Find Creative Opportunities
After career experience, applications to new creative residencies, jobs or opportunties in Nottingham? Then this page is for you! We’ll be colating and sharing the newest and most exciting creative opportunities to date. Make sure to check back weekly for updates!
Fabric Dance Bursary
£100 Artists Bursaries Available ✨
Are you a Midlands-based dance artist or producer interested in outdoor work?
We’re offering 10 bursaries of £100 to support independent dance artists and producers to attend Derby Festé on Saturday 26 September.
Your bursary-supported day will include:
🤝 Industry Network Gathering
An informal opportunity to talk with Fabric colleagues and other peers about you and your work.
🎭 Free live works at Derby Festé
Experience incredible outdoor performances across the city, including work from 2Faced Dance, Sonia Sabri, Lea Anderson, Company Chameleon, Jen Malarky and many more.
This is a chance to connect, discover new work and explore the possibilities of touring dance outdoors.
You can apply if:
• You’re a professional artist, company or producer working in dance
• You live and work in the Midlands
• You’re interested in touring outdoor work
• You have some experience of touring outdoors
• You’re available on Saturday 26 September, 11am–6pm, in Derby
The 10 bursaries will be awarded in order of eligible applications.
And while the bursary commitment finishes at 6pm, you’re welcome to stay and enjoy more of the festival afterwards.
The Carousel Tapes | Cohort 2
The Carousel Tapes is a new two-year talent development and live music programme based at The Carousel in Nottingham.
Supported through Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund, the project has been created to strengthen Nottingham’s grassroots music scene by supporting both emerging artists and the next generation of live music creative producers.
Across two years, The Carousel Tapes will deliver six professionally produced live showcase events featuring emerging grassroots artists and bands from across Nottingham’s music community. Alongside the live events, the programme will provide structured training and real-world experience for up to 30 early-career creatives interested in areas such as live sound, lighting, photography, videography, promotion, event production and artist liaison.
Each programme cycle combines:
• A specialist-led training day
• A supported development period working alongside real live events at The Carousel
• Paid opportunities working on showcase event days
Professional documentation and live recordings
The project is designed to create clearer pathways into paid work within grassroots music by moving beyond unpaid volunteering models and giving participants practical experience, mentorship and professional credits.
The Carousel Tapes will also create a growing archive of Nottingham live music through professionally captured audio, photography and video documentation, helping support artist development while celebrating the city’s grassroots music culture. The programme focuses on emerging and grassroots artists across a wide range of genres including indie, hip hop, electronic music, jazz, soul, rock, experimental and diasporic music scenes.
MURAL ARTISTS WANTED!
Ashfield Creates
Got an idea for a very big wall? This may be the project for you!
We’re looking for an artist to create a bold new mural in the heart of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and this is your chance to make something seriously large-scale.
As part of the Ashfield Creates programme, Nonsuch Studios is working with Ashfield District Council to commission an artist to transform a 35-metre-long wall on Ellis Street, right in the centre of town.
We’re looking for an ambitious, colourful and welcoming artwork that celebrates Kirkby, connects with local people and gives this prominent space a new lease of life.
The theme for the mural is Kirkby, Woven Together celebrating Kirkby-in-Ashfield’s textile heritage and the people whose skill, craftsmanship and industry helped weave the town’s identity.
Who can apply?
We’re looking for artists with:
- A strong visual portfolio
- Experience delivering murals, large-scale artwork or public-facing projects
- An interest in community-informed creative practice
- The ability to collaborate and respond to feedback
We particularly welcome artists with connections to Ashfield, Nottinghamshire or the wider East Midlands, alongside artists from backgrounds currently underrepresented in public art and street art.
Artist collectives, groups and organisations can apply too.
Saturday Film Club
Join the world of film-making with Nottingham Trent University’s National Saturday Club for 13–16-year-olds.
The combination of imaginative thinking and technical skills are at the heart of our film club, which are also the foundations for a diverse range of careers including film-making, writing, directing, animation and more.
The film club will run over three terms in five blocks, totalling 18 Saturday morning sessions.
Members will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills. They will have access to NTU’s fantastic digital arts and design facilities and learn from talented NTU staff and visiting experts.
Supported by the BFI through National Lottery funding, the film club gives you the chance to write, shoot, and edit your own short films using professional equipment.
Working alongside industry professionals, you’ll explore technical storytelling through exciting hands-on workshops and creative projects. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills, grow your confidence, and discover the art behind great cinema.
As a member, you’ll also access exclusive free national events, including an inspiring Masterclass and the annual Summer Show, where Saturday Clubs from across the UK come together to showcase their work.
Club members will also have the opportunity to go on trips to cultural institutions in Nottingham.
As well as having lots of fun, Saturday Film Club looks great on a CV, especially if members choose to apply to college or university in the future.
The Grove Studio
The Grove Studio is looking to take on new clients. If you are a band or artist looking to record a single, EP, or album please get in touch through our website.
