Jaivant Patel Company, Bradford Arts Centre and South East Dance are inviting applications from emerging South Asian LGBTQIA+ artists developing bold new performance work.
The SAMANATA South Asian Queer Performance Seed Commission champions South Asian queer voices and experiences within the UK cultural landscape. The word samanata means equality, and the initiative aims to address the ongoing under-representation of South Asian LGBTQIA+ perspectives in contemporary performance.
The commission is designed to support artists at the earliest stages of creating new work, providing time, space and mentorship to explore ideas without the pressure of delivering a finished production.
The partners are looking for applications from artists whose work places South Asian queerness at the centre of its subject matter and explores contemporary LGBTQIA+ social, political or cultural concerns. They are particularly interested in unconventional and innovative approaches to performance-making, including cross-artform practices and self-made or solo projects.
The selected artist will receive:
- A £2,800 seed commission (a fund to support the development of a new project)
- Five days of research and development space in Wolverhampton, Bradford or Brighton during Autumn 2026
- Two days of mentoring with Jaivant Patel, Artistic Director of Jaivant Patel Company
- ·Up to £200 towards additional access, counselling or coaching costs.
Jaivant Patel, Artistic Director of Jaivant Patel Company, says: ‘SAMANATA gives artists the freedom to explore ideas and experiment without the expectations of a completed product. By investing in the diverse creative journeys of British-South Asian artists, we continue to nurture new voices, support artistic risk-taking and create greater visibility for South Asian queer stories within the UK’s performance sector.’
The opportunity is open to early-career South Asian LGBTQIA+ artists with a minimum of two years’ experience developing independent work.
Applications close at 9.00am on Tuesday 30 June 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by 31 July 2026.
Further information and to apply: https://jaivantpatelcompany.com/samnat-2026