Are You An Artist New To Rural Touring? Start Here.
Are you an artist who wants to get their work into Rural Touring? It can certainly be difficult to know where to start, but we are here to help.
At NRTF we are not directly responsible for programming work, that is the job of Rural Touring Schemes. If you are interested in Rural Touring, there are a few key places to start.
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If you aren't sure what some of these words mean, not to worry, visit our Rural Touring Definitions page here.
How does Rural Touring work?
Rural Touring Schemes bring professional performances to rural communities by curating menus of shows for venue programmers to select from. Operating across diverse locations in the UK, these schemes help connect artists with audiences, even in remote areas. If you’re an artist, you’re welcome to contact any scheme to explore opportunities, but do bear in mind that travel costs and logistics can vary depending on the location.
Working alongside promoters, schemes manage each season’s programming, overseeing marketing and logistics to ensure every live arts event runs smoothly. They create professionally curated line-ups and ensure performances are technically suited to their venues. Thanks to funding, these schemes subsidise costs for venues, making high-quality arts accessible to rural audiences. Artists benefit from a guaranteed fee and enjoy reduced risk, as schemes handle logistical communication with promoters. Planning takes place months in advance, so reach out early to get involved!
This is a simple checklist to consider whether your work is suitable for rural touring, it’s a really simple way to get a feel for what you need to know.
This is a great introduction to Rural Touring, with guest speakers and some great discussions. You can see the video at the end of this page.
Schemes choose work for their ‘menus’ which then go out to venue programmers to select what they would like to book. Different schemes are based in different locations in the UK. You are welcome to contact any scheme regarding rural touring, but obviously this will impact travel costs and other considerations.
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At the top of our Members page is a map with each of the schemes marked, you can use this to click through to their profiles.
You can become a member of the NRTF for just £25 a year (if you register as an independent artist), and that will give you access to all our resources.
You will also then have a profile on our member directory, which is another great tool for sharing information about yourselves. Plus, every two weeks, we send out a Rural Touring Round-Up to all our members, which includes all the latest news and opportunities from the sector.
You do not need to be a member of NRTF to rural tour, so you may decide not to join us until a later point, but it's a good way to stay connected to the sector.
Brighton Fringe Academy
This Fringe Academy took place on 11 June and was led by Holly Lombardo from the National Rural Touring Forum.
Links and resources from the session can be found on the Brighton Fringe website: https://www.brightonfringe.org/fringe-info/fringe-academy/