Current Opportunities
Commission Brief for Houghton Feast Schools Workshops
The Cultural Spring and Sunderland City Council are looking to commission an artist or creative team to deliver an arts-in-schools programme as part of this year’s Houghton Feast celebrations.
This exciting project will engage at least 8 primary schools in the Houghton-le-Spring area, working with approximately 160–200 young people to co-create artwork that explores this year’s theme:
“The Magic of Houghton”
The resulting artwork will be displayed in each participating school and professionally photographed for a digital exhibition at Houghton Library.
Budget : £4,500
Deadline for applications: 12noon on Monday 11th August.
Commission Brief for Sunderland MIND
In partnership with The Cultural Spring, Sunderland MIND is seeking an experienced artist or creative practitioner to support a co-created community arts research project. The focus is on exploring the question: How can drama help with our mental health and wellbeing?—though other performing arts forms are welcome.
This opportunity is part of a wider ambition to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships between artists and communities. The selected artist will work closely with staff and service users to lead creative conversations and consultations, shaping a potential future project together. Creativity, not mental health, is the main focus at this stage.
We’re looking for someone with experience in co-creation and in working with vulnerable adults.
Budget : £1000
Deadline for applications: 12 noon, Monday 18 August
Commission Opportunity: Community Arts Research with PAC-UK & PAUSE
PAC-UK and Sunderland PAUSE are seeking an experienced artist or creative to support the early stages of a community arts research project in partnership with The Cultural Spring.
This is a unique opportunity to work with a birth parent support group made up of individuals with lived experience of having children adopted or removed from their care. Many face trauma, stigma and social isolation, yet have found connection, confidence, and healing through creativity. The project aims to explore the question: How do we support the wellbeing and enhance the voices of birth parents to tell their story?
We’re looking for someone confident in trauma-informed, co-creative practice to facilitate creative consultation sessions with the group from September–November 2025. The artist will help participants explore their interests across various artforms—supporting them to shape the direction of a future creative project.
Fee: up to £1,000 (inclusive of materials, travel, expenses and VAT).
Deadline: 12 noon, Friday 8 August.