If you are 18-30 years old, or in the first five years of your arts career, then we’re talking about you! You might be just getting started, or you might have been at it for a few years and are looking to take the next steps in expanding your practice.  

Maybe…  

• You’ve filmed a bunch of experimental scenes and need motivation to cut them together into a film;  

• You’ve been collecting found objects for a while and are ready to curate them for exhibition;  

• You’ve been honing your cabaret act in your bedroom and are ready for an audience;  

• You’ve got a killer setlist ready to spin but no event to do it; 

• You’re a performer looking to push boundaries and perform outside of a theatre; 

• You’ve got dreams on how to transform a space using your art but haven’t had the opportunity to test it out yet; 

• You’re a visual artist who is excited about taking your art out of traditional gallery spaces; 

• You’re a performer who wants to learn how to make a new performance piece but don’t have other performers to play with; 

• You’ve been involved in projects with other people but are looking to take the next steps with your own work! 

If any of these descriptions sound like you, get applying!   

Or if you’re interested but unsure if you fit the bill, we’d love to chat and answer any questions you might have. Get in touch! 

If successful in pitching a new work for SURGE, you will largely be working independently to develop your idea and execute your vision. Ideally, SURGE artists will have had previous arts making experience and are preparing to take the next step with their independent practice. Tantrum will offer support in the form of showings and feedback sessions, technical support, and access to studio space, but primarily you will be conducting the journey of your work.

The SURGE Ensemble is for artists who want to develop their art-making skills, create a work under the guidance of professional facilitating artists, and connect with other curious creatives. No experience is necessary for the SURGE Ensemble. You will be working collaboratively on a shared performance work with other SURGE Ensemble members on a weekly basis.

Find out more about each option below:

SURGE is open to Hunter-based artists from all artistic disciplines, including performance, film, sound, visual art and digital media and installation.

Works can come from individual artists or groups. Groups looking to apply to develop a work for SURGE can lodge a joint application.

Ideally, SURGE artists will have had previous arts making experience and are preparing to take the next step with their independent practice. If successful in pitching a new work for SURGE, you will be largely be working independently to develop your idea and execute your vision.

No problem, we’d love to work with you! You can put in an application to develop a work for SURGE with any ideas you do have (they don’t have to be fully developed!).

If you are still unsure, perhaps the SURGE Ensemble is for you? You’ll be working collaboratively on a weekly basis under the guidance of facilitating artists to develop your skills and ideas!

• To develop and present a polished work that will be part of SURGE.

• Use of the Tantrum studio for development of your work.

• Group showings/feedback sessions in early August and early September leading up to the event.

• Regular check-ins with us about the progress of your work and any support we can provide.

• Basic production support, e.g. technical equipment.

Nothing – thanks to the support of Create NSW, SURGE is cost-free to all participants.

Click here to apply by completing our SURGE EOI.

Applications for both new work development and the SURGE Ensemble close on Monday 21 April 11:59 PM.

Successful applicants for both will be contacted by Tuesday 29 April.

SURGE Ensemble is an exciting opportunity to learn about contemporary performance and art-making, while devising and performing a bold new work to be presented at the SURGE event.

The SURGE Ensemble is for artists and performers who want to develop their art-making skills, create a performance work under the guidance of facilitating artists, and connect with other curious creatives.

No experience is necessary for the SURGE Ensemble. You will be working collaboratively on a shared work with other SURGE Ensemble members on a weekly basis.

The Ensemble will meet weekly, on Tuesdays from 6PM to 8PM over two blocks (13 May to 1 July, 22 July to 23 September).

During these sessions, the Ensemble will be guided by the facilitating artists (Nel Kentish and Phoebe Turnbull) through devising and art-making processes, and as a group will create an original performance work to be presented at the SURGE event in September/October.

Nothing – thanks to the support of Create NSW, SURGE is cost-free to all participants.

Click here to apply by completing our SURGE Ensemble EOI.

Applications for both new work development and the SURGE Ensemble close on Monday 21 April 11:59 PM.

Successful applicants for both will be contacted by Tuesday 29 April.  

The first meeting of the SURGE Ensemble will be on Tuesday 13 May, 6PM to 8PM.