TwoCan Theatre Company is thrilled to launch our very first Artist in Residence Programme.
Are you a Gloucestershire based disabled artist passionate about making live performance?
- Do you want paid time to think, create, be mentored and attend workshops?
- Do you have the beginnings of a brilliant idea for a project you’d love to develop?
If the answer is yes, then this opportunity is for YOU.
About the ArtistS In Residence Programme
TwoCan, Gloucestershire’s pioneering disabled-led theatre company, is partnering with Strike A Light and Gloucester Guildhall to offer an exciting 5-month artist development programme, from January – May 2026.
We’re offering two artist residencies through an application and interview process.
>> Download this callout as a PDF
>> Download this call out as a Word Document
What You’ll Receive:
- 25 paid days at £150/day just for you, (£3750) to provide you with: paid time to think, to create, to read, to visit spaces, to chat
- 3 mentoring sessions with a professional from the industry tailored to what you need
- 4 artist workshops tailored to you with artistic input from TwoCan
- Dedicated time with Nickie Miles-Wildin (TwoCan’s Artistic Director) to creatively interrogate your ideas and assist with planning of timelines, budgeting for project etc
- Opportunities to network with other artists (disabled and non disabled) across Gloucestershire and the South West
- A mentoring session from Emma-Jane Benning (Artistic Director, Strike A Light) and Red Isaac (Lead Producer, Gloucester Guildhall)
- An additional £1,500 to support a one-week research and development period in May. This funding should cover your own fees as well as those of any other creatives you wish to collaborate with. You will also be provided with free workspace by TwoCan and Gloucester Guildhall, with the option to share your work at the end of the week.
“We are SO excited to have this opportunity to support two Gloucestershire based disabled artists with time to think, develop and create. It comes at an important time for us as we begin to reimagine TwoCan and the work we offer for local artists.
We are thrilled to be supported by Arts Council England and to work with Strike A Light and Gloucester Guildhall to address inequality in the arts, challenge preconceptions about disabled people and champion their creativity.”
Nickie Miles-Wildin, Artistic Director, TwoCan Theatre Company
Who Can Apply?
We welcome applications from anyone who:
- Identifies as disabled. By disabled person we include anyone who identifies as disabled, Deaf, neurodivergent, learning disabled, living with a long-term health condition, mental health conditions, chronic illness, energy limiting impairments and more. We understand that you may use different terminology and you do not have to prefer the term disabled artist to apply.
- Is based in Gloucestershire (lives full time in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, Stroud or Cotswold District) and makes work in England.
- Is passionate about live performance and has an idea or project they’d love to explore. (eg. e.g.performance maker, theatre maker, director, writer, puppeteer, dancer, circus performer)
- Is not in full time education
- Has not previously received funding for their idea
Please note that due to our funding and skillset, this is not a call out for visual artists, photographers or film makers at this time.
How to apply
You can apply in a few different ways – choose whichever works best for you.
- Complete the online application form (Google Form)
- Or download the Word document version and send this via email to twocan@twocantheatre.org.uk
You can submit your application in written, audio, or video format – whichever you’re most comfortable with.
Application questions:
- 1. Tell us about you as an artist and what you hope to gain from this residency. You can tell us about your chosen artform or work you have already created. (No more than 500 words or longer than 3 mins)
2. What creative idea or project would you like to explore during the bursary? It doesn’t have to be a fully rounded idea. Give us a list of themes or make a vision board and explain what you have included etc. (No more than 350 words or longer than 3 mins)
Access support
Need support to access or complete the form?
Please contact: twocan@twocantheatre.org.uk for more information.
>> Apply via online application form
>> Apply via word document application form
Monitoring Form
Please download the equal opportunities form* (below) and send it to twocan@twocantheatre.org.uk.
*this information will be separated from your application and is used for monitoring purposes only, not as part of the shortlisting process
>> Download the equal opportunities monitoring form
If you have any questions or issues with applying please contact: twocan@twocantheatre.org.uk
dates
- Application Deadline: Monday 24th November 2025 at midday
- Shortlisted applicants selected for interview will be notified on 1st December 2025
- Interviews: 8th December and 9th December 2025 and will be online. Access provided will include British sign language interpreters and closed captioning.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with TwoCan on this project to open up space for disabled makers to think, create and be paid. It’s an exciting extension of our Let Artists Be Artists initiative and working with Twocan means this will reach the right people. We hope this is the beginning of something…..”
EJ Benning, Artistic Director Strike A Light
FAQS
Got any more questions, get in touch: twocan@twocantheatre.org.uk
Strike A Light 