Seed Funding for Midlands based artists – open call-out!

As part of marking our 50th Anniversary, we will fund three Coventry or West Midlands based artists/collectives to develop their work on the theme of activism with a public sharing at the end of November.

The Brief:

Taking the theme of activism as a springboard for your creative project, we are offering:

·       £2,500+VAT of seed funding

·       Development space in our Helen Martin Studio in August 2024

·       The chance to share your project publicly as part of a group scratch night with basic technical support in our black box studio on Thursday 28 November 2024.

You might be writers, makers, DJs, performers, or a blend of all these things together. 

We welcome submissions from professional and non-professional practitioners. 

Above all else, we value inclusivity, innovation, ambition and creativity. If this sounds like something you’ve been nurturing as an idea, do apply! 

Essential Information 

·       If shortlisted, you will need to be free on Wednesday 17 July 2024 between 2.30pm and 5pm for a follow up 20-minute discussion with our team.

·       You will need to be free on Thursday 28 November 2024 for the public sharing.

·       You will need to be or be willing to register as Self-Employed, with a tax number.

·       We advise that applicants are aged 16+.

·       We prefer to receive applications based in the West Midlands region or based within a 30-mile radius of our postcode (CV4 7AL).

·       You will need to have or be willing to have Public Liability Insurance.

·       Optional Research & Development time in the Helen Martin Studio in August 2024.

·       Rehearsal schedule for the Scratch Night: Monday 25 - Wednesday 27 November (tech rehearsal 27 November)

Successful applicant will receive:

·       A fee of £2,500+VAT in total which will be paid before the end of July 2024.

·       This covers your research and development time, and rehearsal and delivery of the sharing event. The budget must include any materials required for development, as well as travel and accommodation if required.

·       There will be more non-tech rehearsal time between 25 - 27 November in the Studio venue and optional research and development time in our Helen Martin Studio in August.

·       On the day and leading up to the public sharing, Warwick Arts Centre will provide event management, marketing, and technical support. As well as a PA system and special lighting to animate the area. We can also provide microphones, DI boxes, monitors, and a piano/keyboard. 

Unfortunately, we cannot provide DJ decks or items of backline, (e.g. drumkit, guitar amps, and more.)

Please consider fair pay for artists within your plans. 

How to Apply

The deadline for submitting your Expression of Interest is 9am Monday 15 July. If you would like an informal chat with our team, please contact kate.walters@warwick.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

To express your interest in this role, please get in contact and tell us the following:

• What is the creative idea that you are looking to develop and how does it respond to the theme of activism? (No more than 200 words)
• How would this seed-funding enable you to develop this project further? (No more than 200 words)
• Some examples of your work (in any format, preferably digital) (No more than 200 words)
• Contact details, including your postal address.
   

We are happy to accept written or video/voice note applications. Please email them to Kate.Walters@warwick.ac.uk writing '50th Open Call Expression of Interest' and your initials in the subject header.

If you prefer to use post, please send to

Warwick Arts Centre (Stage Door)

University of Warwick, 

Gibbet Hill Road, 

Coventry,

CV4 7AL.

Note: For postal applications, we cannot guarantee safe delivery of postal applications, (please do not include items of value). Please write your name and 50th Open Call EOI Application somewhere visible on the envelope.

Selection Process

As part of the selection process, we will invite a shortlist of applicants to have a short, 20-minute discussion with the Programming team, where we get to hear a bit more about your practice and you can ask us more about the programme and our ambitions. 

We will be in touch to notify applicants of the outcome within 2 weeks of the above discussion.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice

“The power of the arts to delight, challenge, and inspire is the thing that will bridge gaps, heal division, and forge new connections between us.”

It’s a core part of our vision to ensure that we are open and accessible to everyone, this includes our audiences, artists and staff. We actively invite applications from those who are currently underrepresented in the arts and are happy to talk the application through with anyone who has access needs, has taken a different educational route or has identified any other barriers not here identified.

Coventry is a rich and diverse city; Warwick Arts Centre’s artists and programming should be representative of the people it serves. 

#MadeInTheMidlands