nottdance is 20 years old this year. For two decades, this annual international festival has been a platform to promote the work of artists who don’t classify their work as belonging to one particular art form, but instead challenge the boundaries of dance and performance.
The festival offers audiences, artists, promoters and fellow producers an insight into the work that Dance4 does throughout the year. We regularly support and commission artists to experiment with dance and performance, often inviting them to spend time in our small studio in Hockley. This dedicated choreographic workspace, hidden in the heart of Nottingham, provides a safe and secure place to explore, play, rehearse, devise and, sometimes, present their work. Through this kind of support, artists are able to develop their own practice and go on to produce great work that inspires, excites, amazes, challenges and entertains audiences in Nottingham, the UK, and around the World.
Our building has also been home for many other creative organisations from the city. These have included designers, photographers, filmmakers and perhaps most notably Reckless Sleepers, an internationally-respected theatre company who were responsible for finding and developing the space with Dance4 back in 1996. Now managed solely by Dance4, the building has a commitment to offering affordable space to both emerging and established artists and companies. We pride ourselves on it being a practical, working space for those who wish to be creative, accessible at any time of day or night, without the constraints that commercially focused buildings inevitably bring.
Considered as one of the only independent, artist-led spaces of its kind in the UK, our building is now a vital part of the dance ecology in the city, region and beyond. Many important artists have researched ideas and made work in our studio. These include Nigel Charnock, Jonathan Burrows, Wendy Houstoun, Déjà Donné, New Art Club, Bock and Vincenzi, Felix Ruckert, Willi Dorner, Goat Island, Gob Squad, Fin Walker, Hancock & Kelly, Thomas Lehmen and many, many more…
The list continues to grow, yet the demand for space far outweighs what we have available. For many years we’ve made the best of it, but now we need to think about the future. What could we achieve with more space? How could the community benefit from greater opportunities to take part, and how can we help them to see dance being made in their locality? How do we Dance4, further develop our unique position within the UK dance sector?
It’s become clear that in order to carry on working successfully, within both the sector and the wider creative industries, we need to seek alternative space; somewhere that will enable us to provide the very best conditions to explore and create dance, well into the 21st century.
Over recent years, Dance4 has been researching and campaigning for the development of a space that will fulfil this need and, in the last year we have been able to secure the support and partnership of key organisations. Following an initial feasibility study funded by Greater Nottingham Partnership (GNP) we’ve developed initial plans to build not simply a new space for Dance4, but a bigger vision - a creative production facility that will be the envy of cities across the UK and beyond. Currently called Nottingham Creative Village, the concept has already won the support of Nottingham City Council who recognise its potential to further their own regeneration commitments in and around Sneinton Market. Indeed, Nottingham Creative Village will be the cornerstone of the city’s next phase of cultural regeneration.
We have worked hard to position Dance4 as a leading creative organisation that can increase the reputation of Nottingham and the East Midlands as producers of great contemporary performance art. Nottingham Creative Village will provide Dance4 with three large purpose-built studios, artists’ workspace, artists’ temporary living space, offices and other vital resources for our archive and equipment. Additionally, the Village will be able to house up to 120 organisations on-site, providing over 300 jobs and generating over £7million into the economy of Nottingham and the region. It will enable Dance4 to stay at the forefront of international dance practice and will position Nottingham as a leader in attracting, supporting and retaining inspirational, creative talent.
So… now the hard work begins! We need to attract and secure investment from individuals, businesses, trusts, and foundations. We need to identify and commit to working with local, regional and where appropriate, national partners. We need to work with the wider project team and partners to develop an exemplary design.
Watch the website for all the latest news of the project, including ways that you can get involved. This is a bold new step for Dance4: it is as exciting and audacious as the work we support and promote. It should be magnificent.
