Happy Opportunity Tuesday!

20 August 2024

Hi pals

I’ve just got back from a very last minute flying visit to the Edinburgh Fringe. It was a whirlwind of magical experiences, as it always is. It feels especially magical that so much art has been made and shared despite the dire state of the arts and world right now. Defiant and joyful.

That said, it is glaringly obvious, even more than usual, who is missing. Working class creatives, disabled artists, others facing barriers which are getting wider and wider. For those who are there, many are having an even tougher time than usual - audiences have less money so are seeing fewer shows, and taking fewer risks. I wrote a little something about my conflicting views on the fringe last year, and if anything it’s unfortunately only becoming more relevant. You can read it here, if you like: A Love Letter to Edinburgh Fringe (Do We Need To Break Up?)

If you have managed to take your show, no matter the size of your audience or your debt, you’ve achieved something amazing and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your run. If you haven’t managed to, you’ve likely made a wise choice for you, and I hope another opportunity is just around the corner. Maybe something in this week’s list?

Big love xx

Happy Opportunity Tuesday!

Every Tuesday I share 10 #artsopps, commissions, residencies, open calls and applications closing soon.

Always PAID (or free/cheap for training) and for a range of artists: emerging to mid-career, from 16 to 80+.

Here are this week’s…

For writers:

Middle Child have opened applications for seven brand-new, paid commissions to be performed, script-in-hand, at Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival 2025. Fees vary from £500 for a monologue to £4,582 for a 70-minute script, and there are opportunities for writers at different stages of their careers.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 10 SEP

For aspiring technicians or sound/lighting designers:

Take part in a FREE 15-day accelerated training course with Factory International in Manchester, designed to offer you useful, practical work experience and kickstart your journey into the performance events industry.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 2 SEP

For trans and non-binary singers:

County of Song with Encounter Festival want to support two trans and non-binary singing voice leaders with micro-bursaries of £750 each. They hope this will provide some space to develop their work, make new connections or take some creative risks.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 9 SEP

For D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creatives:

The Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture team is recruiting five new Members of the Liberty Festival Advisory Group. Members will help guide the vision for Liberty festival which is spotlighting and celebrating D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in London as part of a joyful, radically inclusive festival where everyone is welcome. A stipend of up to £200 per meeting is available.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 2 SEP

For directors, producers and creatives who love working with young people:

Apply to be Burnley Youth Theatre’s new Artistic Director! Paid £45,000pa pro rata for 3-5 days per week.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 1 OCT

For emerging artists, writers, and performers:

Apply for the Ilfeld Prize, focused on new writing for the stage from creatives who push boundaries and blend disciplines. Each winner will receive a £5,000 award, along with the option of participating in a mentoring program, a workshopped table read, and having their playscript published.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 1 SEP

For aspiring arts, events or festival curators aged 18-25:

Transform in Leeds are recruiting 8 young people as Young Curators, to learn, develop new skills, and shape the programme of a major international festival in October 2025. Paid £12 per hour to work approx 2 hours every 2 weeks Sept - Dec 2024, with potential to extend until October 2025.

Find out more and apply here

EVENT: 10 SEP

For musicians:

The Spark Arts for Children are looking for 3 musicians for the Music Champions project, which pairs musicians with early years practitioners in Leicester. Get paid £240 per day, plus training and mentoring to help you build confidence and skills in child-led music and arts practice.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 16 SEP

For visual artists, sculptors, printmakers, designers and photographers:

Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange are opening submissions for The Picture Room, a small space at Newlyn Art Gallery used for changing exhibitions of work for sale. Get 50% commission of the sales of the items.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 30 SEP

For multidisciplinary and light artists:

Portsmouth City Council are looking for an artist to work with their volunteer Detectives to take inspiration from the Conan Doyle Collection to co-create an art illumination or light show in the Central Library for We Shine Portsmouth. £2,500 fee plus £500 for materials.

Find out more and apply here

DEADLINE: 4 SEP

That’s it for this week!

Really hope it’s useful. It’s a tough time for artists (and, well, everyone) at the mo so please look after each other out there. Let me know if you’re successful with your applications - I love hearing from you! And as always if you enjoy Opportunity Tuesday please share to help it reach the folks who need it most. I started it to try to level the playing field a bit, and every little helps.

Opportunity Tuesday will always be free to access, but if you can afford to chip in a little something to support me to keep it going, that would be hugely appreciated - just click the button below to support with £1 per week. (I’m freelance too!)

Thank you for your support, and I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. Good luck!

P.S. The part you’ve all been waiting for - Mabel says hi

Please note: Inclusion in #OpportunityTuesday is not endorsement. I look far and wide for the most interesting and exciting paid opportunities I can find, and though I do my best to make sure they’re legit, I don’t always know the organisations well. If you have an issue with something on the list, please get in touch with the relevant organisation. You are very welcome to send me opportunities to include, but please note I will not be able to respond to every request, and I do not guarantee inclusion in the list - each week is curated to be varied and relevant. I don’t normally share ‘traditional’ salaried roles such as marketing, development, finance etc as they are often not relevant for artists. Thanks!