Please read this carefully before applying. If you have any queries, please email hello@stellarquines.co.uk with subject title M*****classes - Query

Applications are now open for

An Artist Development scheme that aims to change the landscape of Creative Designers in Scotland, by addressing the lack of women working in the field through a series workshops delivered across one year.

Project synopsis: An opportunity to apply to Stellar Quines to participate in a series of 4 workshops delivered by industry professionals from the field of Sound Design. Offering hands on experience, developing an understanding of professional processes, potential career paths while building practical skills and increased confidence.

Cost: No chargeApplications open: 30th January 2019Deadline for applications: 18th February 2019Work to take place: 8th March 2019

23rd & 24th March 201913th & 14th April 201925th & 26th May 2019

Project end: End May 2019 Application form: Attached

What it is

Across Scottish publicly funded theatres in 2014/15 Christine Hamilton’s report Where are the Women? identified that:

• 6% of lighting designers were women• Women made up 11% of composers, musical directors and sound designers

Our M*****class series directly responds to the gender imbalance due to the lack of women working in creative design roles within the performing arts sector of Scotland, specifically in the areas of technical design [sound, lighting and AV]. Over the next three years, Stellar Quines are offering a unique training opportunity for women who have some experience or interest in the field but require refreshment or up-skilling before presenting themselves as a viable candidate for these positions. Designed to run over a sequence of weekends, this series enables participants to learn while maintaining their day to day working lives.

Year one will focus on Sound Design, offering a series of workshops lead by industry professionals who are leaders in their field.

STELLAR QUINES THEATRE COMPANY 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX Tel: +44 (0)131 229 3851 Web: www.stellarquines.com A company limited by guarantee Company no. 157796 Registered charity no. SCO 23628

The Lyceum in Edinburgh and The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow will support the project, which brings experts to deliver practical, hands on learning that covers the creative, technical and personal aspects of the theatrical sound design process.

The workshops will aim to demonstrate and combine the creative techniques underpinning the art of sound design for theatre, with the means for applying those techniques. Three areas will be looked at in detail: the use of recorded sound and music in performance; reinforcement of voice and instrumentation; and the collaborative relationship between sound designer and composer.

In providing an opportunity for early stage or mid-career level artists, we will:• Provide participants with a high-profile opportunity to explore a new area of interest, acquire new

skills, increase confidence, make new contacts and forge new career paths• Offer Stellar Quines and the wider sector a new tranche of highly skilled, well connected female

creatives• Open up new ways for cultural partners to work together to deliver the series, as well as supporting

participants through networks leading to a professional working portfolio• Plug a gap in opportunities for practitioners to go on a continuous learning journey by up-skilling or

working across art forms in a supported, controlled and professional environment

The programme of work

• Friday 8th March One Day Course in Sound Design for Theatre lead by Gareth Fry

• Saturday 23rd March Morning/Afternoon: Inhabiting the Space: Recorded Sound and Music workshop lead by Helen Skiera Evening: Nora presented at The Citizens Theatre, followed by a post-show discussion

• Sunday 24th March Morning/Afternoon: Inhabiting the Space: Recorded Sound and Music workshop lead by Carolyn Downing

• Saturday 13th April Morning/Afternoon: AES/RCS/Soundgirls Sound in Theatre Conference hosted at the Royal Conservatoire of ScotlandEvening: Local Hero presented at The Lyceum, followed by a post-show discussion

• Sunday 14th AprilMorning/Afternoon: Hearing the Story: Voice and Instrument Reinforcement workshop leaders to be confirmed

• Saturday 25th May Morning/Afternoon: Putting it all Together workshop lead by Matt Padden and Kim MooreEvening: The Duchess of Malfi presented at The Lyceum, followed by a post-show discussion

• Sunday 26th May Morning/Afternoon: Putting it all Together including a panel discussion of Scottish based Sound professional and representation from the Association of Sound Designers

