Future Producers 2026 & 2027

Performing Arts Forum; England; Hybrid; GBP 309,000 - 406,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid placement

Reimbursed travel and accommodation

Holiday entitlement

PAYE tax deducted

Job summary

Promenade is launching Future Producers 2026/27, a paid part-time training and placement for aspiring producers. The 16 training days run across the UK and Ireland with travel to Berkshire, Carlow, Limerick/Clare, Tralee and Waterford, followed by up to 12 days of paid work with partner organisations.

The programme blends online and in-person sessions with mentoring from industry professionals. The initiative is funded by Arts Council and involves partners such as Carlow Arts Festival, Fidget

Qualifications

• Experience in administration, project management or producing.

Responsibilities

• Participate in 16 days of training across multiple locations.
• Assist with planning, scheduling and logistics for training activities.
• Support hosting partners and contribute to project coordination.

Skills

Administration

Project management

Producing experience

Job description

Promenade is excited to announce the continuation of Future Producers, an emerging producer paid part-time training and placement opportunity running from December 2026 until November 2027.

This opportunity is in partnership with Carlow Arts Festival, Fidget Feet, the National Circus Festival of Ireland, Spraoi and 101 Outdoor Arts (UK). Participants will receive training, mentoring and coaching support from Kath Gorman and other team members from Promenade and Kevin Wratten of Split Second (UK) for the equivalent of 16 days between December 2026 and June 2027, including guest sessions from the partners and other experts. They will also have work placement opportunities for up to 12 days during 2027 hosted by the partners.

Future Producers 2026/27 is funded by Arts Council’s Creative Production Supports Scheme and is building on Future Producers 2023 first initiated by Fidget Feet with the support of an Arts Council Capacity Building Support Scheme grant.

The call

We are seeking 4 individuals who already have some practical administration, project management or producing experience (this can include non-arts experience) and are seeking a next step in their professional development as a producer/towards being a producer. In particular, we are looking for people who are interested in upskilling in the specialities of producing Circus, Street Arts and Spectacle as well as wider Arts in Public Space contexts.

The training will take place across 16 days and is a mix of in-person and online between 10th December 2026 and 4th June 2027. It will involve a combination of training activities, coaching, and mentoring, including looking at real-life project examples and the work of the partner organisations. The in-person activities will take place in Berkshire (UK), Carlow, Limerick/Clare, Tralee and Waterford. Selected participants must be able to travel to those locations. After the training, participants will be paired with one of the partner organisations for up to 12 days of paid work experience. Partner organisations will make the selection for the placements.

Applicants must be available for all training sessions during the above dates with the first in-person sessions beginning 10 & 11 December 2026 with Fidget Feet at the Irish Aerial Creation Centre. See the schedule on our website.

• Training, coaching, mentoring & advance placement activities; 145 EURO per day x 16 days: 2320 Euro gross payment

Remuneration for this period will be 4120 Euro Gross for 28 days work plus holiday entitlement.

N.B Holiday pay is calculated at 8% of 224 hours worked: 17.92 hours /2.24 days

This is a PAYE contract and income tax/PRSI/USC will be deducted at source. Pay will be managed by Promenade and made in monthly installments according to working hours.

Participants will also be reimbursed for receipted accommodation, travel and subsistence expenses and be responsible to work within an agreed budget.

For individuals who have specific needs, we will work to ensure you have the facilities in place for any work needing to be carried out online, whether that is the interview or the training programme itself. We also work to create a more inclusive environment with targeted support for those that need assistance in certain areas so that you can fully participate in the training programme.

We are an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to equality and diversity and welcome applications from people of all genders, nationalities, races, cultural backgrounds, ages, religions, languages, different abilities, sexual orientations or socio-economic statuses.

Future Producers training and coaching specifics

The Future Producers training will offer hands-on training and coaching tackling some of the key jobs a producer would undertake, while also offering an opportunity for peer-to-peer support.