The Next Page masterclasses (May-August)
Big City Reads is our bi-annual book giveaway extravaganza! This year we’ve set up a Youth Selection Panel, a talented group of young people who selected our titles. Keep an eye out for our Big City Reads 2026 announcement and authors’ day event soon.
Whilst we are warming up, we are running a youth talent development programme designed to strengthen critical writing skills and deepen engagement with literature with exciting masterclasses on how to interview an author, being on a panel, and demystifying the publishing industry.
For full details and to sign up visit the next page website here
Fundraising and Development Officer
Nottingham Playhouse is looking for an organised, enthusiastic and relationship-focused Fundraising and Development Officer to help grow the support that enables us to create world-class theatre and deliver life-changing work across our communities.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Development team and play a key role in developing relationships with donors, Patrons, sponsors and funders. You’ll support fundraising campaigns, coordinate events, administer our CRM and Gift Aid processes, and help deliver an outstanding experience for everyone who supports Nottingham Playhouse.
Whether you’re already working in fundraising or looking to build a career in the charity or arts sector, this role offers excellent opportunities to develop your skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.
SATURDAY ART CLUB FACILITATORS
New Art Exchange
NAE are looking to add to our pool of facilitators, so we are calling out to anyone who may be interested in running a series of our Saturday Art Club sessions. We are looking for people who are keen to work with young people (12 and under) and their families across varying visual art forms. Each season will change to suit the main exhibition at NAE.
Gallery Art Group
Saturdays 18 April – 16 May & 6 June – 4 July , 10.30am
Visual Arts Studio, Lakeside Arts
See your creative expression flourish! Our Associate Artists will take their inspiration from our current exhibitions programme to lead workshops that explore materials, develop art skills and technique whilst building confidence in a relaxed and sociable environment.
Meet like-minded peers, build your GCSE or A-level portfolio and/or work towards an Arts Award qualification – all in a relaxed and sociable environment.
This workshop is designed for children to enjoy independently. Parents and carers, feel free to relax in our lovely cafés or explore our galleries while the kids get creative.
For ages 11-18, Cost: £120 including materials
BFI Film Academy Alumni: Case Studies & Network Sign-Up
Explore inspiring stories from regional alumni and see where their BFI Film Academy journey has taken them.
If you’ve taken part in a Midlands BFI Film Academy Short or Specialist Course, join our alumni network by signing up to the database – gain access to exclusive opportunities and stay connected with future prospects. Check out here.
Jobs Available at Rock City
We’re hiring! 👀 We’ve got a range of exciting new opportunities available, so if you think you’ve got what it takes, make sure to apply now! 💪
Check out all of our current vacancies via this link
MOVERS Open Call
We want to offer our local artist community the opportunity to showcase their creative talents within our venue programme 📆
Host workshops, showcase your artwork or plan an event!
Direct message Movers on Instagram and Facebook to get involved!
Are you a creative young person aged 16-19 in Nottinghamshire?
Unanima
We’re looking for learning disabled and autistic young people who are passionate about being creative and want to develop their talents, build confidence and explore new opportunities.
If you’re interested in performance this programme is designed to help you grow your skills and discover what’s possible.
As part of the programme, you’ll get:
✨ Support and mentoring from creative professionals
✨ Fun, practical workshops and hands-on learning experiences
✨ The chance to meet other creative young people and make new connections
✨ Opportunities to build confidence, develop your talents and explore future pathways in the creative industries
We welcome applications from young people across Nottinghamshire and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive and accessible environment where everyone can thrive.
📅 Taster Sessions: 8 & 15 September | 4.45pm-6.15pm | Create Theatre, West Notts College, NG18 5BH
Apply: [email protected]
Know a young person who would love this opportunity? Tag them below or share this post with them. 🩷
An open call for queer & feminist responses to the legacy of Tessa Boffin
We are looking for applications from UK-based artists to respond to the life, work, and legacy of Tessa Boffin through two new artist commissions. The selected artists will create work to be featured in a national touring exhibition and will engage with communities across the UK through the accompanying public programme taking place across 2026–2027.
Tessa Boffin was a lesbian photographer, writer, editor and performance artist whose politically charged work challenged traditional narratives around gender and sexuality. Boffin’s archive — a rich resource of visual and pedagogical material spanning slides, video, magazine and newspaper cut outs and reference library of books* — speaks urgently to today’s queer and feminist movements which have historically (and risk continuing) to omit lesbian and gender non-conforming artists from archival and mainstream visual culture.
Find out more and how to apply here
Applause Youth Dance Festival 2027 applications are open
Applause Youth Dance Festival (AYDF) is back and is seeking applications from young dancers from across the Midlands.
Taking place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February 2027 at The Albany Theatre in Coventry, AYDF proudly showcases the amazing and diverse talent, skills and passion of youth dance from across the East and West Midlands. Young dancers will have the opportunity to perform with their peers in a professional venue, watch other youth groups’ work, engage in an exciting progression routes Marketplace and take part in workshops with professional dance artists.