STELLAR QUINES THEATRE COMPANY 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX Tel: +44 (0)131 229 3851 Web: www.stellarquines.com A company limited by guarantee Company no. 157796 Registered charity no. SCO 23628

We encourage you to

• use this as an opportunity to challenge yourself, to develop the work you’ve already done and expand on, try out new, or compliment your current skill set

• apply even if you have a lot of experience in music (whatever genre) or composition but are new to theatre making, and are looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and apply these to a performance setting

• use this to embrace learning in safe and supported environment. If the technical aspects of sound design put you off taking the next steps into the profession, this is exactly the series for you

• be brave! Use this as an opportunity to do something you don’t normally do • forge new relationships, expand your contacts and learn new skills

We are open to applications from individual artists, or pairings that can demonstrate their working relationship, who identify as a woman.

We support all women including Trans and Intersex women, as well as non—binary and gender fluid people who identify in a significant way as women or female.

What you need to do next

• Fill out the application form• Fill in an equalities monitoring form

When you are ready to submit your applications please email the following to hello@stellarquines.co.uk, subject line M*****classes – your name including your

• application form as a PDF or Word doc• a current CV as a PDF• an equalities monitoring form in PDF format.

Application timeline:Applications open: Wednesday 30th January 2019Deadline for applications: Monday 18th February 2019Panel meet to discuss applications: 19th – 21st February 2019Decisions communicated to all applicants: Monday 25th February 2019 First workshop to attend: Friday 8th March 2019

“When I started out in the industry in the early 1990’s… I’d never heard of a female sound designer or production sound engineer. I thought I was at the beginning of a change in society and women would be equally represented and respected as sound engineers in the course of my career. This is something I hear young women today saying, ‘things will be different, and things will change now’. This all should have changed significantly in the last twenty years but it hasn’t. It’s time to change our industry and it’s up to all of us to do it.”

Yvonne Gilbert, The Echo issue 12

Here’s what previous artists have responded to development opportunities with us

STELLAR QUINES THEATRE COMPANY 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX Tel: +44 (0)131 229 3851 Web: www.stellarquines.com A company limited by guarantee Company no. 157796 Registered charity no. SCO 23628

“When I left drama school in 2008 and thought about the kind of career I wanted to have, one of the first companies I wrote to was Stellar Quines. I have always admired the ethics and quality of work which the company produces and I think their support of women in the theatre is vitally important.

Participant from Untaught to Shine, a Stellar Quines artist development opportunity

“This was a hugely positive experience which developed my skills as a theatre practitioner, enabling me to learn new skills and develop existing ones.”

Participant from Untaught to Shine

FAQsWill it cost me anything to participate?No. Full cost of the project is covered by us. We also offer a contribution toward travel and for child care costs.

Will this be an opportunity to secure a job with Stellar Quines?Not necessarily, but we do hope that this will create a pool of brilliant sound designers working in the sector, drawn upon by many organisations, including us.

Do I have to be based in and/or committed to working in Scotland?Yes.

I can’t attend all of the dates, should I still apply? No. In order to fully benefit from this learning experience, we expect participants to attend all sessions.

Why is it called M*****classes? We recognise the traditions and patriarchal structures that define the language we use on a day to day basis. After careful consideration, we concede that ‘masterclasses’ defined the offer we were making in the best terms, but because we conceded, doesn’t mean we gave up the fight! As a project aimed specifically at women, we wanted to retain their importance at the heart of the project, and have treated the word in all our publicity to reflect that.

I am an actor musician, with no direct sound design experience, can I apply?Yes! This could be the beginning of the path to you developing that as a string to your professional bow

I am a composer, with no direct sound design experience for performance work, can I apply?Yes! See above.

I have created sound designs for the stage before but with no formal training, can I apply? Yes! So long as you are open to learning and developing your craft alongside a group who will retain different skill sets and experiences to yours.

STELLAR QUINES THEATRE COMPANY 30b Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX Tel: +44 (0)131 229 3851 Web: www.stellarquines.com A company limited by guarantee Company no. 157796 Registered charity no. SCO 23628