Areas covered include:

• The role of the producer and the difference between a producer, production manager and project manager
• Getting a project off the ground/where do you begin?
• Communicating the project’s vision and ensuring everyone is on the same page
• Working with artists; establishing and maintaining good relationships
• Planning, scheduling, logistics and systems
• Handling pressure, problem-solving and time management
• Finance and budgeting
• Marketing and communications
• Insurance, ensuring legal compliance and appropriate policies are in place
• Freelancer versus PAYE status
• Recruitment and management of non-creative team members
• Site/venue scouting and tour booking
• Technical specifics and production management
• Access and inclusion
• Sustainability considerations
• AI within the working environment

There will also be 2 additional training sessions led by external experts, Mark Carry on the role of the Production Manager and Jonah McGreevy on an overview of Circus Rigging.

The partners

Carlow Arts Festival

Each year Carlow Arts Festival presents a multi-disciplinary programme of works by local, national and international artists, across a variety of artforms including street theatre, dance, music, spectacle, literature, contemporary circus, visual arts, talks, community engagement and theatre. They also work with artists and communities throughout the year to create new work. This year-round work informs, diversifies, and strengthens our annual festival programme by ensuring that it is current, responsive and relevant to the needs of the artists, communities and audiences that we seek to engage and support.

Fidget Feet

Since 1998, Fidget Feet have created, established, and nurtured the aerial dance sector in Ireland. This year marks Fidget Feet’s 25th year and House is a big part of the 25-year celebrations. Having created and toured over 35 shows, both indoor and outdoor over the past 25 years. Fidget Feet has established itself as a leader, a creator, a performer and a trainer of aerial arts and circus in Ireland.

Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network

The Irish Street Art, Circus and Spectacle Network ISACS is Ireland’s leading support and advocacy organisation for the development of street arts, circus and spectacle art forms. They believe strongly in the value and importance of these art forms, and use every opportunity to shout from the rooftops about their members and their work.

National Circus Festival of Ireland (NCFI)

The National Circus Festival of Ireland is an essential cornerstone in Ireland’s rapidly developing circus and street arts sector,exploring it as a highly diverse, experimental, contemporary art form. A member of Circostrada Network and the western lighthouse of circus in Europe, NCFI has presented high-quality Irish & international artists delivering engaging, artform-focused training & performance for the past 21 years.

Promenade’s ambition is to support artists and organisations working in the fields of circus, participatory arts, public art, street art and spectacle both nationally and internationally. Founded by Kath Gorman, Promenade work with artists and organisations with their strategic development to help reach their goals and aspirations. Promenade’s aim is to support the next generation of producers and artists through training and mentoring with their career development.

Split Second (UK)

Split Second was founded in 2020 by Axel Satgé and Kevin Wratten who are both producers and directors and share a passion for innovative performance. Split Second collaborate with artists who are blurring the lines between circus, dance, and theatre. They work on creating new and exciting experiences for artists and audiences in the UK and internationally. They work closely with a small number of artists, supporting their artistic development and building networks of supporters to facilitate their growth.

Spraoi

Waterford Spraoi is a well-established and renowned street theatre company. It is perhaps best known for its annual Spraoi Festival and Parade held every August Bank Holiday weekend, attracting over 100,000 people to Waterford City over the 3 days. Spraoi is also active throughout each year as a producer of high-quality spectacle events. The company is regularly commissioned to create spectacle attractions for festivals and events throughout Ireland.

101 has become the principal UK centre supporting the creation of arts projects in public spaces. They are a unique space for residencies, dialogue, collaboration and learning, with a year-round programme of artistic residencies, professional development events.

This includes Toolbox, a residential leadership & development programme for producers which the Future Producers 2026/27 cohort will attend in late January (Mon 25 Thu 28).

TOOLBOX is a holistic residency programme for producers working in unconventional spaces, designed to nurture both the person and the professional. It offers space to explore new ways of working creatively, whilst building a sustainable career, avoiding burnout and becoming part of a supportive community.

Future Producers 2026/27 is funded through Arts Council’s Creative Production Supports Scheme.