ABOUT

ABOUT US

INSIGHTS PLATFORMS is a performing arts platform, that was launched in 2009 by Jai Hutchison with an initial aim of supporting and providing opportunities for graduates within the performing arts. The organisation's main focus was to provide performance and teaching opportunities for graduates, and to support them to remain engaged with their practice. The first platform was held at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and due to its success, Insights Platforms continued to produce the work of graduate performing artists at platforms in Scotland and England, both at arts festivals as well as facilitating independent platforms; Insights Platforms has produced and presented work in Edinburgh, London, Newcastle, Leeds and Aberdeen.

The future for Insights Platforms is changing. We are evolving and working towards creating platforms that are accessible to more artists and audiences; looking at the how and where of production and pushing beyond what we felt were our limitations. We welcome applications from all emerging performing artists over the age of 18, from anywhere in the world. We aim to support a variety of artists across theatre, dance, spoken word, performance art, physical theatre, collaborative practices, and more; previous platforms have included work within comedy, dance, short films, theatre, music, and performance art; with several artists presenting collaborative works. Do keep an eye on our CURRENT PROJECTS page to see what's happening and how you can get involved.

THE TEAM

Jai Hutchison Creative Director & Producer

Jai began training in Contemporary Dance Performance at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in 2004. It was throughout her training at SSCD that she developed her passion for choreography, and so relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne to study a BA (Hons) in Dance: Choreography at Northumbria University.

With a strong interest in community arts, Jai completed an MA in Community Dance Leadership at The University of Bedfordshire in 2013 and upon graduating was based in London, working predominately within inclusive dance. She has since relocated to Edinburgh, where she obtained a second MA, in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University.

Jai established 'Insights Platforms' in 2009 with the aim of providing performance opportunities for graduates within the performing arts, as a way to ensure that graduates did not become disengaged from their practice. Insights Platforms launched at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was a success. The bill was filled predominantly with local dance artists; however, Insights Platforms now supports both national and international artists across a variety of performing arts practices.

Karen McArthur Assistant Creative Director & Community Dance Practitioner

Karen began her training in 2004 at Edinburgh's Telford College where she trained as a dance artist. She then went on to continue her training at Northumbria University in Newcastle where she completed her BA (Hons) in Dance.

After graduating, Karen joined Tees Valley Dance Company based in Stockton on Tees as an apprentice dancer and taught contemporary dance classes in Newcastle. Karen has since relocated back to Edinburgh to pursue her passion for choreography and teaching, which led on to residencies at Dance Base as well as teaching at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in Dundee, Dance for All in Stockbridge and Edinburgh College.

Karen is currently based in Edinburgh where she is working as a freelance dancer artist and choreographer. She specialises in contact improvisation and teaches in the community and also in higher education.

Karen is also a professional swimming teacher, fitness instructor, and yoga instructor. She has been teaching in Scotland for the last 10 years and has recently launched her own health and wellness organisation, Scottish Wellbeing. Health and wellbeing are very important to Karen and she believes it should be a part of everybody's lives.

Karen joined the Insights Platforms team in 2013 as our Assistant Creative Director and is now also our Community Dance Practitioner.

Caitlin Smyth Creative Consultant

Caitlin trained from a young age as a dancer, initially in classical ballet, then specialising in contemporary dance where she achieved her BA (Hons) in Dance Choreography at Northumbria University. Her digital dance pieces have been a part of XXXXX digital festival at Dance City and part of Insights at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Whilst pursuing dance she also worked in the visual arts where her specialism now lies. For over 15 years Caitlin has worked across many facets of the visual arts; she was lucky to be awarded the Chelsea Arts Club Trust Research Fellowship in 2011 where she developed her skills and passion for working with both emerging artists and platforms, as well as those who are working within more niche areas namely across visual art, performance and photography. Currently she is the Marketing Director for the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize and works with a range of other emerging art projects from supporting galleries to individual practitioners.

Caitlin’s passions for the arts, and belief that they are an intrinsic part of our culture fuel her drive to support emerging platforms in being as accessible and visible as possible. At the core of this she hopes this actively encourages a more diverse audience, from the wider public context, to confidently engage with the arts, believing that more awareness and more engagement can positively impact the growth of the arts as a whole.