Dance Mapping - Arts Council England

Some fluctuations may occur to these figures as companies may not create work each year,
but there is a general trend in the reduction of funds available for the artistic programme as
other company costs increase.
3. The distribution/touring picture
A consultation document has recently been published that seeks to create a new framework
for touring – Towards a performing arts touring strategy for Arts Council England – a
discussion paper. The paper gives an overview of the development of a new strategy for
performing arts touring, listing questions for the consultation exercise. It refers to the
McMaster report that recommended that, ‘a new way forward be found that reclaims a
strategic approach to touring, while exploiting the regional structures created by the Arts
Council England’s reorganisation.’
A touring definition was shaped by Graham Marchant in 1992. He defined touring as: ‘a group
activity which takes place in more than two venues presenting the same artists and
programme as part of a pre-arranged schedule’. Within the Grants for the arts funding
programme, national touring projects are defined as, ‘where the same work is presented in
three or more …regions’. An expansion of this definition, recognising the use of alternative
and outdoor spaces, could state that it is:
‘A group activity which takes place more than two spaces presenting the same artists and
programme as part of a pre-arranged schedule.’ It is within the context of continuing
discussions around performing arts touring that the Dance mapping research is being carried
out. Some of the issues for touring were laid out in the introductory section of this research.
What appears to have occurred during the hiatus in touring is that dance has begun to devise
its own networks to support both national and international touring.
Distribution/touring initiatives
There have been three initiatives to support touring that have made a significant difference to
the venues and the companies that these schemes ultimately support. These are the National
Dance Co-ordinating Committee (NDCC), Dance Touring Partnership and the Dance
Consortium. Rural Touring Schemes add a further dimension to opportunities for small-scale
touring and development. These schemes are very county-specific, such a Cheshire which
has a strong scheme and Highlights, in the North Pennines – used as an example below
The National Dance Co-ordinating Committee (NDCC) 33 was set up to look particularly at
ballet touring and to avoid clashes of touring dates and repertoire over a season. Originally
set up and managed by Arts Council England, it is now run by the ballet companies
33 NDCC in partnership with Equifax -Theatre Interactions -Ticket Buyer Crossover Analysis for Large Scale Dance
Performances. Work in Progress. A report is to be published in June 2009
82