Dance City wants to change the world through dance. You want to change the world through food. Our café spaces in our flagship building in central Newcastle are now vacant. This includes a commercial kitchen and dining areas inside and outside with full A3 licence.
Dance City is inviting Expressions of Interest from individuals or organisations that want to re-imagine what our food and drink offer could become. You may have experience; or looking for your first venture. You are socially engaged and understand the need to be financially and ecologically sustainable. We are open to all ideas and welcome innovative thinking.
DEADLINE FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: FRIDAY 17 JUNE
We are seeking a bespoke partnership, from people who are passionate about food – as much as we are passionate about dance. Our work in dance touches people’s lives, has a transformative impact in communities and many dancers who work here are invited to take and share their art with communities all over the world.
Last year, Marcus Rashford highlighted the importance for people to have nutritious food available to children at school and during holidays. The team at Dance City were motivated by this and have since worked in various ways to host children facing ‘holiday hunger’, have collected for food banks and opened the DC kitchen on Sunday nights during the pandemic to cook and distribute meals to vulnerable individuals.
Nutrition and health are key to dancers being able to participate fully in dance, and it’s important that the food is as healthy as it is tasty.
Naturally, a café and restaurant are also really important for bringing people together and creating memories. Food is as much of a cultural experience as art, books, film, fashion and dance.
We ask you consider the following points when creating your Expression of Interest in taking over the Dance City café:
- Why do you want to take over the Dance City Café? Is it a passion for food, or for social change, or both? Tell us about your concept.
- How delicious, fresh and nutritious will your food and drink offer be?
- How is the experience as environmentally sustainable as it can be?
- How can you make it a place people want to come to?
- Who will you engage with in terms of suppliers?
- What are your financial plans and goals – years 1, 2 and 3? If you are a start up, how can we support you with this?
- Who will you work with – what will your team be like?
- How will you respond to operational needs of Dance City in terms of events, parties, hires etc?
- How will you extend the reach of Dance City Café in dynamic ways, with deliveries, ordering via apps, outside catering etc?
Dance City is not looking for a simple rental agreement. We want to support you to create something new and exciting that serves our community well. We will share some of the risk in that journey with you.
We’d like you to pitch your idea and vision to us by noon on Friday 17th June. You can make a video, write a letter, send some pictures. We’ll meet you, we’ll ask questions, and you can ask us questions. There’s no pressure. The relationship has to feel right for us both….
Send your response to Artistic Director and CEO, Anand Bhatt at anand.bhatt@dancecity.co.uk
Download the call out by clicking the link below:
