SERVICE USED: NETWORK MEET-UP
BY: JEN WREN, Artistic Director of Slanjayvah Danza
FOR: Networking with members and finding out more about our services: Edinburgh Festival meetup, August 2019.
“My name is Jen Wren and I’m the artistic director of Slanjayvah Danza, a dance theatre company celebrating cultural exchange and community spirit through dance, music, song and storytelling.
I’ve been a member of the Touring Network for a little while now but until August 2019, I hadn’t had the chance to attend any of the networking events or meet ups and most of my communication with the organisation had been via email.
During our run of “6 Feet, 3 Shoes”, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I jumped at the opportunity to go to a network meet up, to meet the core team of The Touring Network and other members.
I genuinely feel much more comfortable and connected with people once I have had a face to face interaction and I wanted the chance to learn more about what the organisation does, as well as meet other members and hear about their work.
I was quickly welcomed into the already started conversation and although other members might have attended before, I still had the opportunity to learn the in’s and outs of membership, the networks activities and opportunities I could access.
This was an informative and eye opening chat. I was able to ask a variety of long standing questions I had as well as discuss my work and various ways in which the network could assist me to connect with the rural communities in Scotland. I also had the chance to meet, listen to and learn what other artists were doing and how they were managing their own projects.
A truly valuable experience, I feel I can now easily pick up the phone to The Touring Network organisers for support and advice. I am looking forward to further network meetings and would recommend that if you get the chance to go, go. These are friendly, informal and informative chatty sessions (with coffee and cake!).
Slanjayvah Danza has recently been awarded Touring Funds from Creative Scotland, allowing us to reach rural communities across Scotland. I’m looking forward to being more involved in the network of artists, members and their communities and working closely with The Touring Network whilst we plan and deliver our “6 Feet, 3 Shoes” programme of performance and community activities for Autumn 2020.”
Slanjayvah danza were awarded as part of Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for touring in 2020. They have already secured dates with NEAT, Spot-on Lancashire and Highlights Rural Touring Networks and are looking forward to announcing further dates soon.
ABOUT NETWORK MEET-UPS: Our monthly network meet-ups take place across the region and are an informal affair – come to ask questions, get advice or simply chew the fat with the Touring Network team and other network members. Find out more here
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