[closed] Newcastle Pride 2025: Two Commissions of £2,500

Update

This opportunity has been awarded, click here to find out about the commissioned artists.

What is it?

In partnership with Northern Pride and Curious Arts, we’re funding two opportunities for creatives and artists who want to showcase their work during Newcastle Pride’s Fringe, taking place between 6  June – 18 July.

We’ll support two commissions for you to create new work or develop, elevate and enhance existing ideas.

Selected artists will receive:

• A £2,500 artist commission
• A 75-minute session with a Curious Arts producer to support the development of your work/idea
• A 60-minute 1-2-1 session with a mentor who is matched to your idea/art form from

Who is it for?

It’s for all artists and creatives who want to showcase their work during the Pride Fringe Festival and Newcastle Pride 2025, taking place in June and July 2025.

We will consider ideas for work in any art form, including, but not limited to:

• visual artwork
• performance such as dance, theatre, music and spoken word
• installations and exhibitions
• comedy
• podcasts or digital media.

What are the non-negotiable criteria?

• Your idea must include a performance opportunity or event/showcase to happen during Newcastle Pride Fringe in a venue within the Creative Central NCL footprint. Click here to see the boundary of Creative Central NCL within Newcastle City centre. The Pride team can help to facilitate access to a space if needed.
• Your idea must consider and respond to the theme Unapologetically Visible, read on for more details.
• Your idea must fulfil at least one of the following criteria:
  • Explores Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) and/or gender themes.
  • Is of interest to LGBTQIA+ communities.
  • Is created or presented by LGBTQIA+ Artists.
  • Is a clear development opportunity for the Artist.
• You must be available to showcase your work during the Pride Fringe Festival and Newcastle Pride 2025.

Unapologetically Visible

All ideas submitted must consider and respond to the theme Unapologetically Visible

What this means to you and how you express and explore it is subjective, and creative interpretations and responses are welcomed. 

At Northern Pride, being Unapologetically Visible signifies our refusal to be silenced or diminish ourselves in any way. Being unapologetically you for the LGBTQIA+ community means becoming conscious of the pursuit of yourself, stripping back all the layers of who society taught you to be, and truly opening up to your true authentic self. 

In the journey of becoming unapologetic, LGBTQIA+ people aren’t becoming someone different, but they no longer feel the need to hide or be who other people want them to be, and it’s about no longer holding back from fully expressing ourselves due to the fear of being judged.

Application Process

• Download and read the guidelines
• Get in touch with us if you have questions or if you have access requirements that we can support to enable you to submit an application
• Apply by noon on Friday 11 April 2025

Application Requirements

Applications should be no more than one side of A4 in total or a two-minute audio/video recording, and include:

• A brief artist bio
• Link/s to previous work/a portfolio
• A summary of your idea and how it responds to the theme Unapologetically Visible
• A summary of how the £2,500 commission fee would be spent – this can be a simple table or separate Excel spreadsheet

Contact information

All questions should be submitted to the Newcastle Pride team on newcastlepride@curiousarts.org.uk

All applications should be sent to info@creativecentralncl.co.uk