04 Aug 2026
Gary Clarke Company looking for a new Chair
Following a hugely successful opening programme as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), Gary Clarke Company is now seeking a new Chair of Trustees — a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic dance theatre company rooted in South Yorkshire and operating regionally and nationally.
This is an exciting time to lead the organisation through its next phase of development, delivery and growth as the company embarks on a period of strategic planning toward a new 3-year business plan (2026/27 – 2029/30). The company aims to deepen its presence in South Yorkshire and maximise its national profile in the cultural industries through a high quality programme of impactful dance theatre and arts engagement.
Read more about the position in Chair recruitment pack.
Photo Joe Armitage
04 Aug 2026
Nourish
Nourish is a rolling programme of creative development to refresh ideas, and practise, to inspire, feed and drive future new works including the next touring shows.
Last month, Gary and Annabel travelled to Paris to see Ultima Vez’s ‘What the body does not remember’, a seminal work created in 1987 by Wim Vandekeybus
“Nourish it certainly did, both then and now. I have a long and important personal history presenting, collaborating, being artistically inspired as well as challenged and provoked by works by Wim and Ulitma Vez, so when I saw this opportunity I simply could not let it go! The work still holds up incredibly nearly 40 years on – a highly physical journey of risk and instinct, clever theatrical touches set at a relentless pace with choreographic and musical overload – Gary and I as part of the 2000 audience were up on our feet wanting more”
Annabel Dunbar (Executive Producer, Co-Founder and Joint CEO)
Photo Danny Willems
03 Aug 2026
Company Mentoring
Gary Clarke recently mentored choreographer Anthony Lo-Giudice as part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s (TVCA) ASPire Programme
‘The time with Gary has been an incredibly valuable springboard for me to get the cogs into motion for the next stages of my development. I feel energised, informed, and inspired’. Anthony Lo-Giudice
Anthony has just received some Organisational Development funds from Arts Council England to continue this mentorship programme over the next 12 months.
Find out more about Gary Clarke Company’s Mentoring services.
Anthony Lo-Guidice
07 Jul 2026
Congratulations on visiting our new website!
We’re delighted to be launching the first Gary Clarke Company website – a single place to find out what the company’s up to now and in the future, and has achieved in the past.
For the first time, COAL, WASTELAND and DETENTION, together with all our other great projects and initiative can all be found in the same place.
Keep an eye on the News and Diary section to keep up to date.
07 Jul 2026
DANCING COALFIELDS Funding Success
More great news as GCC is awarded £10,000 from Barnsley Council’s Great Childhoods Ambition for DANCING COALFIELDS, delivered in partnership with Horizon Community College, National Union of Mineworkers and the National Coal Mining Museum.
It’ll be fantastic to bring the project back to Barnsley this Autumn, following a successful pilot at Outwood Academy Shafton last year. DANCING COALFIELDS is a dance-in-education project that connects young people with high-quality dance and arts, and the oral histories and coal mining heritage of their local communities.
By blending creativity, heritage and education, DANCING COALFIELDS aims to ensure that even as physical landscapes change, identity, pride and collective memory remain alive, carried forward by the next generation.
The grant will help support 6-weeks of activity at Horizon Community College, led by leading practitioners including our artistic director Gary Clarke, professional dancers and world-famous championship brass bands. It will also provide vital resources for art students to create a series of unique artworks, to be used as props, and will support production costs needed to bring young people’s work to life through a high-quality celebration event at Horizon Community College.
Keep an eye out for future updates on DANCING COALFIELDS.
Students from Outwood Academy Shafton in DANCING COALFIELDS
10 Jun 2026
Gary Clarke Company joins Barnsley Civic as inaugural associate artist
Gary Clarke Company has been selected as one of the inaugural associate artists in the Barnsley Civic Family.
The Civic has long recognised the power of arts and culture to transform lives and we are enormously proud to be one of their first Associate Artists. The scheme reaffirms the Civic’s commitment to providing support, space, visibility and resources for creatives.
Gary said ‘I am thrilled GCC are partnering with The Civic for this next future venture as they step into their 150th year. As a local company we are committed and passionate in creating a ‘Better Barnsley’ putting arts and culture central to the town’s progress, and this new partnership is crucial in strengthening this offer. The Civic’s support is invaluable in allowing us to continue to grow locally and we look forward to to see how we can collaborate to further nurture high quality dance in Barnsley’.
The Barnsley Civic Family Associate Artists