We develop talent in a number of ways and it’s at the very heart of what we do as an organisation. Everything we do is through the scope of talent development. From being a home to hundreds of students who choose to learn their craft and hone their discipline in our building every day, to supporting professional artists with money, pastoral support, networking, fundraising support and space. We are committed to investing over £150,000 in talent development initiatives and supporting new work every year for the next three years.

Associate Artists

in 2023 we were lucky enough to recruit four established artists or artistic companies who have national or international reputation for three years from 2023 – 26 to create new work that pushes the boundaries of form, uses innovative technologies in their work and undertakes significant public engagement through participatory arts and co-creation. Our associates will not only develop and produce new artistic work that inspires, challenges or delights audiences, but will help guide our organisation to achieve its mission. These artists will work with us over the three years on bespoke major commissions, significant presentation opportunities and will support our talent development opportunities for local innovate artists including open rehearsal or creation processes, workshops, and mentorship. Including connecting to peer review through our Critical Friends group.

Innovate Artists

Each year we support six local artists or artistic companies over a period of one year to develop new work, up-skill and grow in both their creative development and their business development through seed-commissions, mentoring, networking, courses and paid work opportunities. Our Innovate Artist Cohort give local artists the space and support to develop their creative disciplines in addition to the tools to do arts management. This includes equipping them with a business plan, fundraising strategy, tax return support and much more. All the things it takes to survive and thrive as an independent artist in the 21st century.

Independent Producers Network

Evidence suggests that working with independent producers is one of the best ways to grow thriving arts ecologies, so we will be introducing a scheme to work with local independent producers on a retainer basis, and connect them with our associate and resident artists, or to put them on attachment with local performing or visual arts companies to develop and grow the reach, profile, professionalism and resourcing of their work.

Other ways we support and develop talent: 

Demo: is a series of work-in-progress evenings where artists are paid to present 20 minutes of work in front of a supportive audience. They also get that new work documented professionally and receive facilitated feedback from supportive peers.

Evolve: is a programme that aims to build relationships between schools, cultural organisations and venues to create a more diverse creative arts offer for children and young people across rural Lincolnshire.

The Lincoln Company: is our company of current and recently graduated students from the Lincoln School of Creative Arts. Together with professionals this company creative new artistic products and bridges the gap between being a student and being a professional practising artist.