The Lincoln Company (TLC) is the University of Lincoln School of Creative Arts’ company of emerging art and performance makers and company-in-residence at Lincoln Arts Centre. TLC produces high-quality original work and tours to national venues and festivals, bridging academia and industry, and creating impact beyond the institution.
Founded in 2008, TLC was refocused in 2017 by arts producer and academic Rachel Baynton into a collaborative staff/student-led producing house, championing co-creation and industry-facing skills development. A ‘Student as Producer’ exemplar, TLC is driven through active collaboration, with members taking on a wide range of on- and off-stage roles.
Over the past nine years, every process, task and decision has been treated as a professionalising opportunity. Students lead on not only artistic creation but also strategic planning, recruitment, research, networking, peer feedback, budgeting, PR and project management, all supported by staff. Students shape their own learning, developing employability skills aligned to their career aspirations, and building CVs and cultural capital while still engaged in their studies:
“It was one of the first times that I really felt like a professional in this industry and one of the first times I think other people thought of me that way too.” – TLC Alum
TLC brings together undergraduates, postgraduates, industry professionals, practising staff, technicians and professional services, in an equitable and inclusive culture. The collaboration is ‘intentional, careful and kind’ – moving at a pace set by the students to help them develop and apply skills in real-world contexts, transforming confidence and outcomes:
“They genuinely care about you, and this is apparent from the initial point of application… The ability to take on a management role and how well coached and supported I felt – the experience has shaped me as a person.” – TLC Alum
Artistically, TLC has received critical acclaim, including four- and five-star reviews in the national press. TLC alumni have secured multiple industry awards and have progressed into roles with major organisations including the Southbank Centre, The Lowry and The National Theatre, crediting the company for the connections and skills they developed during their time with the team:
“…it laid the foundation of my entire career.” – TLC Alum
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