Youth Pride Artist call-out

OUTSIDE is working with local young people from the Staffordshire Moorlands to uncover and celebrate local LGBTQ+ heritage and stories. We wish to recruit an artist who will work with our Youth Pride Group to respond to LGBTQ+ histories in an inspiring, accessible and relevant way for a wide audience.

Aims of the project:

· To celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community (tying in to the first Moorlands-wide Pride event 27th-29th June 2025)

· To create an exciting placemarker – we are open to all art forms, which could be a mural, podcast, trail, sculpture, garden, etc

· To respond to themes around safer spaces for people to celebrate their authentic selves; educational opportunities to better inform their communities of LGBTQ+ inclusion

· To vividly bring to life local LGBTQ+ stories, making them accessible, inspiring and meaningful

· To collaborate with the local community and the Youth Pride Group

*Your proposal may respond to one or more of these aims.

Timescales and budget:

Call out to artists: 1st May 2025

Submission of applications: 18th May 2025

Appoint artist and approval of work plan: 2nd June 2025

Presentation of final work: TBC – this could be during the wider Pride in the Moorlands event at the end of June or later in the summer.

Commissions:

We have a maximum budget of up to £10k* available; we are open to a number of smaller applications or one large application.

We are happy for artists to collaborate and would also welcome artists who are interested in co-creation with communities.

*This budget is inclusive of VAT and all fees, permissions, materials and expenses.

Selection procedure:

Applications will be assessed by our local Youth Pride Group alongside the OUTSIDE Pride project team.

Applications will be scored on criteria such as ambition, integrity, legacy, access and sustainability.

We will consider:

Artist’s experience and quality of previous work.

Appropriateness of the proposed work.

Artist’s experience of co-creation with communities.

Artist’s connection to or interest in the Staffordshire Moorlands (desirable).

Applications:

Applicants should email pride@outsidearts.org to apply along with…

• a proposal for the placemarker/activity

• a CV or links to your existing work. If you would prefer, you can also apply by uploading video or audio formats (up to 5 minutes only)

• a budget

The deadline for applications is Sunday 18th May 2025.

For any extra questions, enquiries or support, please email pride@outsidearts.org with the subject line Youth Pride Placemarker

Photo – williamfntn (Unsplash)

About OUTSIDE:

OUTSIDE is a consortium-led Creative People & Places project for the Staffordshire Moorlands. Our purpose is to ensure more people are experiencing and inspired by arts and culture. OUTSIDE is working with residents from across the Staffordshire Moorlands to enrich lives through storytelling which celebrates local people, culture and places. To find out more please head to our website outsidearts.org

About Historic England:

We are Historic England: the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all. Find out more about how the historic environment can help our wellbeing.

About History in the Making grants:

Historic England is working with young people (aged 13 to 25) and funding 11 youth-led projects that will create place markers across the North of England. They will mark and celebrate important local histories that have been overlooked and bring them to a broader audience. These co-produced projects put young people’s voices at the heart of the creative decision making to increase confidence and connection to their local heritage. Find out more about place marking and this scheme here.