How you can access fee free shows via Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance

What is Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund

Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund supports a number of professional theatre and dance productions to tour venues across Scotland each year. The aim is to bring high-quality performances to audiences throughout the country, helping to support both artists and venues in the process.

In order to be considered as a venue that can present a show funded by The Touring Fund, venues/promoters need to sign up to the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) Touring Code of Practice.

Once you’re a signatory to the Code, you will then be eligible to receive Touring Fund work as part of the Touring Fund deal, which includes fee-free shows and the right to retain 80% of the box-office income.

What is FST’s Touring Code of Practice

The FST Touring Code of Practice is a best-practice framework for how touring artists and venues/promoters should work together.

It sets out shared expectations and responsibilities for both the artist(s) and venue/promoter, including communication, marketing, audience development and practical arrangements around presenting work. The guidance aims to encourage collaboration and a clear understanding of artist and venue roles and responsibilities, for the mutual benefit of everyone involved.

The list of current signatories to FST’s Code of Practice is hosted and maintained by Creative Scotland. You can see the full list of signatories on Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund webpage.

How do I/my venue get involved?

1. Read the FST Code of Practice and ensure you’re happy to comply with the guidance.

2. Add your venue to Tourbook. Tourbook is the online marketplace and community for everyone involved in touring live cultural events. Your venue/promoter page should share information including location, your programming approach, technical specifications of your venue(s) and videos/photos. If you need help to create an account or set up your page, you can get support from a member of the Tourbook team.

3. Sign up to the Code. Venues/promoters can sign up to the Touring Code of Practice at any time. Email [email protected] and provide: Venue/Promoter Name and address, including post code, programming contact details, and a link to your venue details on Tourbook (if applicable).

4. Once you are signed up with Creative Scotland, they will hold a list of contact details that is updated annually to ensure they have the most up-to-date information. When applicants are successful in receiving a Touring Fund award, they receive a copy of the venues/promoters contact information so they can get in touch with you directly to book. As the fund supports performances for a range of different scales, audiences and locations, not all Touring Fund work will suit your venue/location and audiences. Creative Scotland issue a press release to announce the successful fund recipients, which will provide a list of artists/companies you could reach out to directly.

5. Venues and promoters who take a Touring Fund show will be expected to report back annually on their experience of the Fund to Creative Scotland.