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About us

Escalator

Escalator is our pioneering talent plan that finds, supports and invests in the best artistic talent across all artforms throughout the East of England. Escalator is establishing the East of England as the leading UK region for talent development.

How does Escalator work?
The key to Escalator is its flexibility – a variety of initiatives have been created across different artforms to provide bespoke professional development programmes for artists.

Escalator’s success is due to the industry professional who lead the programmes. Their expertise ensures that the support offered is relevant and making a tangible impact on the careers of our region’s artists.

Escalator is helping to foster a rich and creative cultural landscape in the East of England. We are working to ensure that culturally diverse artists are encouraged and represented in the region. Escalator is also creating opportunities for our region’s artists to work nationally and internationally.

Escalator Visual Arts
Escalator Visual Arts is led by Commissions East. A panel of notable curators and experts select talented artists at pivotal stages in their careers. Specifically targeting graduates, Platform is the element of Escalator Visual Arts coordinated by Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery. Selected from the region’s degree shows, Platform enables graduates to show their work in an annual exhibition.

Escalator Performing Arts
The Junction Cambridge and Colchester Arts Centre coordinate Escalator Performing Arts. Dance East coordinates the dance element of Escalator Performing Arts and is working to raise the profile of the region’s dancers and choreographers by creating opportunities for national showcase performances. The Pulse Fringe Festival, led by the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, has recently become the official regional showcase for Escalator Performing Arts.

Escalator East to Edinburgh
Launched in 2003, Escalator East to Edinburgh helps artists and companies to raise their profile by performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Coordinated by Colchester Arts Centre and the Junction Cambridge, artists receive the services of a dedicated press office, a street team, marketing support and specialist advice to help them liaise with promoters from all over the world.

Escalator Literature
Coordinated by the New Writing Partnership, Escalator Literature supports individuals writing in a variety of genres and at different stages in their careers. In 2006, a new element of Escalator Literature is being piloted that will focus on literary translation.

Escalator Music
Launched in 2005, Escalator Music focuses on two distinct genres: rock, pop and urban, and classical music. Coordinated by the Junction Cambridge, the rock, pop and urban strand of Escalator Music works to enhance the quality and capability of individuals and their bands across the region, increasing their commercial success. The classical music strand draws on the reputations of two national centres of excellence in the region, Britten Sinfonia and Aldeburgh Productions.

Escalator International
Escalator International is enabling us to forge strong international partnerships to raise ambitions, secure additional resources, increase the profile of our region and invigorate its creative sector. We are facilitating collaborations between our region’s artists and arts organisations and talented overseas partners to import and export new productions and help them develop their creative work and practices.

Escalator Futures
Escalator Futures is a new strand aimed specifically at young people who are chosen for their creativity and potential to succeed in the arts and creative industries. A group of 16-18 year olds will be selected to take part in a week-long art event. The most promising among them will then have the opportunity to take part in a bespoke six-month training programme designed to fit around their existing commitments.