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!
OPEN CALL: Funded 9-Month Studio Space Residency at BACKLIT, Nottingham
Are you an early-career creative struggling to grow your practice without a dedicated workspace? No Jobs in the Arts x BACKLIT, Nottingham is offering one small studio space entirely for free for 9 months to help you experiment and explore new ideas.
Underrepresented artists and creatives living or working close to Nottingham city centre are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The studio space is located at BACKLIT, Alfred House Ashley Street Alfred House, Nottingham NG3 1JG England.
Key Details
Accessibility: Step-free access to the first floor studio at BACKLIT is available via Alfred Street, with street-level entry via a lift. Please note the lift can only be operated with staff assistance. Limited parking spaces are available for those requiring level access. All our toilets are gender-neutral. Unfortunately, none currently have wide-access doors, so wheelchair access may not be possible at this time. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome throughout the building.
Support: Coaching sessions available with the No Jobs in the Arts/BACKLIT team.
The Space: Free 24/7 studio access for 9 months, from July 2026.
Who it’s for: Early career creatives (individuals or groups/collectives over the age of 18 years).
Eligibility: Applicants who already have access to a suitable studio space which meets their needs should not apply. We don’t have a single set of criteria for what an early-career creative is: it is up to the creative to decide if taking this opportunity will help their practice development. The opportunity is open only to creatives near living or working near Nottingham.
Find out more and how to apply here
Bilborough Summer Festival Call Out
We have a small team who organise events for the annual festival (meeting once a month from Jan – June), and a wider network of community groups and organisations who get involved each year to help us promote creative opportunities across Bilborough.
If you have some time to give and would like to support the Arts Festival to grow and thrive, please volunteer with us!
Autumnfolk & Winterfolk applications open! 🎪
Friendly Folk Markets are back with 2 very exciting and wonderful markets, both hosted at our home @nest_notts!
As these markets are a celebration of each season, I will be actively looking for traders who have products aligned with this theme! Be sure to outline any seasonal products you have!
Please remember;
– No AI
– Handmade products only, no online purchases items (temu etc)
– you must have insurance
You can apply for one or both via the same application form in my bio.
Applications close June 22nd.
GOOD LUCK! 🤞🏻
Reflections – Applications Open
Lakeside Arts is seeking submissions for the Open Drawing Competition, for the exhibition Reflections, which will open at the Djanogly Gallery in Nottingham from 1 August – 31 August 2026.
Inspired by Lakeside’s current exhibition Drawn Through Time: Penny McCarthy, Titian and other Time Travellers (9 May – 26 July), this is an open application exhibition for UK-based artists working with drawing.
Reflections aims to celebrate the diversity and workmanship of contemporary drawing and provide a platform for artists to showcase their work to a wide public audience.
Lakeside Arts is the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre and the region’s leading venue for theatre and dance for children and families. The Djanogly Art Gallery is internationally renowned for visiting exhibitions, major historical exhibitions and cutting-edge contemporary installations. The Djanogly Gallery has recently exhibited work by Andy Warhol, Lowry, Saad Qureshi, Kate MccGwire and Conrad Shawcross.
Applications must be made online using the form below and are subject to a £10 application fee.
Applications open: Friday 8 May, 9am
Application deadline: Sunday 21 June, 5pm
The chosen artists will receive:
- A group exhibition, Reflections, at Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham. We are looking to choose a maximum of eight artists, meaning each can display a selection of up to 10 works. Exhibition dates: Saturday 1 – Sunday 30 August.
- £200 artist fee.
- £100 toward transportation costs.
- Click here to view the competition’s full terms and conditions
To apply, please:
- Pay your £10 application fee (£8 plus £2 booking fee).
- Complete this application form
YOUNIQUE OPEN CALL
Apply by 11:59pm 24 th June 202 6
New Art Exchange
The YOUnique Programme is an opportunity to learn how to b ecome a Festival and/ or Event Producer . YOU will join a group of likeminded individuals, share your ideas, nurture your creativity, develop your skills, and create impactful events with in the arts .
