THE DAVID BATHUR CREATIVE FELLOWSHIP

ANNOUNCING

On December 18 at the KXT2024 Launch the winner of the inaugural David Bathur Creative Fellowship was announced - this years recipient is LILY HAYMAN

LILY HAYMAN

I intend to use the David Bathur Creative Fellowship to begin a conversation between myself as an independent artist, Artificial Intelligence experts working with advanced chat bots and memory, and aging members of our community to develop a new response to mortality, loss and community through emerging technologies. I am fascinated by the idea of humanities attempt at legacy and being remembered. I believe art has a key role to play here, to examine what a new world of digital interaction means for us when we face death and the ultimate disconnection.

THE FINALISTS the following four finalists were selected from an astonishing pool of applicants, and announced at an event in the KXT Vault on Saturday 30 September. Joining us for the evening were Davie’s mother Linda and brother Alex. Through October the Bathur family will meet with each finalist along with Shan-Ree Tan.

 

AJ LAMARQUE | MIXED

My aim for Mixed is to be part-storytelling, part-exploration of what it means to be Mixed Race. As an identity, it should theoretically be the majority. But through my years of performing, writing and engaging with the community, there’s very few people who identify with a Mixed ethnicity identity. Ultimately, what I want to explore with this work and this opportunity is the why? What does the Mixed Race existence mean for society, what could it mean for the future of race conversations and, why are we afraid of having the conversation? On a more personal level, I want to also explore what it means for how the world engages with me.

MADHULLIKAA SINGH

The premise of my idea is to explore intergenerational trauma and the power of individual agency and community that comes with the true change required to break intergenerational cycles. As a childhood trauma survivor, I am acutely aware of the intergenerational familial, socio-political and other cycles that conspired to make way for the trauma in my life. I want to delve into the roots of these cycles and understand how they affect individuals and communities over generations. Through the process, I intend to communicate the urgency of breaking these cycles and the potential for true change that comes with embracing individual agency and collective healing

IZABELLA LOUK

The way we view sustainability right now, is as a chore. Whether that’s because we’re scared or bored, we’re not having the necessary empowering conversations. The premise of this project is to give people a space to feel climate related grief, and then to start empowered conversations on how we can all take individual responsibility and participate in collective climate action. The way we view sustainability right now, is as a chore. Whether that’s because we’re scared or bored, we’re not having the necessary empowering conversations. A series of community movement sessions, guided reflections and conversations on the environment, seminars where we can openly acknowledge our environmental based fears, experience these fears together, and then turn them into exciting art.



David Bathur was a bAKEHOUSE Board Member from 2017 until his sad passing in 2022.

Dave was deeply driven to see the world a better place for all, and his work and passion combined social justice, politics, creativity and communication. There was no one like to Dave to see a thing as it was, and clearly and kindly state what was to be done.

For thirty years, Dave was a collaborator, supporter, co-conspirator, cheerleader and enthusiastic participant in all the wild adventures cooked up by Suzanne, John and bAKEHOUSE, and he is deeply missed.

To celebrate his life, work and big-hearted support of all the bAKEHOUSE endeavours, we are excited to announce the launch of the David Bathur Creative Fellowship.

We are looking for an individual with big ideas and wildly creative plans to spend a week of residency in the Vault at KXT on Broadway.

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?

  • a week long residency in the KXT Vault at KXT on Broadway

  • potential additional time throughout the year should further development be beneficial

  • creative mentoring from the KXT Creative team

  • $1000 stipend for the selected artist

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The birth of the big unknown idea. The clever thought teased out until it begins to take shape.

A proposal for a program that celebrates communication and creativity; invests in the interaction of social change and the arts; or similar

MORE

Your project may be exploring ideas relevant to philosophy, science, architecture, design, social impact, AI, film, theatre, dance, experimental performance, music, sound, visual arts, hybrid, or something different, new or undefined. At its heart we’re looking for something that brings together creativity, communication, and innovation. Your Residency format may include, but is not limited to, workshops, collaborations, facilitated conversations, symposiums, research and developments, creative developments, rehearsals, or sharings

We’re offering a birthplace for ideas and action

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The recipient may be an artist; an academic; working in media; working with or partnering with a community org; or similar. Note: that while the work done may evolve into a piece of theatre, we are not looking for playwrighting or play development proposals.

OUTCOMES:

We’ve left the detail purposefully opaque: we’d like to see some truly unconventional projects launched. We’re calling for something highly conceptual and exploratory: we know Dave would have loved that! 

We would hope this residency could be the first building blocks for ground breaking artistic work; social justice initiatives; community engagement; or similar.

SHOULD I APPLY?

Thinking of applying? When finalising the Fellowship the KXT Artistic Team of Suzanne Millar and John Harrison, in consultation with Alex Bathur and the Bathur family, and family friend Shan-Ree Tan will consider the following:

  • Your project aims to discuss, explore, examine, or test an idea that draws together creativity and action. It is not necessary to be able to fully articulate this! We are looking for the big, unknown idea. It is possible and indeed likely that time in the Fellowship will transform this starting idea.

  • The KXT Vault’s facilities and availability is viable for your proposed activity, and bAKEHOUSE is a suitable platform for its development. Please note that this does not mean it needs to be theatre related.

  • Your residency activity will advance your project’s development, output or outcomes, and has not been previously undertaken

  • You will share evidence of your progress either through presentation, open studio, or strong documentation. This will be to the bAKEHOUSE Board, the KXT team and the Bathur family at a time that suits all

  • Note: The length of Residency offered to you will be relative to the needs of your activity. Your preferred duration will be considered.

FOR REFERENCE

Previously bAKEHOUSE supported work that:

  • partnered with Mumbai based orgs combating sex trafficking;

  • investigated through theatre how to live with chronic pain and catastrophic health challenges;

  • provided grass roots engagement with disadvantaged students in Mt Druitt;

  • and more.

Read about previous bAKEHOUSE community engagement programs HERE and HERE and HERE please note that these are examples only and not intended as an exact indicator for what we are looking for - surprise us!

We’re asking Sydney’s artistic community to help us celebrate a wonderful man, by doing something wonderful.

KEEN TO APPLY? read on

RECIPIENT RECEIVES:

  • one full week spent working in the Vault space at KXT on Broadway, at an agreed and suitable time

  • the option to continue the work on site beyond this subject to suitable availability

  • mentoring session with the bAKEHOUSE creative team

  • $1000 stipend for the artist selected

OUTCOMES:

  • Recipient is to document their time in whichever way they chose. This could be photographic; filmed; written; drawn. This documentation will be a shared resource for the recipient and bAKEHOUSE

  • An informal presentation for the Bathur family and bAKEHOUSE Creative team at the conclusion of the residency, at a time arranged suitable to all

  • Should the residency lead to future work, published work, staged productions or similar, it will be noted that the work was made possible with the support of the David Bathur Creative Fellowship

READY TO GO??

  1. email bakehousetheatrecompany@gmail.com with a brief introduction of yourself and your idea

  2. attached a single page word doc no longer detailing the premise of your originating idea; reason for applying; hoped-for outcome; noting any particular or unique aspects to your project

  3. include your mobile and best email

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL end of business MONDAY 31 JULY

IMAGE GALLERY L TO R: Two Chairs; bACE; I Am We Are; StoryLines