4 Nations Bursary Programme

We’ve invited Surge to share an update about the 4 Nations Bursary Programme, which supports emerging artists to perform their work across the UK.

Following the success of the inaugural year of the 4 Nations bursary in 2022 and 2023, we had another successful year in 2024 and now again have five acts taking part this year. The 4 Nations Bursary programme has been set up to give opportunities for emerging artists to have their work seen at four major festivals and be introduced via the 4 national network organisations to a wide variety of programmers, producers and artists across the outdoor arts sector. Importantly the 4 Nations Bursary is actively seeking out artists from underrepresented groups in the sector.

This year’s partners are partners are Articulation, Green Man Trust, ISACS and Bradford Producing Hub.

The 4 Nations Bursary provides early career artists the opportunity to create new work, mentored by professionals and performance platforms and festivals attended by local, national and international programmers. Each act receives mentoring across all elements of creating work including creation, producing and marketing. An important element of the bursary is to create increasing diversity in outdoor arts through identifying the most appropriate underrepresented groups in each nation.

4 Nations helps bursary participants develop networking opportunities and liaise with their local arts council funding body. We cover the cost of transport, accommodation and subsistence, pay performance fees. We also help with recruitment, marketing and monitoring and evaluation. We offer rehearsal space and provide film footage and photos for future marketing of projects too.

The outcome is that the chosen acts are tour ready and have a developed marketing pack at the end of the process and the fostering of active partnerships between festivals and outdoor arts organisations across the British Isles.