OPEN CALL FOR ASDA MURAL
We are inviting proposals for a mural commission as part of the Beyond the Walls project at ASDA Hyson Green. This opportunity is open to artists from the Global Ethnic Majority worldwide, and artists based in Nottinghamshire, with a total commission fee of up to £10,000 for the successful proposal.
A new and exciting chapter is about to begin as New Art Exchange brings a bold new mural series to ASDA Hyson Green, as part of the Beyond the Walls project in partnership with ASDA and New Art Exchange.
Part of this partnership includes this commission, which looks to take the Voices of members of the community who, whilst working at ASDA, have been embedded for a number of decades, continuing to serve its members. This commissions invites International artists based anywhere from the Global Ethnic Majority* and all artists living in Nottinghamshire, continuing to support and champion both our local artists and those from the Global Ethnic Majority.
What we ask, is for artists to review the notes taken (original handwritten and transcribed versions available) from sessions with ASDA team members, and propose a artwork concept for the three (3) wall panels. There should be a clear and consistent concept across all three panels and reference to the notes. We welcome artists to be creative with their medium and not feel restricted to more ‘traditional’ materials. We also ask for examples of previous work to demonstrate quality.
The successful artist(s) will also be expected to facilitate 1x in-person session with the ASDA team to share and develop the proposal (date TBC).
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Thursday 18 June 2026 11:59PM
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
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.
Acting for Screen Summer School
Nottingham Playhouse
Mon 10 – Tue 11 Aug
Led by Kieran Vyas, our exciting Acting for Screen workshop will teach you all the things you need to know to stand out and shine on camera!
Ready to take your acting to the next level? Whether you dream of starring in films or TV shows, our 2-day Acting for Screen Summer School is the perfect place to start. Get hands-on experience with professional techniques, camera work, and performance style to help you shine on screen!
If you’re looking for an engaging activity to take part in this summer, this could be the workshop for you.
11-18-year-Olds
Find out more and how to apply here
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.
Join the Pending Collective
The Pending Collective is BACKLIT’s collective for artists aged 16–25.
Based in Nottingham, members work with an accomplished team of artists, curators and professionals to give a voice to young people whilst making connections and skills to enrich our practices.
Shadowing and mentoring opportunities enable members to:
- Manage projects, organise events, and deliver workshops to the local community;
- Develop professional skills in marketing, curation, and more;
- Meet with studio artists at BACKLIT Gallery to learn more about their practices;
- Connect with other youth collectives to network and make new friends.
Pending Collective is now open to new members.
Please find the application form here.
Applicants must be between 16-25 years of age.
We especially welcome interest from people who are Black, Asian, Mixed or of Global Majority heritage, and/or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Applications close early July 2026.
Find out more and how to apply here
Sidedoor Social Open Call
Sidedoor Social is a relaxed show and tell for people working on creative projects – a space to share passion projects, unfinished ideas, and work that doesn’t neatly fit anywhere else.
It’s not an exhibition or a pitch night. There’s no selling, no pressure, and no expectation to be polished. Just people showing what they care about, in a way that feels open, DIY, and human. Work from across music, design, coding, animation, video, publishing, archiving, textiles, game design, and more is actively encouraged – any creative practice is welcome.
Each event features work from a small number of contributors, selected via an open submission. If selected, your work will be on show throughout the entire night. You’re free to stay with your work and talk to people as they explore, or move around the space and join conversations.
Alongside the exhibition, there will be a limited number of timetabled sharing slots. These take place in a dedicated area of the hall with a mic and projector available if needed. If you’d like to talk, perform, screen a video, or present your work, you can request a slot of up to 15 minutes in your submission. There is only space for around 8 sharing slots per event.
