Just as we come to the end of WalesLab's second year...I thought this would be a good time to let you know about some of the changes we've been making. (And, how you can get involved!)

The biggest change so far is that we have decided to move away from issuing 'call for submissions'. As an artist applying for these things in the past, I’ve always struggled with this process. I've found it to be much more helpful for the organisation that issues them rather than for the artist they are issued to. It enabled them to plan around it, ensure their 'resources' will stretch and have a 'big push' in terms of marketing. All very sensible but it’s left me wondering where's the room to take big risks? The project ends up being more predictable and less dynamic. For the artist it means that many simply don't get around to doing it. This way, you can submit your ideas when it's best for you. The result – more, bigger, bolder. And dare I say it, more authentic submissions, coming direct from your current artistic impulses. That's the hope anyway.

We've made a new form too, to help frame your ideas. We don't want to be difficult and ask obtuse questions, we want to help you (and us) to see your idea from different perspectives and to get a real understanding of what it is you want to achieve, and how best I can help you do it. You can free write your responses, but if writing isn’t your bag there are other ways you can tell us about your ideas. You can drop in a YouTube link to a film of you verbalising your thoughts or paste links to something else that might do a better job of articulating what is bubbling away for you than you can. You can also send us something you've made (ideally something without a use by date, unless you WANT us to eat it). I was once sent a fish tank full of mud and tiny fairy sized foot prints across the top...I love getting post.

As many of you will know, National Theatre Wales will be resident at the Park and Dare theatre in Treorchy for the month of October. I'm really hopeful that we will have a number of submissions from artists based/from this area or projects that are concerned with this vibrant community and its interests. Do get in touch if this is ringing some bells for you.

There's a whole host of other developments going on behind the scenes, I’ll shout about those another time. For now – have a look at how to get involved in WalesLab AND SEND US YOUR IDEAS….