Oval House: Artists' Advisor (text-only version)

The Artists’ Advisor is an advice and information service for artists working in theatre and performance. Principally it supports new and emerging artists and has an emphasis on cultural diversity, including disability.

The information is aimed at artists who need input and advice about professional development.

The service is free to theatre artists working in London.

We particularly encourage practitioners who have made some work but haven’t been in receipt of public funding and who may feel unsure about how to get their work seen in professional venues.

For advice or to make an appointment call Michael Atavar on 0207 582 0080 or mail michael.atavar@ovalhouse.com

This service is provided with financial support from Arts Council London.

[e] michael.atavar@ovalhouse.com

[t] 0207 582 0080

[w] http://www.ovalhouse.com/artists

[a] Oval House, 52 – 54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

Buses: 3, 36, 109, 133, 159, 185, 355
Nearest Tubes: Oval (Northern Line, 100yrds), Vauxhall (Victoria Line and BR, 5 mins walk)

[m] map

We particularly encourage approaches from Black or Asian artists who haven’t previously been in receipt of public funding and who may feel unsure about how to get their work seen in professional venues.

We also offer full support to Disabled and Deaf artists. Working flexibly with practitioners at their own pace to realise projects. Our history at Oval House includes the presentation of work by Mat Fraser, Deafinitely and Graeae.

All information will be treated as confidential.

To be added to (oh) our e-list please send an email with the subject ‘oh yes’ to michael.atavar@ovalhouse.com

Occasional mailouts will include details of artists’ opportunities, funding, residencies and seminars.

To be removed from (oh) our e-list please send an email with the subject ‘oh no’ to michael.atavar@ovalhouse.com

We operate a strict confidentiality policy.

Your e-address will not be passed on to third parties.

'For our organization, the Artists' Advice sessions at Ovalhouse have proved invaluable. They have been the light at the end of the tunnel for us. Having what one hopes are groundbreaking creative ideas is one thing but quite another to distill and channel them into desired outcomes that have more than a semblance of a 'show'. In the magic making that is performance, the Artists' Surgeries at Oval House are a useful wand. Highly recommended.'

Tonye Batubo / House of Odycee UK
 

'I'm just getting in touch to say thanks for the meeting yesterday. You were extremely helpful and resourceful, and it was great to have the opportunity to talk to you. I've started working on a solo piece today - which is partly due to the feedback and suggestions you made yesterday - so thank you.'

Helena Hunter
 

'Thanks so much for you help with my reminiscence play. I know that the success we had in getting the funding would have been far less likely without your help.'

Clare Summerskill
 

‘It just shows that with patience all things are possible. You are like the waterhole to a dehydrated person lost in the bush and suddenly just by chance they happen to find the water which saves their lives. You are that person in regard to my creative life. It was so great meeting you. I can't believe my luck.’

Dimela Yekwai
 

'This is just to thank you so much for seeing me on Tuesday 2nd Dec and being so helpful, lucid and wide-ranging in your advice. I've been feeling much more relaxed since about honing down on one or two projects and at the Poetry Workshop yesterday at LEAP made sure I looked about for potential mentors and fellow co-workers on Pakistan BiLateral Live event.....as well as some smaller scale aspirations. So thanks once again.'

Sarah de Nordwall
 

'I wanted to extend my thanks for the really sound and practical advice that you gave to me in our meeting last week. I now have a clear idea about how to write our grant application and the correct way to pitch it so as to maximise our chances of success. To speak with you was a great reassurance, you certainly instilled confidence within me and positivity that our company can go forward. To have a person in your position is such a useful resource for artists in the capital.'

Annecy Lax / Burning Cat Productions
 

'Just to say thank you very much for the help and advice on my Arts Council grant application. I arrived at our meeting with a first draft and quickly realised a lot more work was needed. Your explanations were clear, and the ideas we came up with together were invaluable. I'm glad to say the application was a success - and feedback from the Arts Council said it was one of the strongest they'd received.

The process also helped artistically, forcing me to concentrate my ideas into a workable structure and schedule, and it paid off - I have the first work-in-progress performance of the new show this weekend. So once again - thanks, and I'll be recommending you...'

Bob Karper
 

'Thanks for your support and input on the application – it was really helpful – it’s a great service that you’re providing.'

'I just wanted to say thank you for your time and advice on tuesday. I have sent my manuscript to two people who were interested in reading it...hurrah! So, thanks again.'

Naomi Cortes
 

'I’m writing with good news. We’ve been successful in our Application for a touring grant from the Arts Council. And I want you to be the first person to know about it because it has been thanks to you and all your invaluable help and patience that we’ve been successful. You’ve been there all the way, from the first draft to the last, guiding the company and helping us to be more confident and to write better; even when I was getting impatient and wanted to finish and 'get on' with it, you’d force me to rethink again and some times start all over. The quest for perfection has paid off, obviously. I can’t imagine a world without the Advice Sessions at the Oval House. Once again, thank you for being there.'

Montserrat Gili - Dende Collective
 

'Michael's support and advice was invaluable in getting my sci-arts application to the clearest it could be, and it's great to have such an informed and experienced advisor on our doorstep in South London. Thanks again.'

Parm Kaur
 

'I am delighted to be able to tell you positive news very directly linked to your advice. I applied to the Oxford House associate artist's scheme and I just heard that I have been accepted. Yipee. I will keep you informed about further developments. Thank you very much again.'

Eva Millauer

The Artists’ Advisor messageboard is intended for posts and enquiries that might be useful to theatre artists in London.

The service is unmoderated. The rules are – no disruptive, offensive or abusive behaviour. No unlawful or objectionable content. No inappropriate advertising. No impersonation. No spam. Any offensive posts will be removed ASAP.

Queries should be addressed to the postmaster

Michael Atavar is an artist, teacher and workshop leader – with a special focus on generating creativity.

His own work has been seen in live performances, galleries and more recently digital formats.

He’s also worked in a variety of business contexts and in 2000/1 was artist-in-residence at the Guardian Newspaper.

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