Seed Funding for Midlands based artists – open call-out!

From October 2026 to February 2027 we are exploring the idea of Home with artists raising urgent questions about heritage, displacement, sanctuary, community and the places and people that shape us. Across drama, dance, music, visual art, film, words and ideas, this season brings together diverse voices telling different stories in different ways, creating opportunities not just to be entertained, but to feel, to think, and to see one another more clearly. 

We will support up to three Coventry or Midlands-based artists or collectives with funding and space to develop new work around this theme. Culminating in a public sharing in February 2027.

The Brief:

Taking the theme of Home as a springboard for your creative project, we are offering:

·       £2,500+VAT of seed funding

·       Development space in our Helen Martin Studio

·       The chance to share your project publicly as part of a group scratch night with basic technical support in our black box Studio on Thursday 11 February 2027.

Essential Information 

·       If shortlisted, you will need to be free on Wednesday 1 July between 11.30am – 2.30pm for a follow up 20-minute discussion with our team.

·       You will need to be free on Thursday 11 February for the public sharing.

·       You will need to be or be willing to register as Self-Employed, with a tax number.

·       We advise that applicants are aged 16+.

·       We prefer to receive applications based in the West Midlands region or based within a 30-mile radius of our postcode (CV4 7AL).

·       You will need to have or be willing to have Public Liability Insurance.

·       Optional Research & Development time in the Helen Martin Studio from August 2026.

·       Rehearsal schedule for the Scratch Night: You will have 1-2 days of rehearsal space without Technical support w/c 8 February, you will have two hours with Technical support on Thursday 11 February. 

Successful applicants will receive:

·       A fee of £2,500+VAT in total which will be paid before the end of July 2026.

·       This covers your research and development time, and rehearsal and delivery of the sharing event. The budget must include any materials required for development, as well as travel and accommodation if required.

·       There will be more non-tech rehearsal time between 8-11 February in the Helen Martin Studio and Studio venue. We can provide optional research and development time in our Helen Martin Studio from August.

·       On the day and leading up to the public sharing, Warwick Arts Centre will provide event management, marketing, and technical support. As well as a PA system and special lighting to animate the area. We can also provide microphones, DI boxes, monitors, and a piano/keyboard. Unfortunately, we cannot provide DJ decks or items of backline, (e.g. drumkit, guitar amps, and more.)

Please consider fair pay for artists within your plans. 

How to Apply

The deadline for submitting your Expression of Interest is 12pm Wednesday 24 June 2026. If you would like an informal chat with our team, please contact asha.eade-green@warwick.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

To express your interest in this role, please get in contact and tell us the following:

• What is the creative idea that you are looking to develop and how does it respond to the theme of Home? (No more than 200 words)
• How would this seed-funding enable you to develop this project further? (No more than 200 words)
• Some examples of your work (in any format, preferably digital) (No more than 200 words)
• Contact details, including your postal address.
   

We are happy to accept written, or video/voice note applications. Please email them to  programming@warwick.ac.uk writing 'Made In The Midlands Open Call Expression of Interest' and your initials in the subject header.

If you prefer to use post, please send to

Warwick Arts Centre (Stage Door),
University of Warwick, 
Gibbet Hill Road, 
Coventry,
CV4 7FD

Note: For postal applications, we cannot guarantee safe delivery of postal applications, (please do not include items of value). Please write your name and 'Made In The Midlands Open Call Expression Application' somewhere visible on the envelope.

Selection Process

As part of the selection process, we will invite a shortlist of applicants to have a short, 20-minute discussion with the Programming team, where we get to hear a bit more about your practice and you can ask us more about the programme and our ambitions. 

We will be in touch to notify applicants of the outcome within 1 week of the above discussion.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice

“The power of the arts to delight, challenge, and inspire is the thing that will bridge gaps, heal division, and forge new connections between us."

It’s a core part of our vision to ensure that we are open and accessible to everyone, this includes our audiences, artists and staff. We actively invite applications from those who are currently underrepresented in the arts and are happy to talk the application through with anyone who has access needs, has taken a different educational route or has identified any other barriers not here identified.

Coventry is a rich and diverse city; Warwick Arts Centre’s artists and programming should be representative of the people it serves. 

#MadeInTheMidlands