As part of the OAUK ‘Reconnect’ Conference in Bradford, we invited ten non-performance organisations to ‘pitch’ to the crowd their current offer. Here’s a reminder of the ten brief presentations and links to more information. This is a very small selection, there are many more sector opportunities and professional events listed elsewhere on the website.

Without Walls

(David Morgan)

Without Walls supports artist and professional development opportunities across the network. The consortium regularly offers open call opportunities to look for proposals from UK artists, for outdoor arts work of any scale, from all disciplines and genres, that is innovative and ambitious.

Opportunities include:

  • Without Walls Commissions
  • Without Walls Touring Support
  • Blueprint R&D Support
  • Discover Programme
  • Artist Advisory Group | Deadline: 1 Mar 2023, 12pm
101 Streetwise Lab 

(Pete Gunson)

This intensive residential lab at the 101 Creation Space in Newbury (26-29 Mar 2023) aims to explore some of the unique opportunities that working in the street and in public space can afford whilst helping you to navigate the many challenges of working outside the conventional venue; aimed at professional artists with an established track record of innovative, high-quality work, looking to extend their practice outdoors. Streetwise is fully subsidised through 101’s professional development programme supported by The Foyle Foundation.

Application Deadline: 22 Feb 2023, 5pm

Fool’s Paradise 

(Jo Burgess)

Fool’s Paradise is an international street performance agency founded in 1991. Fool’s supplies the best UK street theatre and outdoor arts to regional and worldwide audiences. It champions the most inspiring, wondrous and downright ridiculous talent there is and its networks and friendships span over twenty years. With artist coverage across the UK, it can programme performers in every area or make travel arrangements for must-have international acts.

Fool’s Paradise loves to place artists in unexpected spaces and has performed in city streets, shopping centres, festival fields, parties and illuminated parades.

The Difference Engine 

(Derek Nisbet)

The Difference Engine is Talking Birds’ discrete tool for making performances and events accessible to D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind or partially-sighted audience members by delivering captioning or audio description direct to their own mobile devices.

It has been developed by artists, for artists – Talking Birds made the Difference Engine because they wanted to give more people the chance to access experimental, outdoor, small scale or immersive performances.

The Mela Partnership 

(Ajay Chhabra)

The Mela Partnership is a national membership organisation which supports the development of the sector and supports and mentors the next generation of Mela Makers.

Up to 500,000 people annually attend Mela events and the partnership is committed to making these audiences visible, promoting and capturing the data and making and commissioning incredible shows for families and communities across the country and beyond.

Outside CPP 

(Sarah Bird)

Outside will empower diverse Co-curator and Community Champion teams to co-create and deliver excellent arts and cultural activities rooted in local life, while building a lasting people-based infrastructure for the arts. Outside will build on the experience and networks of a third-sector infrastructure organisation. Together they will co-create learning about how to change arts and cultural leadership in these distinctive rural settings and change whose voices are heard.

NASA: For the Love of It 

(Garth Williams)

The National Association of Street Artists is calling all outdoor artists, shakers and makers to FLOI. A time to congregate, cross-pollinate & invigorate. 48 hours of fun, food & friendship: 14-16 Apr 2023 at the 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space in Newbury. This year’s theme is… the BIZARRE

For the Love Of It is the annual weekend gathering of outdoor artists, companies, producers, bookers and makers, held in early spring.

Belfast 2024 

(John McIlduff)

Belfast 2024 will support activities that create new connections. It aims to bring people together to think, explore and create in new ways. It will be made up of local and international commissions and partnerships. The programme has a focus on cross-sector working and making good use of public space.

Creative Programme Application Deadline: 8 Mar 2023

EEA: Hi! Street Fest 

(Daniel Bernstein)

In summer 2023, Emergency Exit Arts will celebrate the future of our high streets in a landmark nationwide commission in partnership with Historic England.

Hi! Street Fest is an ambitious collaboration project spanning two years, aiming to bring together people and place to support bright futures for high streets. These vibrant celebrations will take place in six locations across England: Gosport, Gloucester, Stalybridge, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Lowestoft.

BD: is LIT

(Phill Hargreaves)

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in partnership with Bradford 2025, The Leap and The National Science and Media Museum to fund the creation of innovative new light art projects and installations to take place across the District as part of BD:is LiT 2023.

The Festival returns for its second iteration in 2023 with the ambition to light up places and explore unusual spaces and uncovering the beauty of the district after dark.

Application Deadline: 3 Feb 2023 (Closed)