How’s everyone’s Monday going?

I hope you’re all looking forward to our next gathering, this Thursday at Woodend Mill Studios in Mossley. There is still plenty of space for more to join, details on how to reserve a free spot are below!

In even bigger news, the third round of GM Arts Access Bursaries is now open! For those new-ish to the network, this is a small round of artist development grants that Tameside Council’s Cultural Services open yearly for creative practitioners in Tameside. More details also below! 👀

Our next meeting!

Tameside Creative Network: Creative Leadership Workshop

Date: Thursday 27th August 2026

Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30

Location: Woodend Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9RR

Book your free tickets here

Join Katie Charlton, founder of Starling CIO, for a crash course in creative leadership. The workshop will borrow helpful tidbits from her fantastic 6-week UNLOCK mentoring course, designed for emerging leaders and early-career creatives


In this session with Katie, you’ll explore your creative leadership style and discover how to work more effectively with your own strengths.


Katie is an artist-leader who supports artists to develop creative projects that serve them and their communities. Working in a neuro-affirming, strengths-based way, she is the founder of neurodiversity charity Starling CIO and co-founder of Almia CIC, a ‘performance art-ivist’ project working for queer play, joy and liberation.


Alongside the workshop, there will be lots of time to network and meet other artists and creative folk from across Tameside. Tea, coffee and biccies will also be provided!


To find the ground floor studio space: once in the Woodend Mill main car park, walk down the tunnel between the 2 mills and you will arrive at the River Take. Turn left and walk to the studio back door, it is a few meters from the door to the Woodend Mill cafe.


The venue has ample free parking and step free access. If you have any questions please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk

Jobs, Resources and Opportunities

Now open: GM Arts Access Bursaries 2026!

In partnership with GM Arts, Tameside Council is offering bursaries between £100-£500 for freelance creative practitioners living and/or working across Tameside, to help you develop your practice and grow career in the creative industries. These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities.

Does this sound like bursary you might benefit from? Click here for more information and to apply!

Key Dates:

• The deadline to apply for a Tameside GM Arts Access Bursary in Round 3 is: Sunday September 13th 2026 at midnight

• You’ll hear back from Tameside Council’s Cultural Services on whether we’re able to support your request for a bursary on or before: September 20th 2026

• You must have spent the grant and filled in the evaluation form by no later than March 1st 2026.

Global Grooves: Dancing Threads
Calling all Visual Artists and Creative Practitioners!

Are you a visual artist with a passion for community, heritage and storytelling?

Global Grooves is inviting expressions of interest from visual artists and creative practitioners of all kinds to create original work inspired by the stories, memories and oral histories collected through their Dancing Threads project.

Exploring themes of dance traditions, industrial heritage, migration and global histories, commissioned artists will transform this rich archive into compelling visual artworks for an outdoor exhibition at The Vale, Mossley, with selected works touring to galleries and community venues across Greater Manchester.

For more information and to register your interest, click here.

HOME have launched an Artist Development Newsletter!

This newsletter promises to keep you up to date with HOME’s events, news and opportunities for artists, including skills workshops, networking events and commissioning opportunities.

Now, I know a lot of us are probably drowning in newsletters at this point (sorry), but I have it on good authority that this is a good one! At any rate, give it a try and see if it throws up any good.

More info here!

Jerwood Foundation Funding Round 2027

This funding round is a little way off, but it does give you time to plan your application! This funding is primarily in larger amounts and aimed at charities and limited companies delivering creative projects.

‘Jerwood Foundation welcomes funding applications from organisations with a focus on supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK, making art available for public benefit, and those interested in working with Jerwood Collection.’

For projects starting: 1 July 2027-30 June 2028.

Applications open 9am 3 February (closing 2pm 17 March) 2027.

Decision at Trustee meeting on 28 April. All applicants will be contacted by 11 May.

You can find more information here.

Haworth Trust Applications Open for 2026/27

Open call for submissions! Three scholarships awarded by The Haworth Trust in collaboration with Paradise Works.

Paradise Works are excited to announce that they are offering three new scholarships thanks to The Haworth Trust to support talented contemporary visual artists in developing ambitious new works and sustainable careers in Greater Manchester.

The award includes a free studio for a year, mentorship, and a materials budget. This opportunity will be awarded to two artists with an artistic practice of 3 years or less post graduation, and one early-mid career artist with a practice of 3-7 years post graduation. To culminate the award, the three artists will take part in a group show at Paradise Works’ gallery the following year.

The award will run from November 2026 till November 2027.

The deadline for submissions is Sunday 6th September 2026 at midnight.

For more information, please click here.

New Role at HOME: Creative Engagement, Visual Arts Practitioner

Salary: £29,832 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time
Hours of work: 40 hours per week

HOME are recruiting a Creative Engagement Visual Arts Practitioner to lead the coordination, administration and delivery of HOME’s visual arts engagement programmes.

The Creative Engagement Visual Arts Practitioner will effectively coordinate, administrate and deliver accessible and inclusive creative opportunities for Young People, Schools and Communities to engage with Visual Arts. Leading engagement programmes including HOME Young Artist Studio, curating HOME’s Inspire Gallery spaces and creating opportunities for people to engage with HOME’s wider visual arts offer, gallery spaces and wider creative engagement programmes."

Deadline; 14th September 2026
Link to more info and to apply: here

Events and Goings-on

The Vale Mossley is turning five, and they’re celebrating in style!

Saturday 12 September will be bursting with crafts, music and wellbeing activities during the day, before Bologna Bridge Band perform that evening.

Then on Sunday 13 September, Sunday Sessions is back; the perfect way to round off the weekend with live music in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Other events coming up at the Vale:

12 Sept: Bologna Bridge Band
15 Oct - 19 Nov: Cuban Carnival: Introduction to El Mozambiqué (6-week course)
31 Oct: Steve White Trio
14 Nov: Mr B’s Probably Accurate Hip Hop History Tour
21 Nov: Transglobal Underground

For more info and to book tickets, head here!

Events @ Woodend Mill: Thread and Butter Collective presents North Lights Afternoon Rave at The Weaving Shed

Join for an unforgettable afternoon rave beneath the iconic North Lights of the historic weaving shed at Woodend Mill — all in support of the restoration of this incredible heritage space.

