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SHINE 2025 Emerging Artist Programme Open Call

Deadline: 12/05/2025

Country: United Kingdom  |  Light Up The North

Paid opportunity

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Calling all UK-based emerging artists with new light artwork ideas. Light Up The North are commissioning £18,000 for up to two artists/collectives for our 2025 programme. Exhibit your work at 4-5 incredible light festivals including: Lightpool Blackpool, Light Night Leeds, BD is LiT (Bradford), Barnsley Bright Nights, Light Up Wakefield, Nightfall Middlesbrough, Lightwaves Salford, Illuminate Oldham and Colliderfest (Hull).

Light Up the North (LUTN) is a network of light festivals across the North of England. Nine of these festivals are working together through SHINE to commission up to two artists or collectives in 2025.

The SHINE programme aims to nurture and develop new talent and is open to anyone (aged 18 or over) with an idea for a shining light artwork, and the skills to realise that idea. The chosen artworks will be exhibited at four/five of the following LUTN festivals:


Artwork Requirement


The artwork(s) will need to be:

  • SUITABLE for exhibition at outdoor winter light festivals in the UK
  • ARTISTICALLY challenging, interesting and of high quality
  • STRUCTURALLY resilient enough to withstand the winter weather at multiple festivals between October 2025 and March 2026, and to withstand transportation across the festival network


For SHINE 2025, the successful commissions will also need to:

  • FOCUS on environmental sustainability in their design and use sustainability best practice in their delivery.
  • DESIGN artworks for reuse – consider the materials and equipment as well as what happens at the end of the exhibition.
  • CREATE artwork of mid/large scale – we are encouraging ambitious proposals
  • DELIVER an experience for audiences to enjoy, be inspired by and engage with

Application Requirements

  • Detailed proposal document including all considerations from the above: project aims, Artistic ideas, images/links out to previous works,  consideration of audiences, interaction, participation
  • Detailed demonstration of Budget and financal breakdown of the proposal: possible costs, artist fee, production support, materials, transport, technical needs etc. Please see the budget template provided, for reference and to use if preferred.
  • Overview of project management
  • Provide a Relevant CV
  • Please provide links to your website, relevant social media or other online portfolios if they are available
  • Please provide your access rider upon application to support you through the SHINE process


Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to the SHINE programme you must be UK-based and perceived as an emerging talent (aged 18 or over) with the ability to realise ideas to a high quality.

We perceive emerging talent as: emerging light artist is an artist in the early stages of their career who specialises in using light as a primary medium. They may work across disciplines such as installation, sculpture, projection mapping or interactive technology using light to shape space, create atmosphere, and engage audiences.

This could include artists integrating light into their practice for the first time or those already working with light but still developing their craft, gaining visibility, and building their career within the field of light art. Artist with a wide breadth of previous creative practices will be considered.

Additional Support

As well as financial support, each commissioned artist will also receive a full induction to the programme, training and mentoring from across the LUTN network.

We will work directly with commissioned artists to support their development, with guidance in areas such as marketing, finance, production, risk assessments method statements (RAMS) and budgeting.

Useful information

What can you create?

We are specifically looking for artists with ambitious, captivating ideas. Proposals must be based on the creative use of light, possibly utilising digital technology.

The artwork needs to be weather-proof, able to withstand strong winds, be structurally sound (if applicable) and must be suitable for presenting outdoors at our varied locations and timescales.

We are interested in work which can cater for large audiences, especially projects with the potential for engagement in either the making or operation of the piece, and activities or events which are accessible to families

The LUTN festivals where you may be exhibiting:

  • Lightpool, Blackpool
  • Light Night Leeds
  • BD is #LiT (Bradford)
  • Barnsley Bright Nights
  • Light Up Wakefield
  • Nightfall Middlesbrough
  • Lightwaves, Salford
  • Illuminate Oldham
  • Collider Fest 26,


The festival programmes vary and themes for 2025 are broad. You will not be expected to specifically address them.

The locations of the festivals are also varied with urban, parkland, industrial and city settings. You should consider the ideal type of location for your artwork.

Our festival activities generally take place in the evenings, for the dates/periods listed above. You must produce an artwork that can exhibit for this period of time and tour to some of the commissioning light festivals. You will also need to consider your install / de-rig schedule.

Each festival will provide standard infrastructure support for your arriving artwork; however, all artists fees and artwork production costs must be factored into your commission award.

