Diverse Critics 2023 aims to equip a cohort of disabled and/or BPOC writers with the skills needed for a career as a professional arts writer/journalist.

Are you an aspiring or early-career arts writer/journalist based in Scotland who would like to develop all aspects of your work? Disability Arts Online in partnership with Creative Scotland, The Skinny and gal-dem are offering eight writers who are either disabled* and/or Black people/People of Colour (BPOC**) an accessible development opportunity which includes a bursary of £1500 (in addition to travel, accommodation and access costs), mentoring, workshops, feedback and the opportunity to have your work published.

Eligibility
Participants can be interested/specialise in any art form (or work cross art forms) but must be based in Scotland and identify as disabled and/or BPOC. Three of the eight places will be reserved for participants who have a special interest in dance or contemporary live performance.

Expected Commitment
In return for the £1500 bursary, participants should aim to attend all seven workshops, where possible, as well as take part in one-to-one mentoring sessions. It is anticipated each participant will produce at least three pieces of writing as part of the programme. They expect that involvement will be between 15-20 days in total across the duration of the programme.

Provisional 2023 dates for the workshops as follows, times TBC:
23 February (in person, location TBC)
9 March (online)
6 April (online)
4 May (online)
1 June (online)
6 July (online)
10 August (at Edinburgh Fringe)

For further information, please contact work@disabilityarts.online or visit https://disabilityarts.online/jobs/diverse-critics-seeks-scotland-based-disabled-and-or-bpoc-arts-writers-for-paid-training-programme/

*Following the social model of disability, we define a disabled person as anyone who faces barriers related to impairment (sensory, physical or mental), long-term illness or health issue. This also includes those who identify as D/deaf, neurodivergent or have experienced mental health issues.

**BPOC stands for ‘Black people, People of Colour’ and is a self-identifying term used by communities and individuals who experience racism and discrimination due to their race, ethnicity or perceived race or ethnicity. The term includes people who identify as Black, brown, People of Colour, Global Majority, mixed-race, multiple heritage, and or are from the Global South and or are East and South East Asian, West Asian, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, African-Caribbean, Latinx, Pacific Islander, Indigenous and or First Nation.