Sidedoor Social is about connection and momentum. It’s a place to find collaborators, get thoughtful feedback, or feel re-inspired to pick up a project you’ve drifted away from. Just as importantly, it’s a space for people to come along, see what others are making, talk, listen, and leave wanting to start something of their own – maybe even to share it at a future Sidedoor Social.
Accessibility note: the venue is not wheelchair accessible.
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.
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.
Germinator Open Call
GERMINATOR 26/27 — OPEN CALL
With the first Germinator exhibition closing today and degree show season beginning, Haarlem Artspace and Playing Fields are pleased to announce the next iteration of the programme.
Germinator developed in response to the shifting conditions of art education and the widening gap between academic study and the realities of sustaining a practice beyond it. As courses come under increasing pressure and professional development is increasingly sidelined, many graduates leave without access to the networks, knowledge and context needed to navigate the art world. Projects like this feel increasingly important — particularly in regional areas outside so-called cultural centres — where opportunities for recent graduates and early-career artists can be limited despite the vital role they play within the wider creative ecosystem.
The programme is a small but direct response: supporting recent graduates connected to the East Midlands through a year of mentoring, dialogue and practical guidance, culminating in a group exhibition at Haarlem Artspace. Following the success of the first iteration, we are now looking ahead to the next cohort and are particularly interested in artists committed to developing their practice through critical dialogue and long-term engagement.
Graduated in the last few years…or about to graduate?
Based in (or connected to) the Midlands?
Send a short introduction + link to your work: [email protected] before August 31
Tutors, lecturers and peers — please share or recommend someone.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ZINES
A Creative Literacy Workshop at Nottingham Women’s Centre
Empowerment Through Zines is an 6‑week creative course designed to help you build confidence with reading, writing, and self‑expression in a relaxed, supportive space.
Together, we will explore women’s stories, rights, and experiences, using these as inspiration to create your own personal zine — a small, handmade booklet that reflects your voice, ideas, and creativity.
Throughout the course, you’ll have the chance to:
- Develop your reading, writing, and communication skills at your own pace
- Try out creative techniques such as drawing, collage, lettering and simple design
- Share stories, ideas, and inspiration with other women in a friendly group
- Build confidence through hands-on activities and gentle guidance from an experienced tutor
- By the end of the course you will create, publish and showcase your zines and contribute your work to a small exhibition in the library (optional)
Please register in advance by emailing [email protected] or call 0115 941 1475 (Mon-Fri 9-5)
Amplify Co-Working Sessions
Nottingham Playhouse
Thu 30 Apr & Mon 18 May, 10am
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
New Nottingham Journal 2026 Submissions Open
All submissions should be in Arial, 12 point, double-spaced, with your name and email address in the header. Please attach your piece/s to your email, as a PDF, Google Doc or Word document.
Please send these to [email protected] before Saturday the 16th of May. We ask that you include a brief one sentence bio for yourself which could be included in our contributors section. Here are some guidelines for our content categories:
Poetry: please send up to four poems in one document – each should be no more than 2000 characters, including spaces.
Short fiction: please send pieces up to 4000 words.
Creative non-fiction & slow journalism: please send pieces up to 4000 words.
During this submission window we are seeking to publish original material, rather than pieces which have already appeared on the web or elsewhere in print. We will consider original translations if the work has not appeared before in English. We do not currently accept postal submissions.
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!
Sugar Stealers
Sugar Stealers are offering free creative and wellbeing opportunities for all women and gender expansive people. These workshops are made to suit a wide range of abilities & all necessary equipment will be provided for you, so don’t worry if you are a first timer!
Free 8 week Music Industry Development Programme (Podcasting, event planning, DJ-ing, Music Production, Sound Engineering, Industry Mentorship, Rehearsal Space). Limited spaces available, advised to apply soon to secure a spot! https://www.sugarstealers.com/music
Free 5 Week Music Tuition For People Facing Financial Barriers (DJ-ing, Music Production, Sound Engineering): https://www.sugarstealers.com/tuition
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.