Current Opportunities
Bright Sparks
Commission Opportunity for Jarrow Town Centre
The Cultural Spring, working in partnership with Jarrow Forward, South Tyneside Council and South Tyneside Cultural Partnership, is inviting an artist or arts organisation to help Jarrow create something bold, luminous and memorable: a visually spectacular outdoor event for February 2027, shaped with local residents, community groups, organisations and Jarrow Forward.
Bright Sparks is an opportunity to work with the people of Jarrow to imagine a new winter tradition for the town centre — one that brings stories, streets, light, movement and community energy together.
Jarrow is a town with powerful histories, everyday creativity and ambitious plans for its future. We are interested in proposals that respond to the town as it is now and as it could be imagined: its streets, landmarks, communities, memories, industries, landscapes, families, winter evenings and collective hopes. We do not expect artists to arrive with all the answers; we are looking for someone excited to discover the work with local people.
At at glance: £15,000 artist commission; outdoor event in Jarrow Town Centre; February 2027; minimum three-day event; parade element; co-created with at least 200 local people; ambition to reach 10,000 in-person attendances.
Commission Amount: £15,000
Deadline for applications: 10am, Wednesday 30th September
Community Arts Research
Hospitality & Hope Artist Call Out
Hospitality and Hope are seeking an artist/creative to join them in partnership with The Cultural Spring on a community arts research project exploring how creativity and the arts could become a meaningful part of everyday life for local residents across their three Community Shops in South Shields.
They are interested in exploring this question with two key groups:
Male users (all ages including young people)
People over 55 years (male and female)
The project will work with the two groups independently, although there may be opportunities to bring them together as the project develops.
A key focus of this commission is engaging people who do not typically take part in creative activities and who may initially access Hospitality & Hope's services for other support.
The selected artist should consider how creative practice can build confidence, encourage participation and create lasting connections with arts and culture.
Applications are welcomed from artists working across a range of artforms, including both performing and visual arts. Artists should support participants to explore different creative approaches before collaboratively deciding on the direction of the project.
Budget : £1000
Deadline for applications: 12 noon, Tuesday 8th September
If you are an artist and feel you would bring positivity and creativity to our communities, why not drop us a message and introduce yourself? We will store your information and let you know of any possible opportunities in the future. Just use the button below to contact us.