Applause Rural Touring collaborates with artists and communities to bring exceptional arts to familiar local spaces. Each year, Applause commissions small-scale shows specifically developed for outdoor events and tours this work across our network in Kent, East, West Sussex, Essex and the wider region.
We offer these professional, exciting and unique performances to a range of promoters including small village fetes and community events (who benefit from our touring subsidy) as well as larger established events and festivals.
For 2025 we are offering the following opportunities for artists:
To tour alongside our previously commissioned work, we are looking to support up to 6 new shows to be created for touring in 2025. Please review the opportunities below for both Commissions and Reshapes.
Timeline for all applications:
- Deadline for applications is end of day 2 September
- Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 10 September
- Interviews of shortlisted applications will take place between 12-18 September
Applications will be via our online platform EVENTOTRON. If you are already registered with Eventotron you can apply to Applause Outdoor Season 2025. Otherwise, you will need to register first and then apply to the season above.
Opportunities
Small scale outdoor works: commission fees up to £4000
This opportunity is for companies with a track record in creating or performing work outdoors to support the creation of a new small-scale work. Alongside this we also offer our commissioned companies a minimum number of touring dates across our network, mentoring support during the creation process and options for subsidised rehearsal space.
Co-commission opportunities with partner organisations: commission fees up to £5000
For 2025 Applause’s partnership program provides 2 further commission opportunities with 1Degree East and 101 Outdoor Arts.
1DegreeEast – we will be seeking work by Kent/Essex based artists with an opportunity to showcase the new work at the annual South by South East Festival 2025 held at the Gulbenkian, Canterbury (end April 2025).
101 Outdoors Arts – commissioned artist/company will also receive a 1-week residency at 101 Outdoor arts, plus mentoring support for small-scale touring and design and fabrication support.
Small scale outdoor work that requires a reshape/development: development fees between £500 – £2500
This opportunity is for companies with a track record in creating or performing work outdoors to support an existing outdoor work that requires some reshaping/development to tour rurally. Alongside this we also offer our Development Award companies a minimum number of touring dates across our network, options for subsidised rehearsal space and mentoring support.
Application Process
Please read the notes for artists here before filling in the online application form.
Watch the video below to get a flavour of our work and to see who we’ve commissioned for outdoor touring previously.
![](https://applause.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/10-07-2021-093923-5452-400x267.jpg)
As a new company, the funding from Applause has been invaluable. It has allowed us to take our idea and develop it further, making a full show and getting paid for it, which is amazing. Additionally, it means that we can engage with a new audience and test our work on people. The endorsement and support from Applause gave us the confidence boost that we really needed.
Fever Birds Theatre
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