MettaMorphosis

Mentoring and Artist Support

Our industry is not an equitable or transparent ecology. Creatives are privileged at every stage of their careers by their networks, their educational privilege and the numerous other structural inequalities that make theatre a microcosm of an equally unjust society. At Metta we believe in social justice across all fronts. And we also believe that our industry and the artistic work we make can only benefit from a diversity of voices being given a place at the table.

So we will always open doors (break down doors if necessary) and demystify the jargon that surrounds funding applications, and just generally help support and mentor theatre-makers and producers who face structural barriers to success in our industry.

"I'm taking my first small steps in producing and directing musical theatre, and P at Metta Theatre has been a generous, effective and totally reliable source of advice and encouragement." Freelance producer/director

Potential MettaMorphosis ARTISTS in need of support - to make this programme more transparent and accessible to everyone, every month we’re going to post our availability here for an initial FREE 30 minute zoom consultation - during that time we’ll furnish you with as much advice, wisdom and as many venue contact details from our address books as we can. And if it feels like a relationship that we have capacity to devote more time to we’ll let you know and establish more still FREE meetings and/or offer reading/proofing with your funding applications. Basically it’s always FREE to artists to participate in this programme. Please only engage with this opportunity if you are from an under-represented group.*

“Metta Theatre have been instrumental in my artistic development. They have offered a safe, welcoming and supportive space for me to ask questions, shadow and seek advice on a number of different projects, allowing me to evolve into a circus director and creator. They are brilliantly insightful and help make UK circus theatre come to life.” Freelance Circus artist 

We will update this at the beginning of every month with our availability for the following month - make sure you book for whichever one of us feels the best fit. If you have access needs (interpreters, note-takers etc) please let us know when you book a slot so we can support you.

SIGN UP HERE

https://calendly.com/pburtonmorgan

https://calendly.com/wbdreynolds


Over the last decade we have worked with over 30 queer, deaf/disabled/neurodiverse and/or global majority artists, and we’ve done that work for free because it matters to us, but that has meant we just do it for people we already know and love (which is not the most transparent and accessible.)

To expand this mentoring we need your help. POTENTIAL DONORS Please support us by donating what you can. It’s not your regular crowdfunding ask, but your help in actually supporting freelancers to upskill and advance their careers (whilst redressing the systemic inequity of our industry and wider society) is better than any free t-shirt, even one that we’ve made ourselves. Here’s what your money is going towards:

  • £25 - buys a 30 minute consultation for an emerging theatre-maker or producer with one of the Metta team (either P Burton-Morgan to discuss - fundraising, venue relationships, up-scaling your work, general career development or Will Reynolds to discuss - environmental sustainability, budgeting and financial management) 

  • £50 - buys some tailored artistic/venue match-making for an artist and their project (drawing on our venue relationships with over 200 UK venues and over 1000 creatives)

  • £100 buys a read and proof of an Arts Council (or equivalent) funding application - including detailed notes and feedback to help maximise an artist’s chances of funding success.

  • £500 - goes directly to an artist as a no-strings-attached bursary to allow them to pay themselves for a week of writing or creation time on their latest project, or to be used as match funding for an arts council bid.

*ALSO let’s not reinvent the wheel - here are some other initiatives that you might find better suit your needs (and if you know of more let us know so that we can keep this up to date)