Expect 4 hours of music, atmosphere, energy and industrial vibes in one of the most unique venues around. This is more than just a party — every ticket sold helps support the future restoration of the weaving shed and the community work of Thread & Butter Collective CIC.

Saturday 12 September 2026
3pm – 7pm
The Weaving Shed, Woodend Mill

Tickets: £20

BBQ food and refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

More information: here

Next show to open at Guide Bridge Theatre: Blithe Spirit

Support our local theatre and head over to Guide Bridge Theatre for their adaption of Noel Coward’s comedy this September!

Address: Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw Road,, M34 5HJ

Dates: Monday 7th September 2026 - Saturday 12th September 2026

For more information on Guide Bridge’s upcoming theatre programme, volunteer programme and youth theatre programme, click here.

For tickets, please click here.

And that’s it for this month’s newsletter!

If there is anything you would like putting in the newsletter, be it your art, an event or exhibition you’re organising, or anything in-between, get in touch at hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk!

There are also plenty of ways to keep in touch:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you Thursday!

Hannah

I hope you’ve been keeping cool throughout the heatwave, and none of your art has melted!

This newsletter is a grants and funding bumper special, with a new grant being opened by Tameside Council for artists and organisations being launched, and much more. Plus a reminder to sign up for our next meeting, it is going to be a fab workshop with Katie all about developing your creative leadership skills for the cultural sector!

Let’s get stuck in.

Our next meeting!

Tameside Creative Network: Creative Leadership Workshop

Date: Thursday 27th August 2026

Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30

Location: Woodend Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9RR

Book your free tickets here

Join Katie Charlton, founder of Starling CIO, for a crash course in creative leadership. The workshop will borrow helpful tidbits from her fantastic 6-week UNLOCK mentoring course, designed for emerging leaders and early-career creatives


In this session with Katie, you’ll explore your creative leadership style and discover how to work more effectively with your own strengths.


Katie is an artist-leader who supports artists to develop creative projects that serve them and their communities. Working in a neuro-affirming, strengths-based way, she is the founder of neurodiversity charity Starling CIO and co-founder of Almia CIC, a ‘performance art-ivist’ project working for queer play, joy and liberation.


Alongside the workshop, there will be lots of time to network and meet other artists and creative folk from across Tameside. Tea, coffee and biccies will also be provided!


To find the ground floor studio space: once in the Woodend Mill main car park, walk down the tunnel between the 2 mills and you will arrive at the River Take. Turn left and walk to the studio back door, it is a few meters from the door to the Woodend Mill cafe.


The venue has ample free parking and step free access. If you have any questions please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk

Funding Opportunities

Tameside Creative Communities Grants are now open for 2026-2027!

‍

Do you have a great idea that could bring people together through art, music, theatre, dance, film, or other creative activities?

‍

‍

Tameside Council is offering grants of up to £1,500 to help artists, groups and creative organisations run exciting new projects across Tameside. These grants are supported by the UK Government through the Economic Development and Regeneration Flexible Grant (ED&RFG) programme and Greater Manchester Arts funding.

How to apply:

1. Read the information linked HERE carefully.

2. Download and complete the application form at the bottom of the page.

3. Answer all questions fully.

4. Email the completed form to events@tameside.gov.uk with the subject ‘Tameside Creative Communities Grant application’ before the deadline.

‍

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 16 August 2026.

‍

If you have any questions, email events@tameside.gov.uk

PPL Momentum Music Fund

Description: The PPL Momentum Music Fund offers grants for UK based artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing.

PPL Momentum Music Fund provides vital financial support which will help talented artists and bands to take their career to the next level. Activities eligible for support include recording, writing, touring and marketing.

Grant amount: Between £5k-£15k are available

How to apply: Please read the Guidance Notes here, then you can apply here.

Deadline: Monday 10 August 2026, 6pm (this is a rolling fund by the way, if you miss this deadline the next round will open in September and close in October!)

The Open Fund for Music Creators

Description: The Open Fund for Music Creators supports the development of outstanding music creators of all genres and backgrounds at different stages of their career with grants of up to £5000.

Grant amount: up to £5000

How to apply: Please read the Guidance Notes here, then you can apply here.

Deadline: Next Deadline is 7 September 2026

King Charles III Charitable Fund – Small Grants

Description: The scheme provides small grants to support independent UK registered non-for-profit organisations for grassroots, community-based projects that fall within its core funding themes:

• Heritage and conservation.

• Education.

• Health and wellbeing.

• Social inclusion.

• Environment.

• Countryside.

Grant amount: Up to £9,000 over three years (£3,000 per year for three years) are available.

Application process: Applications open on 5 August 2026 (9am) and close 19 August 2026 (noon). This round is for projects working across the Fund’s Education and Heritage Conservation funding themes.

Contact information: Email: contact@kccf.org.uk

Website: Small grants - King Charles III Charitable Fund

Art Fund and Jerwood Foundation

Description: The funding is intended to enable museums and galleries to fully fund commissions for early to mid-career artists to create innovative, high-quality new work. It supports artists at a pivotal stage in their development while contributing new contemporary works to public collections. It aims to support early to mid‑career artists based in or connected to the UK, for whom a commission of this scale would represent significant professional development, across all artistic media, with opportunities for works to enter permanent public collections or the public realm.

Grant amount: The programme will award two commissions ranging from £70,000 to £100,000

How to apply: Guidance notes and the application form can be found on the Art Fund website

Deadline: 2 October 2026.

Hugo Burge Foundation - Creative Grants

Description: The funding is intended to support creativity across the UK. There are three focus areas:

• Creative Education - supporting projects that provide young people (ages 0-29) with opportunities to engage in creative activities. This includes funding for workshops in schools, field trips to cultural sites, and the purchase of materials for student engagement.

• Creative Communities - aiding organisations, festivals, fairs and community groups that develop and deliver cultural and creative arts initiatives within their local areas.

• Creative Individuals - providing individual artists, including those in visual and expressive arts, writers and craftspeople, with funding to support their artistic projects.

Grant amount: For the Creative Education and Creative Communities strands, the maximum award is £15,000. For Creative Individuals, the maximum award is £5,000.

