Applause Rural Touring – Creativity at the heart of your community 

Applause is a cultural charitable organisation established in 1995. We work with people across Kent, Sussex, Essex and the wider region to create opportunities for creative experiences close to home.

Communities are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that being far flung from a building for culture shouldn’t be a barrier to experiencing it, and that access to the arts is important for everyone in society. Our work offers the opportunity to bring people together for inspiring, shared experiences, celebrating the positive impact culture has for a rural community.

From halls to pubs to libraries, from fetes and festivals to village greens and to wide open spaces. We connect exceptional artists and performers with a network of passionate volunteer hosts and programmers. The work is valued for providing accessible and affordable access to creative experiences, bringing the very best art and culture available to people in their very own rural neighbourhoods.

Financial subsidies are available for volunteer hosts and organisers whilst offering support to ensure the events are a success.

Every year we support, through commission funds and development awards, professional companies who have created exciting and interactive shows specifically to tour to outdoor events. The menu includes puppetry, dance, circus, interactive poetry, music and walkabout shows. 

Our indoor menu is a carefully curated selection of professional, high-quality shows, adaptable to most indoor spaces. Our indoor menu includes theatre, family shows, puppetry, dance, music and more. Each year we work with returning favourite companies as well as  exciting new artists.

We also have a nationwide pub touring project called Inn Crowd that works with some of the UK’s top spoken word and live literature artists and performers to provide rural pubs with professional, high-quality and exciting live entertainment.

Applause is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio (NPO), with core confirmed funding in place from 2023-2026. We also receive strategic support from Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council’s Arts and Culture Fund and East Sussex Arts Partnership.