As we launch a new programme at Coventry Pride with a summer of activities to follow, we are excited to invite LGBT+ artists who live within a CV postcode (this covers Coventry and parts of wider Warwickshire) to apply for one of our six Uprising Commissions of £1,000 each.

These micro commissions are open to artists of any discipline and of any level to either;

• Create new work, explore a creative process or idea (this does not need to relate to LGBT+ narratives but it can if you choose to/feel passionate about that)
• Create work that directly responds to the idea of losing the right to protest, which was recently posed by individuals in our government (You can read more about this here)The Brief: Pride Uprising

The Brief: Pride Uprising
During the pandemic, we saw many cultural funders and organisations throw out the rulebook and allow artists to simply ‘create’ and make work. We liked this and we don’t think it should stop. We are looking to support 4 local LGBT+ creatives to simply apply to make new work they want to develop.

We also know there are LGBT+ artists and creatives who feel able and fired up to make work in relation to the threat against our (collective) right to protest, via Article 10. We are looking to additionally support 2 local creatives to make something around this.

Who can apply?
LGBT+ artists / groups aged 16+ and with a CV postcode

Timeline

• Applications live June 9th
• Application surgery June 15th, 18:00, Zoom
• The application deadline is June 25th at 9am
• Selection Panel June 28th
• All applicants will receive news by 30th June 2021

Our Ambition
We are looking to support a range of creative projects. Projects can include film, live art/performance, theatre, poetry / spoken word, dance, music, visual arts and more but must be creatively led by LGBT+ artists.

Platforming opportunities
Platforming opportunities will be given for artists to share their work. Although it is not a requirement to have a ‘finished’ output at the end of the commission, there are platforms where you could, including:

• Pride and Joy – Our event on the 7th and 8th August in Coventry City Centre
• Coventry Pride’s website (this would work especially well for any digital projects!)
• Pop up spaces for performance and public realm art as part of City Of Culture 2021
• If you would like to platform your work in a different way, please email chloe@coventrypride.org.uk

Applicants should consider:

• Ambitious work that is something new for you and not a repeat of material or work that you have done before (unless it makes sense to do so and you let us know about the reasons why in your application).
• How this work might connect with the wider LGBT+ community in Coventry
• Work that can be seen live with considerations to current Covid restrictions
• Ways that audiences can engage with the work pre, post and during the presentation if appropriate
• Work that is relevant to marginalised humans in Coventry

We are particularly keen to receive proposals from disabled artists and those who are a part of the Global Majority (often known as POC identifying people).

Access
We encourage artists to consider creative methods of integrating access for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent online audiences into the work from conception. We can offer advice on this at the grant surgery detailed below. You might want to think about captioning, audio descriptions and other access elements, if you are sharing work.

What will you receive?
Up to £1,000 commission: You’ll need to be realistic about the scale of the project/length of the work. When writing your application please consider what your budget will be put towards, and how much time you will need to spend on making your work come to life!

Getting advice and support

• We are offering an artist surgery where you can join, and ask any questions about this call out.
• We have a dedicated staff member (Chloe Deakin) who is overseeing this fund, and is on call to answer any of your questions, and support you throughout your application process. You can contact her at: chloe@coventrypride.org.uk
• Marketing support in promoting the commission and any potential output activity

For most artists, it is assumed access costs will be met by Access to Work. If not, these can be included either within or in addition to the £1000 commission fee, depending on the nature of the work and the budget requirements.

How to apply:

• Fill in this form (also below), telling us your name, best contact number and some information about the art you create. You can also give us a web link to a site where we can find out about your work or attach an example.
• Respond to the below questions via a word document or within an email to us at chloe@coventrypride.org.uk
• We are also accepting proposals in video / audio format and BSL – please send a film / audio file, no longer than 3 minutes responding to the five questions to; chloe@coventrypride.org.uk or send us a link to download the file to the same address.
  • What do you want to do & why do you want to do it and who does it involve if there are more than one of you.
  • Do you want to present this work? If so please tell us your ideas or if not please let us know.
  • How will you spend the £1000? Tell us your budget and how it breaks down?

Please provide a maximum of 250 words per question.

If you have any questions about the application process please email: chloe@coventrypride.org.uk

Diversity and Equal Opps:
We welcome applications from those who are marginalised within the LGBT+ community. We are dedicated to funding a diverse range of artists and have an artist liaison manager Chloe who is on call if any artists need support whilst applying.

Selection Process – Key Criteria
A panel comprising the Creative Coordinator, Coventry Pride Trustees and Coventry 2021 staff. The panel will take their decisions against the following key criteria:

• LGBTQI+ led
• Individuals or organisations living or working within a CV postcode
• Clarity of idea and ambition of project (regardless if you share it or not)
• Evidence of how the award will support wider practice or artistic development
• If connected to the threat to article 10 – how your work will articulate that

What we will not be judging the applications on:

• Written ability- individuals literacy rates will not affect their application
• Amount of time spent working in the arts- as much as experience is amazing, to ensure everyone has a fair chance at getting a grant we will not be judging applications on experience
• Applicants proximity to the LGBT+ community. We understand that many artists haven’t found a LGBT+ community in which they can explore their art. This may be due to many factors, such as individuals experiencing: discrimination within the LGBT+ community, lack of resources/ roots to connect with the LGBT+ community etc… that is why we will not be judging applications on how close applicants are to the LGBT+ community. Applicants just need to identify as LGBT+.