Catalyser 2027
Catalyser, Clod Ensemble’s flagship artist development programme, is returning for 2027.
Catalyser is a free, three-week intensive skills and professional development programme specifically for young creatives aged 18 to 25.
- Are you interested in developing your skills as a teacher and facilitator?
- Are you interested in exploring how you can use your skills as a performer or creator in different ways and in different contexts?
- Have you been ‘thrown into the deep end’ of leading and facilitating without the time to think about how to approach your work and the skills you need to do it well?
Many performers, artists and creatives value teaching and participation as a core part of their practice which informs and enriches their artistic work.
As well as making shows, Clod Ensemble has always led a range of teaching and participatory projects in theatres, arts spaces, museums and places outside traditional arts settings such as hospitals, schools, prisons and day centres for the elderly.
This year’s Catalyser is for people who want to develop their skills as a teacher and project facilitator in both traditional and non-traditional arts settings.
There will be sessions which help you to:
- articulate your unique approach to teaching
- identify contexts that you might want to work in
- develop your verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- develop your skills in leading a group, and making plans for workshops
- safeguard yourself and others
- set yourself up as a freelancer or business
- develop relationships with different partners and employers
Image credit: Vipul Sangoi When does it take place?
The three-week intensive will take place on Monday to Thursday mornings:
- Monday 11 – Thursday 14 January
- Monday 18 – Thursday 21 January
- Monday 25 – Thursday 28 January
Following the initial intensive, participants receive 6 months of continued professional development support, including mentoring and access to our studio space.
The course will be led by Artistic Director Suzy Willson and Carly Annable-Coop, Programme Manager for the company’s acclaimed Performing Medicine initiative, with guests.
If you have any questions, please contact Fraser at fraser@clodensemble.com
Image credit: Genevieve Reeves How to Apply
To submit an expression of interest, applicants will need to complete this form. The deadline to apply is 1 November 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to one of our three taster sessions.
Please Note: Applicants must be able to attend one of the three taster workshops to be considered for a place.
When are the taster sessions?
- Tuesday 3 November (online), 14:00 – 15:00
- Thursday 5 November at Clod Ensemble Studios, 9:30 – 11:00
- Monday 16 November at Tramshed Woolwich, 16:00 – 17:30
Who Should Apply
Catalyser welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and all artistic disciplines.
Clod Ensemble is committed to values of inclusion, representation and belonging across all our programmes. We want more people who have been, and continue to be, marginalised in the arts sector to access pathways to opportunities and careers in the arts and these priorities reflect our efforts to reduce these inequities of access to the arts.
We are particularly keen to hear from young people who have faced obstacles to a career in the arts which might be social, financial, structural or a combination of all three.
We encourage applications from women, nonbinary people and LGBTQIA+ people, as well as people who are ethnically diverse, members of the global majority, disabled and/or neurodivergent young people and/or those impacted by long-term health conditions.
We encourage applications from young people who live or grew up in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, our neighbouring boroughs (Newham, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham, Tower Hamlets, Bromley and Bexley). Jerwood Arts’ ‘Socio-economic Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts A Toolkit for Employers’ has informed the development of our recruitment process as well as taking on board participant feedback from previous cohorts. We regularly review and evaluate our processes and recognise this work is ongoing and can continue to evolve and change.
Catalyser is not for people who are currently in full time or higher education.
Finance
Catalyser is free. At the taster sessions, we will explain more about the financial support we can provide.
Accessibility
For applicants who cannot attend a taster session in-person, we have an online taster session.
The intensive three week programme is hosted at Clod Ensemble’s Skylight Studio in North Greenwich. We are a 4 minute walk away from North Greenwich Jubilee Station.
The studio is fully step-free accessible.
For more detailed information about our studio click here. If you have any questions about accessibility, email Fraser on fraser@clodensemble.com
Catalyser 2027 has been generously supported by the City Bridge Foundation.
