Call for Collaborator: Musician – Mama Time Project
About the Project:
The Mama Time Project began in 2023 in collaboration with The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury.
There are two strands to the project:
We run creative wellbeing sessions for anyone who identifies as a mum. Designed and facilitated by Caroline Horton and fellow artist and mother Rachel Gildea. The sessions are a response to becoming and being parents, offering a space to share what it’s really like: the amazing stuff, the boring stuff, the really hard stuff. No advice, just being alongside one another.
We are also making a show about motherhood which will be co-created by Rachel Gildea and Caroline Horton, alongside a musician and a cast of mums from the community who attend our Mama Time sessions.
We’ve received Arts Council funding for a first R&D of the show. A work in progress sharing is planned for July 2027 at The Mill.
The Opportunity:
As part of the R&D process, we are seeking a musician to collaborate with co-directors Rachel Gildea (dance artist and performer) and Caroline Horton (writer, theatre maker, performer)
We are open to all musical practices and disciplines and we particularly welcome applications from artists from the global majority. We are looking for an artist with composition and performance skills.
Fees & Schedule:
● Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 9:30am – 2:30pm, from December 2026 – July 2027
● 14 days (including work in progress sharing)
● Total Fee: £2,800.00
Rehearsals with Co-Directors- – 9.30am – 2.30pm on:
Weds 25th November
Weds 2nd December
Weds 13th Jan
Weds 20th Jan
Weds 27th Jan
Weds 3rd Feb
Weds 10th Feb
Weds 24th Feb
Weds 3rd March
Weds 10th March
Rehearsals with Co-Directors and Community Cast @ The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury (9.30am – 12pm)
Weds 26th May
Weds 9th June
Weds 16th June
Weds 23rd June
Weds 30th June
Weds 7th July
Weds 14th July – Sharing at The Mill (shows at 1pm & 8pm)
Essential Criteria:
● Experience of collaborating with artists of different disciplines
● Experience in devising work (our projects typically use original music)
● Based within 40 minutes’ travel of Banbury
● Interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration
● Experience of song writing and lyric writing, alongside the creation of instrumental and atmospheric soundscapes and underscore
● Availability on Wednesdays @ The Mill, Banbury
Desirable Criteria:
● An artist from the Global Majority
● Mothering and/or caring experience
● Experience of working with communities and in participatory arts
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please send us:
– a link to your work
– your CV
– a paragraph or a short audio recording or video recording about why you are interested in the role.
Deadline for applications to be sent to themamatimeproject@gmail.com by Monday 5th October 2026
We will invite shortlisted artists to an informal paid audition on Wednesday 4th November at The Mill, Banbury.
If you have any access needs and/or require support with your application, please get in touch with Rachel at themamatimeproject@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you!