about the commissions

Sanctuary Queer Arts is pleased to announce two new writing mini-commissions: one for a QTIPOC artist and one for a Disabled/Deaf LGBTQIA+ artist.

The commissions ask for a short piece of writing in any genre – poem, prose, screenplay, play, monologue, essay, rant – that broadly explores the themes: What does it mean to be queer in Scotland in 2021? and/or What does the term Sanctuary mean to you?

The finished piece could be brand new or building on something already in development/something that has been lurking in the back of a drawer for years.

The two selected artists will each receive:

• £500

• 1 x mentoring session with poet, author and drag artist Dean Atta

The artists will then receive support from the Sanctuary team to present their writing in some form (such as a performed monologue or poem, published zine or short film - with additional funding) alongside the Sanctuary Young Company and Newer Artists in the summer.

• The selected Disabled/Deaf artist will also receive a mentoring session with Robert Softley Gale (Birds of Paradise), either during the writing process or at a later stage of development (whichever is most useful for them).

The successful applicants will be announced towards the end of April and asked to produce their work by 31 May 2021. The finished work should be no longer than 1000 words.

The selection panel will include Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh, Robert Softley Gale and one of the Sanctuary Co-Directors..

essential criteria

• Identify as QTIPOC (LGBTQIA+* person of colour) and/or LGBTQIA+* Disabled/Deaf person (*transgender, non-binary, gay, lesbian, bisexual, gender-fluid, intersex, asexual or any other gendered expression or sexuality that does not conform with heteronormative expectations)

• Scottish based 

• The working language of Sanctuary Queer Arts in English, although artists can develop work in any language

application details

Please answer the questions below on the form here; or you can send your answers to the questions through voice memo, video or email to hello@sanctuaryqueerarts.com (stating ‘new writing commission’ in the subject line). Apply by 23:59 Wednesday 14 April.

1. Who are you?
Tell us a bit about yourself – name, age, location, whatever you want to share 

2. What do you intend to create with the Sanctuary commission?
You can write as much or as little as you like but please consider the panel’s time when making your submission - a good guide would be no more than 1/2 side of A4 to answer this question.

3. How did you get here?
Tell us about your experience as an artist. You can also send up to 4 items of digital evidence for previous work (this is not essential). This could be: 
o hi-res picture 
o video – no longer than 5 minutes each 
o sound recording – no longer than 5 minutes each 
o sample text – no longer than 10 pages [maximum of 2 text samples per application] 

4. What does your sanctuary look like?
Describe to us what an existing or imaginary sanctuary looks like. You can write as much or as little as you like but please consider the panel’s time when making your submission - a good guide would be no more than 1/2 side of A4 to answer this question.

5. Do you have any access requirements?

Sanctuary Queer Arts is committed to removing as many barriers to participation as possible. We have a commitment to providing any access support, including BSL and transcription, and are working in partnership with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company to offer these commissions. Please contact us if you any questions/to discuss your access requirements: hello@sanctuaryqueerarts.com.

contact us

Contact us if you have any questions about the application process - we’ll get back to you asap! Email: hello@sanctuaryqueerarts.com.

Dean Atta

Dean Atta’s debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody's Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize and his debut novel, The Black Flamingo, won the Stonewall Book Award. He was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. Dean’s work often deals with themes of gender, identity, race and growing up – and has appeared on BBC One, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, and Channel 4. Dean regularly performs across the UK, and internationally. He is a member of Malika's Poetry Kitchen. Dean is based in Glasgow, and is Co-director of the Scottish BAME Writers Network and a patron of LGBT+ History Month.

https://sites.google.com/site/deanatta/about

Robert Softley Gale

Robert Softley Gale is an actor, performer and disability rights activist. Robert is the Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise (BOP), Scotland’s touring theatre company that promotes the work of disabled artists in partnership with non-disabled artists and mainstream theatre venues and companies. His previous work includes My Left/Right Foot the Musical (Birds of Paradise), Girl X (Traverse Theatre, Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Eden Court Theatre), If These Spasms Could Speak (Arches, toured to Brazil, Estonia, Ireland, India and USA), Wendy Hoose (Birds of Paradise) and Purposeless Movements (nominated for CATS Best Director award).

sanctuary queer arts

Sanctuary Queer Arts amplifies LGBTQIA+ voices in Scotland, creating intergenerational platforms for cultural activity and artistic development opportunities for queer performance makers. 

Officially launched in 2020, the project has been in development since 2015. Sanctuary is a year-long programme of activity. We run a National Queer Young Company a Newer Artist Development Programme, the occasional one-off events and a culminating summer showcase of performances, workshops, talks, film screenings and visual arts.