How to apply: Guidance notes and the online application portal can be accessed from the Hugo Burge Foundation website.

Deadline: Friday, 31 July 2026.

And that’s it for this month’s letter! If you have any work you are proud of, or have a creative event or exhibition coming up you would like to share with the network, please email me at hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk and I will put it in the next newsletter.

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with each other year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you all in August, at the beautiful Woodend Mill Studios!

Hannah

I hope you have all been keeping well on this fine summer’s day.

It probably won’t have escaped your notice that the newsletters have been slightly more sparse than the promised monthly installation of late, and that is just not on! Rest assured that the newsletters are back to a monthly basis, on the dot, or my name isn’t The Person Who Writes the Newsletters.

The sparseness of newsletter has also meant that quite a backlog of opportunities and events have built up, so this will be long one. Buckle up!

NEXT WEEK!👇

Tameside Creative Network: A Guide to Workshop Facilitation

Date: Thursday 25th June 2026

Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30

Location: The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre, Cotton St E, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7BY

Book your free tickets here

Art with Heart are returning to Tameside Creative Network to deliver a very fun and informative workshop on how to facilitate your own workshop! (yes, a workshop on workshops!)

This workshop is run by Art with Heart Co-Creative Director Sarah Emmott (above!) who is their lead facilitator for young audiences. Sarah has worked as a facilitator and educator since 2006 in a range of cultural, educational, youth and prison settings.

This workshop will cover:

• Different types of workshops

• How to structure a session plan

• Facilitation skills

• How to deepen the meaning for participants

• The importance of tone and asking good questions

• Top tips!

Who is it for?

For artists and facilitators starting their career who want to expand their practice into creative workshop delivery, be that for schools, organisations like galleries and museums or planning and promoting your own!

The venue has limited free parking and step free access. If you have any questions please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk

Tameside Creative Network: Creative Leadership Workshop

Date: Thursday 27th August 2026

Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30

Location: Woodend Mill, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9RR

Book your free tickets here

Join Katie Charlton, founder of Starling CIO, for a crash course in creative leadership. The workshop will borrow helpful tidbits from her fantastic 6-week UNLOCK mentoring course, designed for emerging leaders and early-career creatives

In this session with Katie, you'll explore your creative leadership style and discover how to work more effectively with your own strengths.

Katie is an artist-leader who supports artists to develop creative projects that serve them and their communities. Working in a neuro-affirming, strengths-based way, she is the founder of neurodiversity charity Starling CIO and co-founder of Almia CIC, a 'performance art-ivist' project working for queer play, joy and liberation.

Alongside the workshop, there will be lots of time to network and meet other artists and creative folk from across Tameside. Tea, coffee and biccies will also be provided!

To find the ground floor studio space: once in the Woodend Mill main car park, walk down the tunnel between the 2 mills and you will arrive at the River Take. Turn left and walk to the studio back door, it is a few meters from the door to the Woodend Mill cafe.

The venue has ample free parking and step free access. If you have any questions please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk

Jobs and Opportunities

GM Arts Access Bursaries: 2026/27 Round: Opening Soon

In partnership with Tameside Council, GM Arts will once again be offering bursaries between £100-£500 for freelance creative practitioners. These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, resources, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities.

The bursaries application opening will be announced via the Tameside Creative Network Newsletter and on social media in July, so keep your eyes peeled!

The Globe Theatre: The Climate Playwriting Prize 2026

The Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 will uncover the most exciting new plays about the climate crisis, and support them to find their audiences.

In order to surface the breadth and diversity of new stories about this planetary moment, the Climate Playwriting Prize is an open invitation to all playwrights to respond creatively to this subject matter.

Submissions will open on this webpage in June 2026, and you can join their mailing list for updates.

The deadline for submissions will be 1st September 2026.

For more information, visit this webpage.

Artist Residencies at Barnsley Civic

Barnsley Civic is delighted to reaffirm its commitment to supporting artists in the development of new work by announcing a new opportunity beginning summer 2026: Civic Residencies. For the first time, Barnsley Civic will offer a number of free week‑long residencies with accommodation for 2-4 artists, enabling creatives to make and stay in Barnsley at no cost.

These residencies build on Barnsley Civic’s mission to nurture artistic talent through meaningful support, access to space, and connection with local communities.

Current Residency Dates With Accommodation

The following 2026 residency weeks are now open for applications:

29 June – 3 July 2026

14 – 18 September 2026

12 – 16 October 2026

Applications will be reviewed monthly, with further residency dates released throughout the year. These will be advertised on our website as and when they become available.

Barnsley Civic welcomes applications from artists across the UK. For more information and to apply, click here.

Lawrence Batley Theatre - Artist in Development programme

The Artist in Development programme is designed to nurture and empower local artists and companies, providing them with the space, time and support they need to develop brave and exciting new ideas.

The Artist in Development will receive:

1-to-2-week residency in the Cellar Theatre or Attic Theatre space for free.

Mentoring from their team: this can be in the form of support with funding applications, dramaturgy, community engagement support, marketing advice, movement direction or technical assistance.

Opportunity to present a sharing performance at the end of the residency to an invited audience (if appropriate).

Applications to be their autumn/winter 2026 Artist in Development will open on 1 July 2026. For more information click here.

New role: Haigh Hall Freelance Creative Producer

Client: Wigan Council – Culture & Events Service

Project: Haigh Hall & Woodland Park Transformation

Consultant Role: Creative Producer

Duration: 12 months

Deadline for submissions: Friday 26th June

We are seeking an experienced and innovative freelance creative producer to join the team, for a 12 month period, to support delivery of an ambitious programme that integrates contemporary art into the Hall’s architecture, landscape, and programming. The appointed freelancer will work closely with the Head of Cultural Programming, and Senior Curator to help shape a distinctive artistic identity for the Hall that reflects its past, engages present audiences, and looks to the future.

For more information and how to apply, click here.

