Freelance Task Force Gets Underway with Brighton Appointment

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival is part of the national initiative to establish a Freelance Task Force to help support and raise awareness of the importance of theatre and performance creatives during this period of uncertainty for the arts profession. Read the Open Letter here. 

We are delighted to announce Anna Alvarez has been appointed as the Freelance Task Force member for Brighton & Hove. Anna is a dance artist raised in Argentina, Brazil and the UK and is currently based in Brighton. She has toured and worked extensively across the world, wearing different hats within her profession across Tango, contemporary dance and musical theatre as a performer, choreographer and producer.

Anna is currently serving as an “optimist” for China Plate theatre studio under their new producers programme and as movement director for a new show, La Lucha by Crowded Room Theatre. She is excited to be working in the Task Force team and looks forward to connecting and communicating with other freelancers in her role over the next few months.

We had an overwhelming response to the call-out, with over 80 applications from freelancers with experience in a wide range of artforms and backgrounds. In line with our commitment to diversity in our workforce, a panel of three people with direct experience of the sector supported BDBF in selecting a representative for the Taskforce. Thanks to the panel members Kyla Booth-Lucking (Clearcut and BDBF), independent producer Jenni Lewin-Turner (urbanflo) and Terry Adams (Projects Director, Anonymous Arts). It was a fascinating and moving experience to read the range of responses to this role and we thank everyone who took the time to respond. We are looking at ways we can stay in touch with all the applicants very soon. 

In the meantime, we would encourage those interested to join the What Next? meetings in Brighton & Hove, a national movement that brings together both freelancers, and small and large organisations to debate and shape the future of the arts and culture in the UK. 

For more information on arts sector support in Brighton & Hove during the pandemic, find out more here.

The Task Force membership is sponsored by over 138 organisations. 117 freelancers are now in place with the last few being appointed in the coming days. 

Recruitment is ongoing and further news on representation is available from fuel theatre here.