2018/2019 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 FOREWORD 02 THE MISSION 03 WHAT WE DO 04 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION 05 TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 11 CAPACITY BUILDING, PROJECTS AND SERVICES 14 ADVOCACY 15 FST BOARD, STAFF AND SUPPORTERS / SPONSORS 16 FST MEMBERSHIP 17 FINANCIAL INFORMATION 19 01 FOREWORD FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 Welcome to the FST Annual Report for 2018-19, which sets out some highlights of our work to support the sector over the past year. Networking is always is a priority and our meetings and forums continued to be well-attended. I’m delighted to report that attendance at our refreshed traning programme was up by over 40% this year. We’ve also been working hard to represent the industry’s views at local, regional, national and international level. FST members played a major role in informing the development of Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund, and endorsed a new Code of Conduct for Touring Theatre & Dance in Scotland. Our new Go, See, Network, Share Fund helps our members to make and maintain the international connections and networks that will be ever more vital in the days and months ahead. Our Chair Alex McGowan came to the end of his second term of office at the end of September 2018; I’m particularly grateful for his support during my first year in post. We revised our Memorandum and Articles so that we could appoint new co-Chairs, Liam Sinclair and Belinda McElhinney, demonstrating our commitment to finding more flexible ways of working. Alasdair McCrone also stepped down at the end of his term, and we welcomed Louise Gilmour-Wills and Rhona Matheson to the Board. And just after the end of the year, our events and membership assistant Anna Broomfield moved on to a new role, taking with her our thanks and our very best wishes. We’re very lucky at FST to have such supportive and generous members. The team and I benefit enormously from their energy and enthusiasm, and we’re looking forward to the coming year as we continue to support the sector to flourish in times of change. Jude Henderson Director 02 THE MISSION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 ION IMS VIS E A E R H O T A confident and ambitious dance, C To support Scotland’s dance, opera opera and theatre sector creating work and theatre sector to be a world leader of the highest quality in artistic and management practice • • More people watching and participating in To be a key influencer in Scoland’s professional dance, opera and theatre from all civic and cultural life communities across Scotland • • To ensure the long-term financial A well-resourced and managed dance, stability of FST and continually strive opera and theatre ecology to be a well-managed and effective organisation, making the best use of resources 03 WHAT WE DO FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 Networking and Information • Members’ Meetings • Specialist Forums Training and Professional Development • Emporium Market Day • Emporium Early Dialogue Day • Mentoring • Festivals Reception • Bursaries: • Members-only e-bulletins - Producer Bursaries - Assistant Director Bursaries - Future Proofing Bursary • Training Courses • Technical Winter School Advocacy • Consultation with Members • Working Groups Capacity Building Projects and Services • Input into Government, HMRC and • Environmental Creative Scotland consultations • Access Theatre Guide • Active participation in Culture Counts • Future Proofing project • Captioning • Made in Scotland 04 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 MEMBERS’ MEETINGS FORUMS EMPORIUM FESTIVALS RECEPTION Members’ Meeting Members’ Meeting Members’ Meeting Members’ Meeting 27 June 2018, 26 September 2018, 5 December 2018, 28 March 2019, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Perth Theatre (including AGM) Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Attendance: 64 Attendance: 52 Attendance: 73 Attendance: 47 The meeting included a presentation from The meeting included the AGM and FST Board The meeting included a Creative Scotland The meeting included updates on the Creative Scotland on the new Touring Fund, elections, a panel discussion on audience update from Kenneth Fowler (Director of Touring Fund Code of Practice, FST evidence a specialist talk from Anderson Strathern on development and a session looking for feedback Communications), a panel discussion on Brexit to the CTEER committee funding inquiry employment issues and a presentation from on the sector’s data needs in relation issues and a discussion on the draft cultural and audience data. Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA). to audiences. values statement developed through our Ok/Not Works in progress presentation: Ok workshops. Work in progress presentations: • Anahat Theatre - Instructions on How to Cry • Suzanne Lofthus, Cutting Edge Theatre – Work in progress presentations: projects for people with additional • Neo Productions – Shona the Musical support needs • Mamoru Iriguchi – Sex Education Xtreme • Ruth Siller, Surge – Beautiful Bones 05 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 MEMBERS’ MEETINGS FORUMS EMPORIUM FESTIVALS RECEPTION Opportunity to stay connected with colleagues across theatre and dance in Scotland and think collectively “ about the challenges we face. Anita Clark, The Workroom ” As an independent artist loneliness is endemic and really affects my ability to feel supported. The more meetings “I turn up to, the more people I meet and connect with. It’s the closest I can imagine it would be to having a regular place of work! Emma Jayne Park, Cultured Mongrel The opportunity to learn from and network ” amongst peers who have a common understanding “about our area of work, the joys, frustrations and areas for collaboration. Sam Eccles ” 06 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 MEMBERS’ MEETINGS FORUMS EMPORIUM FESTIVALS RECEPTION Health and Safety Forum Touring Forum Producers Forum Touring Forum Producers Forum 19 February, 26 April 2018, 14 June 2018, 18 October 2018, 28 November 2018, Pitlochry Dance Base, Edinburgh Tron Theatre, Glasgow Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling It was a chance to Chaired by Simon Hart Chaired by Anita Clark Chaired by Simon Hart Chaired by Anita Clark catch up and connect (Puppet Animation Scotland) (The Work Room) (Puppet Animation Scotland) (The Work Room) with fellow technical Attendance: 28 Attendance: 28 Attendance: 27 Attendance: 22 and production staff on The Forum included an information The forum included a presentation from The forum included an information session Forum attendees discussed and shared all aspects of Health session on the Touring Fund from Jean Cameron and group activities focussed from Creative Scotland on the Touring Fund experiences of international professional and Safety in Scotland. Creative Scotland (while the Fund on facilitating others in complex patterns (the practicalities of a newly introduced fund) development opportunities. was in design, which allowed for of partnerships. and discussion on what is required from an audience development/data agency feedback and ideas), with additional in Scotland. discussion on the needs of touring outwith the Touring Fund. Technical Leadership Forum Dance Forum Dance Forum 20 February, 8 June 2018, 25 October 2018, Pitlochry Dance North Scotland, Findhorn Scottish Opera, Glasgow The forum included presentation on Chaired by Emma Jayne Park Chaired by Emma Jayne Park the MA3 Console, venue mapping (Cultured Mongrel) and Rob Heaslip (Cultured Mongrel) and Rob Heaslip software and there were talks from (Rob Heaslip Dance) (Rob Heaslip Dance) Creative Carbon Scotland and the Attendance: 35 Attendance: 24 Scottish Drama Training Network. The forum focussed on sector infrastructure The forum focussed on provision of CPD and barriers for independent artists. support to dance artists and best practice in delivering Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). It also included feedback from FST’s Communicating Dance training. 07 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 MEMBERS’ MEETINGS FORUMS EMPORIUM FESTIVALS RECEPTION Emporium – Early Dialogue Day 13 March 2019, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock Attendance: 45 Presentations at EDD: On Early Dialogue Day, Sarah Jean Couzens presents: Blake’s Circus ten producing artists and companies Kate Nelson (Nutshell Theatre) presents: Bowling Green (working title) presented works in progress to Adrian Mead presents: DIY Funeral programmers and promoters in Belle Jones presents: Flora round table discussions. Diane Thornton (Tenterhooks) presents: Galapagos! Jordan & Skinner present: I Like What I Like Rob Jones presents: Plutus, or, The Comedy of Wealth Mamoru Iriguchi presents: S.E.X. (Sex Education Xtreme) John McCann presents: The Link Rob Heaslip presents: The Wren Boys Emporium – Market Day 14 March 2019, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock Attendance: 156 Market Day was attended by 156 delegates and there were 422 one-to-one meetings scheduled throughout the day, plus a panel discussion on accessible touring. 08 NETWORKING AND INFORMATION FST ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019 MEMBERS’ MEETINGS FORUMS EMPORIUM FESTIVALS RECEPTION EARLY DIALOGUE DAY MARKET DAY ARTIST FEEDBACK It was an excellent opportunity to introduce myself to a big It was not only a huge learning curve for me but a fantastic bunch of promoters and venues in one day and I was well opportunity to be involved, meet other artists and programmers “supported in presenting the best of myself at that event “and feel like I’m starting to be part of the Scottish dance and Caitlin Skinner, Jordan & Skinner theatre community. Jen Wren, Slanjayvah Danza It was useful to get feedback on the work presented,” how it was viewed, how venues programme and what they take into “ consideration. It also makes facilitating future It was very useful and we’re in the process of following up on ” conversation much easier and has started what we hope is connections and possible bookings. We have had one booking meaningful partnership. “directly through someone we met at the event, and another that was confirmed following a face to face meeting. Michelle McKay, freelance producer The Occasion Theatre PROMOTER FEEDBACK ” ” Excellent event - I really enjoyed the day and it was really useful.