Pride in Place Funding: New funding round opens for communities

TMBC’s work to bring improvements to neighbourhoods from the Pride in Place Fund has now opened the final round of applications. Communities have the opportunity to secure investment from the £1.5 million fund for projects that enhance local spaces and boost pride across the borough.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund focuses on three key areas:

• Community spaces – enhancing local facilities and supporting organisations to bring underused buildings and spaces back into use

• Public spaces – upgrading parks, play areas, lighting and street furniture

• High streets and town centres – revitalising shopfronts, improving markets and enhancing streetscapes

Please apply online by 31 July 2026, with full details available at www.tameside.gov.uk/impactfund

Anyone interested in applying should also email policy@tameside.gov.uk to register their interest. A member of the team will then be in touch to discuss proposals and next steps.

Artist Imagination Fund 2026-27 – Application Now Open

Another year of Big Imaginations Artist Imagination Fund, funding is upon us! And we’re so excited to hear from you about the idea(s) that you have for performance work for children and families.

The Big Imaginations Network is on the lookout for artists to support them to develop their ideas! We’re looking for artists who are making/want to make work for children and families and are based in the North-West and South-West Yorkshire. We’re especially interested in hearing from anyone who has protected characteristics.

We’re excited to announce our AIF support package for 2026/27. This package exists to support artists who have an idea that they want to explore. This might be:

⋅ An initial idea you want to play around with

⋅ Something you want to take into an R&D process.

⋅ An idea you plan to apply to Arts Council England for and want match funding.

For more information and how to apply, click here.

The application will close on Tuesday 30th June 2026.

Without Walls Open Call

This open call is for artists to submit proposals for new outdoor arts projects to be included in the 2027 programme. Shows which are selected will tour to our partner festivals throughout next year.

We’re keen to work with artists from all regions of the UK. Your project must:

• Be a new piece of work.

• Be suitable for touring to outdoor arts festivals.

• Be available for touring from the beginning of May 2027.

• Be made by artists based in the UK. We can support work made in association with international artists, but the lead partner for the project must be based in the UK

Deadline for all submissions: Tuesday 7 July, 12pm (midday)

For more information please click here.

Creative Performance Opportunity for Young People
Turn The Tide: Between Earth and Voice

This summer Between Earth and Voice will be running an opportunity called Turn the Tide, a week of creativity, connection, and culture, for young people to devise an original performance piece.

Between Earth and Voice are a youth-led, multidisciplinary, creative arts organisation that works professionally and with the community to create powerful, poignant devised pieces of theatre:

“Our ethos is focused around youth voice and empowering young people to explore, experiment, and take ownership of their creativity in a welcoming environment. We have been extremely fortunate to gain funding from Mossley Soup, enabling us to run this opportunity at no cost to the participants. Due to the nature of this funding we are particularly looking for young people from Mossley and the surrounding areas to be involved!”

Key information:

• This opportunity is a week long process to create a new performance piece

• It will run from the 24th-28th of August 2026

• It will be held at The Vale, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, OL5 9JL

• The week is for young people aged 13-18

• We welcome any and all art forms including singing, dance, poetry, and even art forms that are not performance based No experience required!

• We are looking for young people who are willing to try new things, and create something amazing, not who is the ‘best’ at anything

• There will be taster workshops beforehand. These are not auditions, just a relaxed opportunity for us to meet you and also a time for you to decide whether you want to be a part of this opportunity.

• The week will be completely free to participate in, we can provide travel expenses where necessary and food will be provided every day

• We are particularly but not only looking for young people from Mossley and Tameside to be involved.

• If you are interested in the arts, like trying new things, or just want to make some new connections in a friendly and relaxed space, this project is for you!

Please complete this short form to sign up:

Google Forms: Sign up

News and Events

Unheard Stories: The Exhibition
By Cabasa Carnival Arts

Friday 3rd July: 10am - 5pm
Saturday 4th July: 11am - 4pm
Stalybridge Civic Hall, Trinity Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2BN
Free entry

Through body art portraits, textiles, sculpture, photography, audio stories, poetry, and film, this large-scale exhibition shares lived experiences of endometriosis, pregnancy, and access to reproductive healthcare.

Pendle Witch Tour Dates Announced

TCN member Aimee Williamson has been putting the finishing touches to her new family dance theatre show, Pendle Witch, exploring the dark tale of the Pendle Witches through dance, and now it’s touring! And coming to Tameside!

The tour dates are:

27th June- Pendle Festival of Culture, Nelson
4th July- Fleetwood Moves, Fleetwood
11th July- Waterfoot Wakes, Rawtenstall
25th July- Seek Out Festival, Gisburn Forest
20th September- More Music, Morcambe (support for Honeyfeet)
9th October- Stalybridge Street Fest, Stalybridge

Aimee Williamson is a performer, dance artist and theatre maker based in Lancashire. Her work spans across ballet, contemporary, physical theatre and puppetry.

Watch the trailer here.

Mindful Photography Walk with Dave Gee

Where: The Nico Ditch, Ashton-under-Lyne, England

When: Saturday 27 June 2 PM - 3:30 PM

Description: When did you last actually stop and look?

Step away from the digital rush and give yourself permission to slow down. Join us for a mindful photography walk —a chance to reconnect with your local environment and with yourself.

During the walk, you’re encouraged to let go of expectations. Let your eyes wander and capture scenes that speak to you personally. No experience or fancy camera required—just an open mind and a willingness to see the world with fresh eyes.

Tickets are £5 and can be booked here.

And that’s it for this month’s letter! If you have any work you are proud of, or have a creative event or exhibition you would like to share with the network, please email me at hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk and I will put it in the next newsletter.

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with each other year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you all on Thursday June 25th for our next meeting!

Bye besties x

It’s been a hot minute since a newsletter hasn’t it!

Keep reading for the next two workshops coming up and how to sign up, as well as our usual array of opportunities and news from Tameside and beyond.

Tameside Creative Network: Writing With Humour

Date: Thursday 30th April 2026
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: Denton West End Community Library, Denton, Manchester, M34 2HB

Book your free tickets here.

Inject Some Laughter into Your Creativity!

Join author Christina Longden for an engaging session that explores the art of incorporating humour into your creative expressions. Whether you’re looking to sprinkle some comedic flair into your social media marketing or dive into the world of writing and performing comedy, this session is tailored for you!

