artists and practices including Mariana Malena, an award-winning female-led theatre company giving voice to Latin American stories; Kaivalya Brewerton, a multidisciplinary artist pulling on themes of socio-political, philosophical and utilitarian themes; Beth Watson, a performer, theatre-maker and facilitator with a special interest in gender and LGBTQ+ representation on stage; Ghost and John, a Hong Kong multi-disciplinary art duo known for their innovative integration of performance and technology; F*Choir, an all genders choir led by Jenny Moore that sing songs about gender, sexuality, freedom and rage and more.
This project has been developed by Than Hussein Clark and Lise Bell. They began working together in September 2021, combining their extensive knowledge of the visual and performing arts, to develop this new artistic initiative.
As a visual artist, Than is currently participating in the British Art Show 9 and the upcoming Belgrade Biennale. For the Belgrade Biennale, Than is developing a 16 part radio drama In Alphabetic Gardens with The Director’s Theatre Writer’s Theatre ensemble.
Lise, a specialist in the performing arts most recently joint CEO and Executive Director at the Gate Theatre.
The second round of applications for Seeding Space is open now. For full details visit londonperformancestudios.com.