'Change' artist / organisation commissions

‘Change’ artist / organisation commissions

Commission

Closing date: 2 October 2023

No More Nowt

As part of its Creative Champions programme East Durham Creates is launching a new open call for artists and organisations around the theme of 'Change', working in North and East Durham.

East Durham Creates is now No More Nowt: a change of name and branding which provides the theme of ‘Change’ for these commissions.

No More Nowt is about trying new things, building on what’s already happening, learning what works – and what doesn’t – and pulling together to bring about change in County Durham. It is focused on grassroots community-driven arts and culture, and the final decision-making in this process will lie with its Creative Champions who are the links to the communities in which the organisation works.

About Change
There are two commissions of up to £2,000 to award. One must work with people in the north of the county and the other in the east. The hope is that these commissions will be used to promote inclusive opportunities for people residing in some of the most left behind neighbourhoods in County Durham and enable and inspire them to become more involved in arts and culture. No More Nowt is looking for projects that will involve people from some of the ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods in the north and east. These wards are:

East: Blackhalls, Deneside (Seaham), Easington, Horden, Peterlee East, Peterlee West, Shotton & South Hetton, Trimdon & Thornley
North: Craghead & South Moor, Annfield Plain, Stanley
(Source: Durham Insight)

Applications will be considered by individuals and groups and must be arts and culture focused around the theme of ‘Change’.

Job Requirements
East Durham Creates is particularly interested in project ideas that will provide high quality arts and culture opportunities and high quality community engagement. It expects that all artists involved in the project be paid in line with artist union rates.

Shortlisting Criteria

Understanding of the community
Quality and ambition of the artistic approach
Quality of approach to engagement and your track record in this, particularly with audiences who do not typically engage with this kind of work
Proposal costed correctly and fully

The pitch presentation to the Creative Champions must be no more than 10 minutes and will be followed by 5 minutes of questions from the Champions.

Budget 2 x £2000 commissions for projects

Deadline 2 October 2023

Community House Yoden Road Peterlee SR8 5DP

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Applications can be submitted via this form or application form.
Please read the full commission information before applying. All applicants are requested to complete the equality monitoring survey as well.

You can also submit a 3-minute video submission based on the points below:

– Contact Name
– Pronouns
– Contact Email
– Phone number (daytime)
– Address including postcode
– Brief outline of you/your organisations background
– Your idea – what it is, how it fit’s the guidelines, target audience etc.
– If you are working with other organisations and who they are
– An outline budget of what you will spend the £2000 on
– If there’s additional funding where does this come from and is it confirmed, requested or not yet requested

Shortlisting will take place w/c 9 October and applicants will be informed that week and successful applicants will be invited to pitch their project to East Durham Creates’ Creative Champions at a Pizza and Pitches supper event in the locality in the w/c 16 October.

These are scheduled in the east of the county on 16 October and in the north on 18 October. East Durham Creates can cover travel expenses to these events if necessary for shortlisted applicants. You must be available to pitch on these dates in order to apply.