There will also be lots of opportunities to chat, along with the network’s usual sharing of creative resources, notices, and news from Tameside and beyond, so feel free to bring any news of your latest projects or activities to share! Refreshments will be provided.

Tameside Creative Network: A Guide to Workshop Facilitation

Date: Thursday 25th June 2026
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre, Cotton St E, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7BY

Book your free tickets here

Art with Heart are returning to Tameside Creative Network to deliver a very fun and informative workshop on how to facilitate your own workshop! (yes, a workshop on workshops!)

This workshop is run by Art with Heart Co-Creative Director Sarah Emmott (above!) who is their lead facilitator for young audiences. Sarah has worked as a facilitator and educator since 2006 in a range of cultural, educational, youth and prison settings.

This workshop will cover:

• Different types of workshops

• How to structure a session plan

• Facilitation skills

• How to deepen the meaning for participants

• The importance of tone and asking good questions

• Top tips!

Who is it for?
For artists and facilitators starting their career who want to expand their practice into creative workshop delivery, be that for schools, organisations like galleries and museums or planning and promoting your own!

Opportunities, News and Events (in no particular order!)

New Artist Studios Opening In Denton!

Wellington Studios - Denton is opening in Heaton House, located within the historic Moores Hat Factory in Denton. They are currently refurbishing this beautiful Victorian building, full of character and charm into ten studios and a spacious Event space. If you’re interested in becoming part of their creative community, they would love to hear from you!

For more information, room bookings and to sign up for a studio, click here or email info@wellingtonstudios.co.uk

Made By Mortals are looking for a Visual Artist and Photographer!

At Made By Mortals, we co-create powerful stories rooted in lived experience, and we’re looking for someone to help us capture that visually.

If you create vibrant, people-focused work and love working with communities, we’d love to hear from you.

- Greater Manchester
- Freelance opportunity (£2000 initial commission)
- Apply by 30 April

For more information and to apply, click here.

The Met in Bury is hiring an Engagement and Access Officer!

Working closely with the Engagement and Access Manager, you will provide support to The Met’s growing education and engagement offer, including their in-house workshop activity for children, young people and adults; community partnership projects; work with local schools and colleges including careers and employability work; and audience development-focused work with targeted groups.

This programme of work enables The Met to develop its profile as a vital service for the people of Bury, connecting arts and culture with young people, vulnerable people and those who might not regularly engage with the arts.

Applications close on Friday 8 May at 5pm

Interviews will be held on Thursday 21 May.

For more information and to apply, click here.

Sick! Festival is returning to Manchester with a range of performances and workshops

SICK! is a biennial festival running throughout May 2026, and a North Manchester-based arts organisation with local roots and global collaborations, using arts and creativity to connect people, communities, and artists, making everyone creators of fairer, healthier futures.

They have some truly sick (pun intended) shows and workshops planned, one to highlight is the Dan Daw pro class: Building Better Worlds, a creative workshop hosted at the Lowry on May 7th, which is ‘aimed at performance artists / makers who exist on the fringes and, for whatever reason, have felt like they don’t quite belong.’'

To peruse the full programme, click here!

Starling (a local charity, not the bank!) have opened applications for their Artist Leader development programme!

Artist-Leader: UNLOCK
A six-week creative leadership journey for artists, facilitators, and creative practitioners who want to lead projects, work with communities, and build values-led creative work.

Across three core themes, you will explore:
• who you are as an artist-leader
• who you are building with
• what you want to create and how to make it happen

Each theme includes a Teaching Space and a Practice Space so you can reflect, then apply directly to your own work.

Six weekly sessions
Mondays, 10:00–11:30am
Starting 11 May 2026

Part One: Know Yourself
Clarify your values, strengths, lived experience, needs, and boundaries.

Part Two: Know Your People
Map collaborators, communities, partners, and aligned opportunities.

Part Three: Know Your Project
Shape your idea into a clear, meaningful, funder-ready project.

By the end, you will leave with:
• a clearer creative leadership identity
• a map of collaborators and partners
• a simple project outline
• a rough budget
• practical next steps toward funding

UNLOCK is for artists, facilitators, and creative practitioners aged 18+ working in participatory or community arts. Priority for neurodivergent, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ practitioners.

No degree. No organisation required. Just bring your ideas and lived experience.

More information about Starling can be found here, and for more information about UNLOCK and to apply, click here!

Maracatu de Baque Virado with Mestre Gilmar - brand new workshop at The Vale!

• Time: 7pm-10pm

  Venue: The Vale (theatre space), Unit 2 Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9JL

• £25 / ‘donate what you can’ from £10

Maracatu with Mestre Gilmar

Join us for a special evening with Mestre Gilmar Santana, master of Maracatu de Baque Virado from Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Beginners are more than welcome to attend this session.

Book your tickets here!

What to Expect:

• Experience and enjoy the voice of a renowned Mestre (master and cultural leader) bringing with them such a depth of knowledge and passion from the Maracatu tradition of Pernambuco in the Northeast of Brazil.

• Explore the characteristic rhythms and songs from Mestre Gilmar’s tradition.

• Play along with a large group of players to enjoy mass band playing.

• Translated conversation and Q&A opportunity with one of Pernambuco’s most established and knowledgeable Mestres.

Instrumentation: Alfaia, mineiro, caixa, gonguê, voice. All instruments can be provided, please bring along these instruments if you have them.

Grants up to £2.5K Available to Companies Working in Moving Image!

Creative UK are excited to introduce the Creative Enterprise Business Builder, a grant initiative designed to support companies who work in moving image for storytelling, spanning film television, games, animation and immersive industries. With grants of up to £2,500, beneficiaries will be able to work with a consultant to build meaningful connections and create opportunities for business growth. Grants can be used for marketing strategy, monetisation of IP, international operation, and more. The Business Builder grants are only available to businesses based in England, outside of London.

The fund closes on 1st May 2026.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link here!

Mothers Who Make - Monthly Peer Support Group

Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a free, in person peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers…every kind of maker welcome, and every kind of mother.

Sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. The sessions aim to give creative mothers the chance to explore their practice in a room with their child. Professional connections have been formed and led to the beginning of joint projects between participants, so it’s a great way to meet and collaborate with other mothers from different creative backgrounds.

