Bishopsgate Institute Takeover
About
Next year, Guildhall School of Music & Drama will partner on an exciting project with Bishopsgate Institute, culminating in two takeover events in their Great Hall.
Taking place on the 10th June and 8th July 2023, we are seeking to commission two alumni to delve into the Bishopsgate archives, uncovering untold stories and collections in order to create artistic responses to the themes of ‘Beauty Pageantry’ or ‘an Anarchist Ball’.
You will be developing a creative team around your project, and each group’s response will be showcased at a take-over event in Bishopsgate’s Great Hall. How you choose to do this is entirely up to you, however some ideas include:
-
Cabaret performances
-
A catwalk/ fashion show
-
Dance
-
Live music
-
Spoken word
Applications will close at 11:59pm on the 15th January 2023.
-
Venue: Bishopsgate’s Great Hall (The Great Hall | Bishopsgate Institute)
-
Dates: Either evening of 10th June or 8th July
-
Artists will be expected to take part in one guided archive visit and a minimum of two additional archive visits. You will also be expected to attend a site visit with the production team.
-
Commissioning budget: £5,000
-
Access to the Bishopsgate Archives and archive team who will be on hand to pull out and explain any artefacts, documents and digital content.
-
Access to production and budget support from the Guildhall Innovation team.
-
A lighting designer and a stage manager
-
If your proposal involves performance, please ensure that you include a director within your budget.
-
Please ensure that all artist fees are in-line with union rates (i.e ITC, Equity, BECTU e.t.c) and indicate these on your budget.
1. A sex-workers cabaret from the collective Sexquisite. This included multidisciplinary performances, with poetry, burlesque, dance, comedy, and more. This was created in response to Bishopsgate Institute’s collection on sex-work in London, for further information on the event, click here: 220514 Bishopsgate Institute x Guildhall School: Impurity! | Bishopsgate Institute
2. A drag ball from the performance artist Kookie Blu, this included drag king & queens, dance, music, multi-media film and art installations and theatre performances. This was based on the Porchester Ball scene, the work of Jean Fredricks and photographer Robert Workman. For further information on the event, click here: 220611 Bishopsgate Institute x Guildhall School: The Blu Palace Ball | Bishopsgate Institute
Please do not feel limited in responding to these links, they are intended to highlight the many different collections that Bishopsgate Institute holds and a starting point for your own research:
Harper, Clifford | Bishopsgate Institute
Freedom Press Archive | Bishopsgate Institute
Franko B Archive | Bishopsgate Institute
230314 The Coronation and the People | Bishopsgate Institute
How to apply:
Alumni are invited to apply by downloading and completing the project proposal form and budget template below. Please email these to Iona McTaggart at iona.mctaggart@gsmd.ac.uk.
Applications will close at 11:59pm on the 15th January 2023.