Culture Liverpool commission grants for Leap Dance Festival 2024

Liverpool’s Leap Dance Festival returns to the city this spring – and Culture Liverpool is offering special Dance Creative Commission grants to develop a new work to be showcased during the event.

Grants of between £300 and £3,000 are available to create a new piece.

Submissions are being welcomed from organisations or individuals who work with local communities, freelance artists or small collectives, and those who have necessary insurances in place such as public liability or insurer’s liability.

To qualify for a grant, prospective projects need to be of high quality and demonstrate artistic excellence; be inclusive, generate positive social impact and engender a sense of pride in Liverpool and its communities, and be part of Leap Dance Festival, either in person or digitally.

Funding has been made possible through the city council’s partnership with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Paul Doyle, Director of Leap Dance Festival, says: “We’re delighted Culture Liverpool is able to support local dance artists with opportunities to create and perform their work in the city.

“It’s a positive step towards rebuilding the dance sector in the region and ensuring dance is visible year-round within the cultural calendar.”

Leap, returning for the first time in five years, will take place from April 27 to May 11 and at locations across the city region, from cultural venues to streets, parks and public spaces.

Young people, community groups and professional dancers will come together to celebrate the art form.

Separately to this Culture Liverpool grant scheme, last autumn Leap festival organisers launched a Crowdfunder to help support the event which has already raised more than £5,200.

The full programme of events is yet to be announced but will include a community showcase, and a Youth Dance Platform at the Capstone Theatre on May 4.

Leap Dance Festival runs from April 27 to May 11. The deadline for submissions for a Dance Creative Commission Grant is 10am on February 9. Details HERE

Top: Pepperland at the Royal Court in 2017. Photo courtesy of Culture Liverpool.