Upcoming meetup dates are Mon 11 May, Tue 2 June and Thu 2 July

Tickets are free and should be booked via the link provided here!

Create Rochdale CPD Session: Trauma Informed Practice within Cultural Education

Trauma can negatively impact children’s social, emotional and physical development. In this session you’ll learn what trauma is, how it affects people and how to support children and young people who have experienced trauma. This topic will be looked at through the lens of cultural education and the group will discuss how trauma informed creative activities can contribute to recovery and improving children’s health and wellbeing.

Speakers include:

- Educational Psychologists from Rochdale Borough Council’s Early Help and Schools team

- Saz Domville, Creative Health Associate at Edgehill University and Freelance Arts Practitioner

- Early Break

- Skylight Circus Arts

For more information about the event click here.

The Black Artists Grant (BAG)

The Black Artists Grant (BAG) offered by Creative Debuts is a no-strings attached financial support to help Black artists. Awardees can spend the grant on whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses.

This grant has been set up because Black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools and by audiences too.

Creative Debuts recognises that a full institutional overhaul and dismantling of racist structures is required to transform the industry permanently, but they hope in a small way that this grant will help enable recipients to continue their artistic practice when the odds are so stacked against them.

For more information and to apply, click here.

And that’s it for this month’s letter!

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with each other year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me, Hannah, with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you all on April 30th at Denton West End Community Library, and if not, until next time!

Hannah

First off, a very quick note (and sorry to keep banging on about it) but if you’ve engaged with the network in any way over the last year, be that through the grant programme or coming to a meeting, please could take a minute to fill in the GM Arts SPIRIT Evaluation Survey 25/26. GM Arts funds the Tameside Creative Network, and all your feedback is so vital in improving the project and sharing with funders, so we can keep doing what we’re doing! Ta much.

We also have some really fantastic workshops lined up over the next six months, from some super talented creative folk sharing their extensive experience and expertise! Read on to find out more…

Tameside Creative Network Events:

Tameside Creative Network: Meet Global Grooves!

Date: Thursday 26th February
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: Studio 1, The Vale, off Micklehurst Rd, Mossley, OL5 9JL
Book your free tickets here.

Global Grooves are welcoming us to their home at the Vale, where we’ll meet one of the Directors and founders, Holly Prest, and hear about their experience building the carnival arts company. We’ll also meet one of their leading artists, Stefan Pope, who will be sharing some of their puppeteering and storytelling expertise in a hands on workshop focused on helping us all relax and incorporate play into our own creative practices, as well as picking up some puppet basics on the way!

Timings:

17:30 Arrivals, hot drinks and biccies served!

18:00-18:05 Introductions, we will all go round and introduce ourselves and our practices.

18:05-18:15 Sharing notice and news from the network; we will be joined by Thread and Butter from Woodend Mill who have an exciting announcement!

18:15-18:35 Holly Prest introduces Global Grooves, the Vale and her career trajectory in the arts.

18:35-18:45 Quick Break

18:45-20:00 Stefan’s workshop, with another little break somewhere in the middle!

20:00 Event officially ends, but do feel free to stick around for a natter and to finish off the biscuits.

If you have any access requirements, concerns or questions about the event, please feel free to email hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk.

Tameside Creative Network: Writing With Humour

Date: Thursday 30th April 2026
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: Denton West End Community Library, Denton, Manchester, M34 2HB

Book your free tickets here.

Inject Some Laughter into Your Creativity!

Join author Christina Longden for an engaging session that explores the art of incorporating humour into your creative expressions. Whether you’re looking to sprinkle some comedic flair into your social media marketing or dive into the world of writing and performing comedy, this session is tailored for you!

• Explore Different Forms of Comedy: Discover a variety of styles and find what resonates with your own creative vibe.

• Know Your Audience’s Humour Expectations: Learn how to ‘read the room’ and deliver the chuckles your audience craves.

• Build Confidence in Your Humour: Gain tools and techniques to comfortably – and safely - use humour in your work.

• Create Your Humour Library: Get recommendations on must-read materials and must-watch performances to sharpen your comedy instincts.

Come ready to fettle your funny bone further (maybe bring some of your favourite personal anecdotes) and connect with fellow creatives who share your passion for embracing the lighter side of life.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Christina Longden grew up in Dukinfield and her first two comedy-drama novels, ‘Mind Games & Ministers’ and ‘Cuckoo in the Chocolate’ were set in Tameside. Christina was Writer in Residence for Kirklees from 2020-23, is a community historian and her family were recently featured throughout the Al Jazeera docu-series ‘Victorian Muslims.’


There will also be lots of opportunities to chat, along with the network’s usual sharing of creative resources, notices, and news from Tameside and beyond, so feel free to bring any news of your latest projects or activities to share! Refreshments will be provided.

Tameside Creative Network: A Guide to Workshop Facilitation

Date: Thursday 25th June 2026
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre, Cotton St E, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7BY

Book your free tickets here

Art with Heart are returning to Tameside Creative Network to deliver a very fun and informative workshop on how to facilitate your own workshop! (yes, a workshop on workshops!)

This workshop is run by AwH Co-Creative Director Sarah Emmott who is theirlead facilitator for young audiences. Sarah has worked as a facilitator and educator since 2006 in a range of cultural, educational, youth and prison settings, collaborating nationally with organisations including Belgrade Theatre Coventry, BBC Learning, Contact, The Proud Trust and Institute of Cultural Affairs UK. Sarah’s projects have included school transitions, politics and debating, and working with former gang members. In this session, we will explore different types of workshops, including teaching skills, making meaning and unpacking difficult subjects.

This workshop will cover:

• Different types of workshops

• How to structure a session plan

• Facilitation skills

• How to deepen the meaning for participants

• The importance of tone and asking good questions

• Top tips!

Who is it for?

For artists and facilitators starting their career who want to expand their practice into creative workshop delivery, be that for schools, organisations like galleries and museums or planning and promoting your own!

Opportunities, News and Events

Talks at the Archives

Did you know that The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre regularly hosts free talks about local history and heritage? Well they do!

On March 10th there will be a talk from a local historian on the hotly contested 1931 Ashton-Under-Lyne By-Election, and on March 24th a very lovely sounding talk exploring the rich history of the Co-operative Movement with Jane Donaldson, Archivist for the Co-operative Heritage Trust.

