Samānatā 2026

SOUTH ASIAN QUEER PERFORMANCE SEED COMMISSIONS (2026)

Jaivant Patel Company (Wolverhampton), Bradford Arts Centre (Bradford) and South East Dance (Brighton) are once again offering seed commissions to a South Asian LGBTQIA+ identifying artists/creative to support the development of innovative new performance-based work. Samānatā translates as equality.

 Seed commission applications for this performance-based work will place South Asian Queerness at the forefront of its subject matter, to address current under-representation on the UK cultural landscape.

“Samānatā is an opportunity to contribute towards increasing South Asian LGBTQIA+ narratives in performance-based contexts across the UK cultural landscape. As an associate company of Kala Sangam who have been commsioners and advocators of of the South Asian Queer professional touring work of Jaivant Patel Company, it makes perfect sense for both organsiations to join forces in this initiative to aDdress under-representation of marginalised artists/creatives.” - Jaivant Patel

Applications open Tuesday 19th May 2026 with a deadline of 9am on Tuesday 30th June 2026.

We aim to notify applicants by 31st July 2026.

Please complete the application here.

If you would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to submit your application, please contact us.

If you have any enquiries, please e-mail us on hello@jaivantpatelcompany.com

What we’re looking for:

  • New work: new ideas, or projects still at the early work-in-progress stage and performance-based in nature created by South Asian LGBTQIA+ identifying artists/creatives.

  • Work exploring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual + (LGBTQIA+) themes.

  • Work that reflects current LGBTQIA+ social, political, or cultural concerns.

  • Bold, unconventional, and innovative work, that takes performance artforms in new directions. Applications involving cross-artforms welcome.

  • Devised, self-made and/or solo work.

What we’re offering:

  • £2800 seed commission.

  • An opportunity to test and develop ideas in the early stages that is free of any expectation or finished end product.

  • 5 days R&D space in Wolverhampton, Bradford or Brighton in Autumn 2026 (Sept-Dec). Note this is subject to availability.

  • 2 days mentoring from Jaivant Patel, Artistic Director of Jaivant Patel Company.

  • Additional access, counselling, or coaching costs up to £200.

    Applicants must commit to:

  • A sharing in Autumn 2026 or Spring 2027 in Wolverhampton, Bradford or Brighton (to be mutually agreed)

  • An evaluation of the process including documentation i.e. social media, blogs etc.

Supporting evidence:

  • Please provide links to video(s) that best demonstrate your work/ practice. This could be a short extract from a performance or sharing or it could be from the rehearsal room.

Additionally, you can include a letter of support or critical review of your work to help us learn more about you.

This opportunity is for:

  • Emerging and early career artists with a minimum of 2 years experience of developing independent work (This will need to be demonstrated in the application).

  • Ideally will have some experience of sharing own independent work (please demonstrate this in the application).

This opportunity will unlikely be for:

  • Artists with established practices and careers who have extensive experience of making and touring work.

  • Ideas that are at a late stage of development and/or ready for touring.

This seed commission can used for match-funding. Seed commission can use cross-artform as part of the idea.