Take a look at our Application Guidance pack for more details on how to apply!
As the U.Dance Regional platform for the Midlands, AYDF also provides young dance groups and soloists the chance to be selected to perform at the U.Dance National, one of the biggest youth dance platforms of its kind.
Young performers from across the UK gather over one weekend to engage in dance workshops led by professional artists, explore a multitude of career progression routes and perform at prestigious venues across the country. The location for U.Dance National 2027 will be revealed soon.
STALLHOLDERS WANTED
STALLHOLDERS WANTED first ever PRIMARY Flea Market
This is our first time running this, and we want you to be part of it. Sunday 6 September, PRIMARY Playground, NG7. Craft, vintage, antiques, plants, records, whatever you’ve got, bring it.
📍 33 Seely Road, NG7 1NU
🗓️ Sunday 6 September, 10:30am–4pm
💰 Pitches: £25 single / £50 double
📝 Apply here
⏰ Pitches confirmed at review on 24 August – don’t wait
Creative Coaching: Building a Creative Career That Lasts
No Jobs In the Arts
It is incredibly tough to build a creative career today. Between the isolation of working independently, navigating complicated funding, and the constant threat of burnout, brilliant creatives leave the industry every day simply because the system makes it challenging to stay or start-out.
Our coaching programme is here to change that. We offer friendly, practical, and structured guidance to artists and makers at a crossroads in their careers.
We help early-career creatives living, working, or studying in the Midlands bring ambitious public projects—like exhibitions and publications—to life, without burning out or sacrificing their financial stability.
Our Creative Coaching offers free, 30-minute intensive Zoom sessions for individual artists or collectives living, working, or studying in the Midlands. Led by our Directors, these focused sessions help you tackle a single, specific career hurdle—from professional development and budgeting to funding applications and community projects. These sessions are typically held on a Monday afternoon.
While the coaching is free, a refundable £5 deposit is required to secure your slot and prevent no-shows.
Online Writing Masterclass
100% online writing workshops! 💻️✍️
Open to all, with something for writers of all formats and levels of experience. Beyond the Spectrum’s summer writing programme has launched! 🚀
Featuring a new accessible ticket price system! 🎟️
CJ DeBarra’s memoir-writing masterclass has now passed, but we’ve got plenty more in store for you! Book now for workshops on self-editing, writing for the stage, securing funding as a writer and more. 🎭️✍️
Visit the @btspectrum_ website to book your tickets today.
Amplify Co-Working Sessions
Nottingham Playhouse
T7 Aug & 14 Sept
For creatives who have work to be getting on with but like being around other people doing the same, Company is booked out for AMPLIFY members from 10am-5pm. We’ll provide tea and coffee. Come along for a check in first thing, and we’ll have an end of day accountability check in for those that want it. Or just drop in when it suits you – even if just to say hello.
In cosy corner, we have the Play Library up and running, so if you have any plays you’d like to re-home and gift to the theatre community, please bring them along – and of course feel free to take a play or two home with you to bring back another time.
Free | £5 suggested donation
Mentoring Scheme 2027
🚨 WRITER APPLICATIONS OPEN! 🚨
WHAT IS IT? 🤔
Our FREE writer development programme matches 8 East Midlands writers each with their own established writing mentor for one year of FREE, dedicated craft and career guidance.
WHEN IS IT? 📅
The next round of the Mentoring Scheme runs throughout 2027. BUT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW until 5th August 2026.
WHAT’S INCLUDED? 📖
5 mentoring sessions, 3 peer network meetings, 3 masterclasses, attendance to The Writers’ Conference 2027 and more. ALL FOR FREE.
NextGen Hub Nottingham
Introducing NextGen Hub!
Calling all young creatives in Nottingham and surrounding areas! We’re excited to unveil Next Gen Hub, a brand-new series of sessions just for you!
What’s in store?
• Songwriting & Spoken Word Masterclasses: Unleash your creativity and craft your own music.
• Event Management Skills: Gain the know-how to lead and organise a fantastic festival event this summer!
• Wellbeing & Relationships: Explore how to nurture your mental health and build meaningful connections.
• Voice Work & Tone: Improve your singing skills with expert guidance.
• Dance & Relaxation: Find your rhythm and unwind through movement.
Session tutors will be revealed soon! Stay tuned for more details on the experts who’ll be guiding you through each session.
A huge thank you to Near Neighbours Nottingham for funding our inclusive creative project especially designed in consultation with young people at Community Recording Studios (CRS) in Nottingham.
📢 Stay Tuned!
More details on how to sign up and get involved are coming soon. Keep an eye out for updates and get ready to join the creative journey!
SWEF Grants: Young People in Nottinghamshire
Grants of up to £2000 are available to young people in Nottinghamshire who need support with a business investment, targeted at those who are not in education, employment or training.