Details of any upcoming talks can always be found on the InTameside website.

Visual Arts Commission Callout: HOME

To coincide with the launch of Queer Up North 1992-2002: Celebrating Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Heritage digital archive, HOME is commissioning one early career visual artist to respond to selected material from the archive, culminating in an exhibition in HOME’s Granada Foundation Galleries.

Over the course of three months, the selected artist will respond to selected archive material through their own artistic visual arts-based practice, to produce a new body of work for public exhibition.

Key dates:

Deadline to apply: Wednesday, 4th March 2026, midday

Outcome announced: Friday, 20th March 2026

Creating period: April-June 2026

Exhibition dates: early July - end of October 2026

For more details on how to apply, head to the page on HOME’s website here.

Resource Sharing

Class Ceiling: A Review of Working Class Participation in the Arts Across Greater Manchester

A new inquiry from the University of Manchester has been published, focusing on the collapse of social mobility in the arts, particularly in Manchester, and the far reaching effects of this on the region.

It certainly made for an interesting read!

Key findings, which won’t come as a surprise to many of us, were that:

• Class based discrimination is commonplace

• Working class artists don’t see their lived experiences represented in the arts

• Working class artists struggle with a lack of connections and an understanding of how the industry works

• Low pay is a huge barrier preventing working classes from seeking a career in the arts

• There are lots of great initiatives being delivered across Greater Manchester to increase working class participation in the arts – but they need supporting; best practice needs to be shared and scaled up to reach more people.

If you’re someone who enjoys a bit of light reading at bedtime, you can find a link to download the full paper here.

And that’s it for this month’s letter! (sorry it’s a short one)

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with the rest of the network year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me, Hannah, with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you tomorrow at the Vale, and if not, until next time!

Hannah

Subscribe now

I hope you’ve had nice, cozy Januarys, wrapped up warm and out of the cold!

With the new year, a whole new programme for Tameside Creative Network has been taking shape behind the scenes, with the next two gatherings confirmed (more details below!). As always, what you, the Tameside Creative Network, want to see at our upcoming meetings is very very important! Get in touch and share what workshops, activities, topics and support you want to see and receive in future. Ways to get in touch at the end of the newsletter!

It would also be incredibly helpful if you could take a minute to fill in the GM Arts SPIRIT Evaluation Survey 25/26. GM Arts funds the Tameside Creative Network, and all your feedback is so vital in improving the project and sharing with funders, so we can keep doing what we’re doing! Thank you.

And now, on with the Newsletter!

Tameside Creative Network Events

Tameside Creative Network: Meet Global Grooves!

Date: Thursday 26th February
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: Studio 1, The Vale, off Micklehurst Rd, Mossley, OL5 9JL
Book your tickets here.

Global Grooves, Tameside’s fantastic local Carnival company, are taking over the Tameside Creative Network for a session at their home in the Vale in Mossley! Meet their Artistic Director and creative practitioners for a workshop exploring storytelling through the medium of shadow puppetry. Come and learn about the creative process of carnival and meet the creative and producer folk behind the magic!

There will also be our usual sharing of creative resources, notices, and news from Tameside and beyond, so feel free to bring any news of your latest projects or activities to share. It’s always lovely to hear what everyone has been up to!

There will be refreshments and chances to catch up over a cuppa as usual too. Everyone is welcome!

Tameside Creative Network: Writing With Humour

Date: Thursday 30th April 2026
Time: 18:00-20:00, arrivals from 17:30
Location: Denton West End Community Library, Denton, Manchester, M34 2HB

Book your tickets here.

Inject Some Laughter into Your Creativity!

Are you feeling like everything is getting a bit too SERIOUS for you and your audience? Or perhaps you crave a touch of lightness but want to weave in some humour to soften the edges of your work?

Join author Christina Longden for an engaging session that explores the art of incorporating humour into your creative expressions. Whether you’re looking to sprinkle some comedic flair into your social media marketing or dive into the world of writing and performing comedy, this session is tailored for you!

• Explore Different Forms of Comedy: Discover a variety of styles and find what resonates with your own creative vibe.

• Know Your Audience’s Humour Expectations: Learn how to ‘read the room’ and deliver the chuckles your audience craves.

• Build Confidence in Your Humour: Gain tools and techniques to comfortably – and safely - use humour in your work.

• Create Your Humour Library: Get recommendations on must-read materials and must-watch performances to sharpen your comedy instincts.
  

Don’t miss this chance to elevate your personal creativity with a burst of laughter! Come ready to fettle your funny bone further (maybe bring some of your favourite personal anecdotes) and connect with fellow creatives who share your passion for embracing the lighter side of life.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Christina Longden grew up in Dukinfield and her first two comedy-drama novels, ‘Mind Games & Ministers’ and ‘Cuckoo in the Chocolate’ were set in Tameside. Christina was Writer in Residence for Kirklees from 2020-23, is a community historian and her family were recently featured throughout the Al Jazeera docu-series ‘Victorian Muslims.’


There will also be the network’s usual sharing of creative resources, notices, and news from Tameside and beyond, so feel free to bring any news of your latest projects or activities to share! Refreshments will be provided.

If you have any access requirements, concerns or questions about either event, please feel free to email events@tameside.gov.uk

Opportunities, News and Events - in no Particular Order!

Introducing Z-arts Seed Fund

Fund Information:

Z-arts is offering seed funding to support theatre makers based in Greater Manchester who are developing work for children and families (ages 0–11).

Z-artshave two seed funds available, each offering:

• £1,000

• One week in our Artist Development Studio (to take place before Sunday 31 March 2026)

• Support and guidance from Z-arts staff

• Optional opportunities for audience sharings/performances and feedback

There is no expectation to produce a final piece of work with this funding, Z-arts encourages theatre makers to use the time to explore, test ideas, and experiment rather than focus on producing a finished piece. Z-arts just ask that you document your process so they can see how the work develops.

More information about the fund, the eligibility criteria and the application form can be found here.

