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Across the Water, a pilot project for Producers Of Colour


From left: Renn Miano, Amy Lawrence and Dan Kok.

Irish Theatre Institute is delighted to announce, Across the Water (ATW), a pilot project that aims to cultivate a new collaborative network and community for Producers Of Colour. In 2024, through an exciting programme of connections, the project will create a constellation of producers across Scotland, England, and the Republic of Ireland, focused on experimental theatre, dance, performance and visual arts.  
 
ATW will host informal opportunities to share resources and experiences within experimental dance, performance and visual arts focusing on events, artist development and community-led programming. 
 
A challenge to the independent experimental performance sector is enabling independent producers to maintain a sustainable career. There are more sustainable ways that producers (and producing organisations) can work closer together as support structures to provide employment and development opportunities for producers. 
 
Amy Lawrence and Dan Kok will lead the pilot project, in collaboration with Renn Miano, and with support from Irish Theatre Institute They will learn from each other’s working contexts in their own local arts ecologies, with a focus on knowledge sharing around funding and socio-political context and resources to imagine a potential future for ATW.  
 
Renn Miano will support producing connections in Dublin and beyond, culminating in a programme of networking meetings and learning, as well as attending Dublin Fringe festival in Sept 2024, to foster new networks. In October, a networking trip to Fierce, an exciting Birmingham-based live arts festival, will take place, to seek out events and opportunities to establish meaningful new peer connections.  
 
The ATW legacy sees an ongoing remote network between the Scotland, England and Ireland POC producers alongside the potential for a networking exchange trip to Scotland/England for the Ireland-based BPOC network and further funding for collaborative and creative BPOC-led projects across nations. 
 
 A project founded by Amy Lawrence and Dan Kok, in partnership with Irish Theatre Institute.  
 
 The Four Nations International Fund supports those working in the arts and creative industries across the UK nations, together with their counterparts in Europe and beyond. With co-investment from Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Arts Council Wales / Wales Arts International and Creative Scotland.  
 

Amy Lawrence

Amy is an artist, producer and curator from Lancashire, based in Glasgow. Her creative practice is an approach to storytelling as a surreal and archival practice using multiple visual and experimental performance and choreographic outcomes within a socially engaged approach to gathering. She often works site specifically in challenging spaces such as outdoors at night and busy public spaces or pointing at institutional frameworks in place and at play in the arts space. Amy sees producing as part of this practice, work which allows her to support the artist community.   

Recent roles include Associate producer at Take Me Somewhere and Dance/Performance producer at Tramway (Glasgow:2021-2024.) Artist commissions have included Food/Art and Eating Project ‘HUNGRY GHOSTS’  with Compass festival (Leeds: 2022-2024.) Amy was a board member with Manchester International festival/Factory International (2018-2022.) 

 Renn Miano 

 Renn Miano is a versatile DJ, writer, photographer, archivist, and anti-disciplinary artist based in Ireland. As the founder of Origins Eile and CO-OP label DIAxDEM, Miano curates cultural projects that celebrate Black Queer People and people of color. Origins Eile focuses on creating visibility and support networks for emerging artists, emphasizing inclusivity and community. 

With over a decade of experience, Miano is known for their outspoken, resourceful, and empathetic approach to community work through the arts. Their dedication to uplifting marginalized voices has earned them accolades such as the *Law Praeses Elit Award (2020) and the Arts Participation Award (2023). Recognized by the Irish Times as one to watch in 2018, Miano continues to impact the arts and culture scene significantly.   

Miano’s work is a testament to their commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all artists. 

 Dan Kok 

 Dan is a freelance producer and programmer working in contemporary performance. Currently he is working for Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture as the International Partnerships Programme Lead and previously co-led on Another Route which was an Arts Council England, British Council and Jerwood Arts funded programme to support England based artists to internationalise their practice. 

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