Our Associate Artist Programme supports artists in different stages in their career to work alongside the company over a six-month period, providing dedicated time, resources and opportunities to develop their creative practice. Throughout the programme, our artistic team works closely with each Associate Artist to explore their ideas, support their development and create space for experimentation, research and new work.

What the Programme Offers

Associate Artists receive funding, in-kind studio space and access to our company dancers and wider artistic team. This provides artists with the time, resources and relationships needed to explore and develop their practice. Artists have their freedom to shape the focus of their six-month tenure according to their own creative ambitions.

This might include:

• Developing new choreographic work for the compamny or wider sector
• Exploring a specific area or discipline within their artistic practice
• Undertaking research and development for future work
• Testing new ideas, approaches or methodologies
• Using the time and resources to deepen their creative research and artistic voice

The programme is intentionally flexible, allowing each Associate Artist to determine what will be most valuable to their practice at that stage in their career.

Who is it For?

The programme is designed for artists in different stages in their career including emerging, mid-career and established artists who have developed a strong artistic practice and distinctive creative voice, and who are interested in investing time in a meaningful relationship with our company.

Since launching in 2024, we have prioritised female and Global Majority artists, with a particular focus, where possible, on artists who have an existing relationship with the comapny. This forms part of our wider commitment to supporting the progression, development and sustainability of professional artists within the sector.

Associate Artist (2026/27)

Dramatist, actor and writer Tonderai Munyevu has previously worked with the company as dramaturg on the 2025 production of Inside Giovanni’s Room. Tonderai will work closely with the artistic team to develop the creation of our brand-new production.

Previous Associate Artists

Dance and teaching artist Mayowa Ogunnaike has maintained a strong connection with the company, having intially joined as an apprentice dance in 2018. Mayowa has performed works by a diverse range of choreographers and was appointed as a Phoenix Fridays artist where she developed her teaching practice alongside regularly joining us as a guest artist for our Open Company Class.

During her time as Associate Artist (2025/26), Mayowa hosted a series of creative workshops designed to expand dancers’ artistic practice, develop their technique and enhance creativity.

Iolanda Portogallo was appointed as the company’s Associate Artist in 2024/25. Iolanda focused on developing choreographic work and spent time in the studio with our company dancers. She choreographed GYOCO 77 as part of our Digital Production, which launched online in October 2024. This work was then transformed into a live performance, GYOCO 99, and was performed as part of our Community Engagement Tour.

This programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Fenton Arts Trust and Garrick Charitable Trust.