Welsh Rural Dance Commissions - Create & Develop New Work

The Rural Touring Dance Commissions programme aims to support independent and mid-career Welsh dance artists, strengthen rural touring infrastructure, and widen equitable cultural access across geographically dispersed communities in Wales.

The programme directly addresses challenges identified within the Wales Dance Review and Arts Council of Wales priorities: reduced creation capacity among freelance artists, limited touring opportunities, and uneven access to professional dance in rural areas.

This programme integrates commissioning, mentoring, production support and touring pathway development, enabling artists to make ambitious new work while ensuring rural venues and communities benefit from increased opportunities to engage with high quality Welsh dance.

Two artists or companies will each receive a £10,000 commission to support the development of new work.

• Time and funding to move beyond early R&D
• Support for rehearsal space, collaborators and materials
• Guidance on adapting work for rural touring contexts

This is a development-focused commission, designed to prepare work for future touring rather than deliver a full tour within this programme.

We welcome applications from:

• Independent and mid-career dance artists or small companies
• Artists based in Wales, or with a strong track record of working in Wales
• Those interested in creating work for small-scale or non-traditional spaces
• Artists committed to accessible and inclusive practice
• Those keen to engage with rural audiences and communities

We particularly encourage applications from artists bringing diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

Deadline 31/8/2026

The project is funded by the Arts Council of Wales.