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Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024 – Open Call for Creative Proposals

Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024

Bridges Between | 18-31 October

OPEN CALL FOR CREATIVE PROPOSALS

Proposals are invited for performances at the 2024 Scottish International Storytelling Festival (18-31 October 2024).

2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Festival, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 1989, SISF has been building bridges between cultures, artists and audiences all over the world through the power of storytelling – connecting past, present and future.

The theme of the 2024 Festival is ‘Bridges Between’. At a time where literal, figurative and societal walls continue to be constructed, SISF 2024 invites practitioners within the wider storytelling and creative community to look beyond these boundaries by submitting a proposal on the theme ‘Bridges Between’.

What we are looking for:

  • Work which relates and responds to the theme of the 2024 Festival.
  • It may be completely new, or a development of something that has been performed no more than five times and in limited locations.
  • It should draw on the creative methodologies of oral storytelling and may include collaboration with other artforms if desired.

 

Who can apply:

  • Each proposal must be submitted and led by a storyteller based in Scotland.
  • Applicants must show a successful track record of performance work.
  • Each applicant is limited to one proposal.

 

Funding available:

We hope to select up to ten proposals. Applicants will be asked to select the category which applies to their proposal. 

  • Five new work opportunities are available at an average fee of £5,000. 
  • Five development work opportunities are available at an average fee of £3,000. Applicants should state how this new staging would be a clear development from the original work.
  • In addition to the ten selected proposals, the Festival will also support a limited number of projects in the first stages of development and/or from early career storytellers, by including them in the SISF programme as work in progress. A fee of £500 will be provided to support a work in progress.

 

Selection process:

Decisions will be made by a specially convened panel, involving both Festival and external expertise. Performances will be scheduled at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and/or one of the Festival’s Go Local venues. 

The panel may opt to support proposals at a lower level than applied for, and applicants are encouraged to explore other grants or partnership funding. Applicants should submit their proposed budget, including any other planned sources of income.

How payment will be made:

Up to 40% of the agreed fee may be paid in advance after issue and return of contract, including acceptance of terms and conditions of the Festival. The fee balance will be paid after delivery of the work to a high professional standard, and on submission of an invoice.

Accommodation and travel expenses:

For the day of performance, if accommodation is required for performers, this will be arranged and funded by the Festival, in addition to the performance fee, but this must be agreed in advance. Travel expenses to perform at the Festival will also be paid in addition to the project fee; these must also be agreed in advance. Public transport, (except air travel), is prioritised wherever possible in support of the Festival’s Net Zero objectives. All other accommodation and travel expenses relating to the development of the performance must be contained within the project budget. 

How to apply:

Please submit your application by completing our SISF 2024 Open Call Application Form by 5pm on Friday 5th April.

Any access requirements or general enquiries can be addressed to [email protected] or if you need access support, please contact or call 0131 556 9579. We can provide any required support to make this process as accessible as possible.