How we assess your application

A panel of LUTN partners involved with curating SHINE 2025 will assess all applications. We aim to ensure the selected commissions will be high-quality work and afford the best experience for artists, audience members and locations. They will assess the applications based on 5 areas:

  • Artistic quality – the strength & quality of the idea and the artist’s previous work (if applicable).
  • Audience experience- who it is aimed at and how will the public engage with it?
  • Financial viability – can all elements of the activity be delivered effectively within budget?
  • Project management – can the piece be created within the time available? Is the work durable enough for the festival dates? What materials are you using when considering the environmental impact and outdoor display?
  • Environmental sustainability – has this been considered in the design and proposed delivery of the artwork? Is there a plan for what happens after SHINE?


When will you find out?

The deadline for submissions is Monday, 12th May 2025, 9 am. We will shortlist in the week following, with provisional interview date 23rd May 2025 (so please keep this day clear)

Things to consider when completing your application:

  • Be clear about your project aims and the artistic idea behind the work. How can you demonstrate quality through examples of your previous work?
  • Be specific about who your work is aimed at. Can the public engage with your work in an interesting way? What do you want the audience to get out of your work, and what impact will it have?
  • Demonstrate how your project can be realised for the budget available. If you require match or additional finance for your project let us know which funding schemes or sponsorship you plan to apply for. (Please bear in mind that the festivals are partly funded through Arts Council England, and you therefore may not be eligible for additional funding through any of their schemes.)
  • Give a clear indication of how your project will be managed from start to finish, including the type of location(s) you would like to use and how work will be delivered on the night.
  • Please provide a CV with relevant previous experiences.


Project budget

The SHINE commission budget of up to £18,000 should cover all artist fees and materials, including technical,  installation, operational and material costs. Reasonable travel and transportation costs will be considered separately.

If needed, you can apply for match funding from other sources, but ensure you have planned for and are prepared to do this. Accommodation can be provided by the host festivals if required.

Other costs such as meals and general overheads must be factored into the commission. The successful proposals will be supported with agreed additional fees towards the costs of site visits.

Terms and Conditions

  • Your project / activity will be ready for exhibition at our 2025/26 festivals
  • Your work is deliverable within the timescale of the programme and will be delivered on budget.
  • To attend an initial induction, production meetings and site visits where reasonably required.
  • You must have relevant Public Liability Insurance for your activity, to a minimum £10 million cover.
  • To supply, in advance, copy and images for  marketing purposes as and when required
  • To provide evaluation feedback on completion of the commissioning fund, in line with the framework provided


Support

We can offer successful applicants:

  • Production advice and practical support, including technical and producing support
  • Training and mentoring on topics including working with festivals, budgeting and sustainability
  • On-site production support including security, event staff and volunteer stewards
  • Profiling through festival PR and marketing campaigns

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
UK residents aged 18+.
When is the deadline?
12th May 2025 at 9 am.
How many works can I submit?
One per person.
When is the delivery date?
October 2025 - February 2026.
When do I need to collect my work?
n/a
How much does it cost?
Successful artists will be awarded up to £18,000 to develop their art work.
Are there payments to artists?
Yes - see above.
Is there a private view / opening?
n/a
What are the exhibition opening hours?
To be confirmed.
Does the location have disabled access?
Yes
What publicity will be provided as part of the opportunity?
Yes.
Do I need to be present?
Yes
Where will my venue be listed?
Light Up The North website, social media channels and the festivals own websites / social media channels.
How do you decide on proposals?
Panel of LUTN partners involved with curating SHINE 2025 will assess all applications. We aim to ensure the selected commissions will be high-quality work and afford the best experience for artists, audience members and locations.
What kind of proposals are you looking for?
A panel of LUTN partners involved with curating SHINE 2025 will assess all applications. We aim to ensure the selected commissions will be high-quality work and afford the best experience for artists, audience members and locations. They will assess the applications based on 5 areas:

Artistic quality – the strength & quality of the idea and the artist’s previous work (if applicable).
Audience experience- who it is aimed at and how will the public engage with it?
Financial viability – can all elements of the activity be delivered effectively within budget?
Project management – can the piece be created within the time available? Is the work durable enough for the festival dates? What materials are you using when considering the environmental impact and outdoor display?
Environmental sustainability – has this been considered in the design and proposed delivery of the artwork? Is there a plan for what happens after SHINE?
What are the selection criteria?
See above.

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