Visiting Arts and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation are delighted to announce the winners of the second year of Awards which support the creation of new work by Portuguese performing artists in the UK.

This year will see two new collaborations, between Arnolfini (Bristol) and Bomba Suicida, and Frakture (Liverpool) and Carlos "Zingaro".

The Projects

Arnolfini and Bomba Suicida will create 'Bristol Pieces' during a three week residency in August/September 2004. The project will include presentations of work in progress and open collaborative sessions with artists from the Live Art Forum South West and provide opportunities for audience discussion, education and outreach.

Frakture and "Carlos Zingaro" will work together during a residency at the Bluecoat Arts Centre in November 2004. The association will produce a new musical collaboration with the Frakture Big Band and culminate in performances of free improvisations and compositions as part of the Zingaro Fell Project.

The Artists

Arnolfini is committed to supporting artistic experimentation. It runs a programme of residencies, laboratories and professional development opportunities for artists. Arnolfini Live is a major UK producer of experimental theatre, live art and dance and is at the forefront of international commissioning and touring networks. www.arnolfini.org.uk

Bomba Suicida, based in Lisbon, was founded by artists Filipe Viegas and Tania Carvalho and established in 1999. An ongoing collaborative association of artists working in various fields, they produce a number of innovative platforms for dance, music and performance. www.bombasuicida.org

Frakture, established in 1997, is a concert promoter and arts development organisation based in Liverpool. Showcasing the best in free improvised music both nationally and internationally, this organisation presents a series of concerts each year plus an annual festival and provides workshops and networking opportunities for professional local musicians. www.frakture.freeserve.co.uk

Carlos "Zingaro" studied classical music at the Lisbon Music Conservatory. In 1967 he formed Plexus, developing a new musical approach to contemporary music and improvisation. Awarded a Fulbright Grant in 1979, he was invited by the Creative Music Foundation in New York to participate in their professional development programme. Carlos "Zingaro" performs with leading improvising musicians at many of the most important new music festivals in Europe, Asia and America. www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/mzingaro.html


The Awards

The Portuguese Performing Arts Awards support UK performing arts organisations wishing to commission Portuguese artists not resident in the UK to collaborate with their UK counterparts.

The residencies and period of joint exploration that the Awards provide, nurture and support the development of new artistic commissions, allow for educational and professional development opportunities for artists and members of the general public and encourage public UK performance of new work by Portuguese artists. The Awards invite applications from arts organisations based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wishing to collaborate with Portuguese artists working in the fields of drama, dance, music, physical theatre and performance art.