The search for the next Guilty Feminist - or the next Rick and Morty, the next Broad City or Fleabag or #HoodDocumentary or any number of hits that got their start online or as a podcast – has started. And it’s started in Hereford.
Over the next two years, the New Creatives project will be commissioning a huge wave of original film, audio and interactive media to be made for the BBC - and Rural Media’s West Street studios will be the HQ for work coming out of the Midlands.
Under the scheme 500 UK artists aged 16 – 30 will get the chance to cut their creative and technical teeth. The memo from the BBC: push creative boundaries, reach new audiences and reflect the experience of living in Britain today.
In other words, show us – or tell us – something we haven’t seen before.
Rural Media is one of five New Creatives hubs heading things up, and yesterday they started accepting online applications from emerging artists working in ‘many artistic disciplines, including - but not limited to - dancers, actors, performers, musicians, writers, film makers, comedians, visual artists, animators, poets, storytellers and games designers’.
As part of the process they'll be running workshops across the Midlands to try and help applicants shape their ideas.
Grant Black, Rural Media’s creative director, said: “This is fantastic news for Rural Media and a great boost for the local creative industry.
“The BBC and Arts Council England’s investment in us shows how much faith they have in regional talent and production.
“Most importantly New Creatives is an excellent opportunity for talented creatives across the Midlands to create content for the BBC and have their work seen by audiences far and wide.”
The project runs for two years. And while an increasing number of hit shows both sides of the Atlantic got their start online, with BBC Three’s move to become digital only last year and the launch of the BBC Sounds app in October, the Beeb have become one of the driving forces in developing fresh and interesting – and young – voices working outside the frameworks of the 30-minute sitcom and the 55-minute Sunday Night Drama.
Rural Media have run similar projects for Channel 4’s Random Acts, but New Creatives opens the door for people who want to tell stories through interactive media or animation, or get in to the burgeoning world of podcasting – as well film-makers.
To find out more – or to apply - head to Rural’s website here, or contact Julie Colman on 01432 344039/ juliec@ruralmedia.co.uk. Alternatively you can get in touch with Emma Fox, communications manager at BBC Arts on 07753 303013 / emma.fox@bbc.co.uk