Bradford District artist-led projects call out: Round two

You can apply for up to £15,000

We expect to fund 10 to 15 projects in this round – for projects where the final output, exhibition, performance, audience experience will happen in the second half of 2025 (August to December).

Please note: this will be the last Round of these awards.

This call out is not open to ACE National Portfolio Organisations.

We want to hear from individuals, companies, collectives, groups of artists and organisations living or working in the District.

We will accept applications from companies and organisations outside Bradford as long as the lead artist is based in Bradford and it is clear that they have a central artistic and decision-making role in your creative team.

Artists at any point in their career can apply.  However, we need to feel confident that your project can be delivered successfully and on time, so please make sure you tell us why you know you can manage the project effectively. If you are just starting out or earlier in your career you might want to think about finding someone more experienced to work alongside you (such as a producer or project manager) – make sure you tell us about who will be working with you and their experience too.

Artists who applied in the previous Round

If you are an artist or company who applied to the previous Round of Artist-led projects but were not successful, you are eligible to apply again to this Round – either with the same project or a new one.  However, please make sure you have:

• Looked at the feedback around why you were unsuccessful last time and thought about how you will address that
• Properly considered your connection to Bradford District and the authenticity of this
• Studied the ‘Things we will consider when making our decisions’ section – and thought in detail about how your project meets this
• Thought about whether there is still enough time to make your project happen, if you were successful in this Round

Artists who have already received support/ commission from Bradford 2025

• This call out is not open to companies or artists who already have a live project in development with BD25
• Artists who have received an Unlimited Micro Commission are eligible to apply to this with the same idea or a different one
• Previous Seed Commissions – if you applied for a seed commission in 2023 you can apply to this call out with the same idea or a new project. If you are thinking of applying with the same idea we would encourage you to make sure you have properly considered the ‘Eligibility Criteria’ and ‘Things we will consider when making a decision’ below

If you are not sure if you are eligible, please email [email protected] to check with us before you make an application.

Please note, we will not be able to advise you on the suitability of your project or idea – only whether you are eligible to apply.

• Aged 18+
• Lead artist or company based in Bradford District (ACE National Portfolio Organisations are NOT eligible)
• Work to be realised January to December 2025 – due to the timescale we imagine that for the majority of projects we support the final public output (performance, exhibition, experience etc) will happen between August and December 2025
• Meaningful opportunities for members of the public to get involved/ experience the work in the District
• The work will premiere in Bradford District; this means the first exhibition, unveiling, performance etc will happen in Bradford

We need to receive your application by 5pm on Monday 30 September.

• The costs of your regular Festival programme; though we can support a one-off commission or special event that wouldn’t happen otherwise
• Applications from companies outside the District unless the Lead Artist is based here
• Community-led projects – our Give Bradford Creative Communities fund is now closed, however later this year we will be announcing some micro awards which will support small community-led activities
• Projects that are primarily about film, filmmaking or the presentation/distribution of film (your project can include film elements, but this should not be the main artform or drive of the project)

If you need this information in another format or if you have access needs related to making an application, please get in touch with us straight away to discuss how we can support you. Please email [email protected]

Whilst it is not essential, we strongly urge you to consider where you can generate match funding for your project to enable you to realise the full potential of your idea in this landmark year. We will look positively on applications that have clear and achievable plans to draw income from other sources as well. And we can release 10% of the award to go towards fundraising activity.

Match funding does not have to be confirmed at this point, but please make sure you tell us about your other fundraising plans in your application and why this is realistic/achievable.

The award can be used as ‘match funding’ for funders like Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and Awards for All.

We want to see that you have thought carefully and with real care about how you will make your project accessible and welcoming to people with a range of needs and from various backgrounds. If your project is selected we can support you with advice and guidance from an access specialist to think about what is relevant and proportionate to your project and where Bradford 2025 might be able to help – but we need to know that you are thinking about this too and appropriate costs are included in your budget.

We want to see amazing creative things happening across the District and we will consider the spread of activity when deciding which projects to support.

Activity could happen in parks, on the street, in shops, social clubs, community centres, schools, people’s houses, places of worship, online or wherever will make it easiest for the people they are designed for to get involved.

Bradford 2025 will have a number of dedicated performance spaces where we will be sharing work and events across the year of culture. We expect some (but definitely not all!) of the projects we support through this round of grants will be realised in one of these spaces – so if you think your project should/could happen here, make sure you tell us about this in your application.

We understand that you might not know yet where the project will happen, or might know where you want it to happen but haven’t yet had conversations, finalised this, sought permission etc. This is fine – but please make sure you set out in your application how you will secure the location (including relevant experience of you/your team) and alternatives/contingency you’ve thought about in case you can’t make this happen.

Bradford 2025 performance spaces:

Beacon
A touring performance space, Beacon will be resident in 4 parks in the District in 2025

Meanwhile performance and exhibition space
We will also have a meanwhile performance space in Bradford city centre with a capacity of c200 end-on for performances plus a small gallery/exhibition space