Adidas and Factory International return with a six-month development opportunity for emerging creatives

Factory International and adidas have teamed up once again to deliver the Originals Creator Network North, a six-month development opportunity for 20 young creatives (aged 18-30), living in Greater Manchester.

Participants will receive mentorship, coaching and masterclasses from industry and local leaders, alongside networking opportunities. The cohort will respond to a real creative brief working closely with industry professionals to develop a final showcase of work in the Warehouse at Aviva Studios. In addition to this, each member of the cohort will receive a £600 bursary.

This programme seeks to address underrepresentation in the creative industry, support young people with the skills to navigate working in the creative sector and develop valuable networks and relationships.

There will be an online webinar on Wednesday 11 February from 6pm to 7pm, where you can ask questions about the programme and recruitment process. To sign-up, please email originalscnn@factoryinternational.org

For any access requirements or additional support when applying, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org

Three Manchester Open artists will be awarded an artist development package managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery.

Thinking of applying to the Manchester Open? One of the prizes includes three artist development packages managed by Castlefield Gallery and HOME, Including complimentary Castlefield Gallery Associates memberships as part of the scheme.

“We’re proud to be part of this major open exhibition and highly value the relationships we build with artists through these awards, and through our Associates programme. Previous winners have gone on to work with us in varying capacities. The installation image featured is Kay Shah, Degrees of Duality (2025) at Castlefield Gallery.” - Castlefield Gallery

“HOME is delighted to announce that Manchester Open, the biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent returns in 2026. Taking place every two years, Manchester Open exhibition is the biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent. Between Sat 20 Jun and Sun 6 Sep 2026, the HOME Main gallery will be filled with hundreds of artworks, selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.” - HOME

Manchester Open artwork submission portal is open until 19 Feb 2026.

Creative Learning Facilitator role at Touchstones Rochdale available!

When you join Your Trust as a Creative Learning Facilitator you will be part of a charity based across Rochdale that aims to support every member of our diverse community to live their best life; inspiring them to be healthier, happier and creative people.

What’s in it for me?

As a Creative Learning Facilitator we can offer you:
Salary: Band 3, £25,040 - £28,252 per annum (pro-rate for part time hours)
Hours: 22.5 hours per week

Location - Touchstones Rochdale

What will my role be as a Creative Learning Facilitator?

The purpose of the role is to help deliver a dynamic, inclusive and impactful creative learning sessions that support the aims of Touchstones. This includes setting up activities and spaces for effective learning experiences, leading the delivery of creative learning workshops to groups of visitors and partner organisations and carrying out evaluation activities for Touchstones’ Creative Learning programme.

More information here.

Manchester Ceramics Fair at Whitworth Art Gallery

The Whitworth and Manchester Ceramics Fair are looking forward to welcoming over 70 selected makers from Manchester, the North and immediate surrounds.

Building on the positive response to last year’s event, the first curated ceramics fair of its kind in Manchester, Manchester Ceramics Fair 2026 will take place over the iconic South Gallery and Grand Hall at the Whitworth Art Gallery.

Preview evening Friday 6 March 6 - 8:30pm (ticketed)

Open to the public (free)
Saturday 7 March 10am - 4:30pm
Sunday 8 March 10am - 3:30pm

BLUEPRINT R&D 2026 OPEN CALL - Without Walls

The 2026 Blueprint Open Call is for the Research & Development (R&D) of bold and innovative outdoor arts projects.

It’s an opportunity for artists to experiment, collaborate, and refine new ideas.

• You can apply for up to £10,000 to support the research and development of an outdoor arts project. Access costs for people on the project can be costed for on top of the 10k.

• As part of the programme, you will receive training on integrating access provisions, environmental sustainability and production training in outdoor arts.

• You will receive tailored support and guidance to make the project you want to make from the Programme Team at Without Walls during your research and development process.

• The deadline to submit projects is Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 12pm (midday).⁠

Caixa blast - A new snare short course beginning in Feb 2026 with Holly Prest

• 12 - 19 February 2026

• 7pm - 9pm

• £5-£12 per session

The Vale, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, OL5 9JL

Caixa blast with Holly Prest

[KAI-shah]

Global Grooves are offering regular instrument study sessions for beginners and existing players of a number of percussion instruments across the year. This month, join Holly for a new snare study session ‘Caixa blast’! Grab your drum sticks and develop your musicianship and technique on this brilliant little smasher of a drum.

Come along to recap things you already know, do stamina practice with pals, and bring along questions from your own practice. Equip yourself for playing with others and consolidating previous learning.

Sessions will include rhythmic ideas, improvisation phrasing, Q&A opportunities, individual feedback, tips and tricks, and technique pointers to take your playing to the next level.

EAR PLUGS RECOMMENDED.

More information here.

Resource Sharing

Unlimited create and share resources for artists, creatives, producers and the sector to share best practice, insights, toolkits and more around disability, accessibility

Disabled artists and disabled-led work are often marginalised by the cultural sector. Unlimited’s mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. By showcasing and supporting the amazing breadth and quality of work by disabled artists, they want to open doors for their artists to work with other organisations, too.

https://weareunlimited.org.uk/resources/

Find local funding opportunities across Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham through the Action Together funding search portal!

Action Together CIO is the infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Oldham, Rochdale, and Tameside.

Use their funding search tool to look up local funding pots, particularly those that centre building community and connection in their ask.

And that’s it for this month’s letter!

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with the rest of the network year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• Email me, Hannah, with any suggestions, questions, feedback - hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

See you in February!

Hannah

Subscribe now

This is going to be a relatively short and sweet one, with just a few opportunities, events and bits of news to share before we shut up shop until 2026!

2025 has been a pretty splendid year for our lovely little network, with 113 attendees across all our events and workshops and 14 Access Bursaries awarded to local creatives to help them develop their career and practice.

From our fundraising in the arts 101 workshop with Sarah from Art With Heart, to the dark art of networking with Olivia Peers (Born and Bred Theatre), to social media marketing for artists with Short Supply, we’ve been meeting up and learning lots! Not to mention, just last week we had our festive mixer at the Nico Ditch in Ashton Under Lyne, with a fantastic turnout.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part, big or small, this year! Tameside Creative Network is a welcoming and vibrant space because of you all.

I’m brewing our 2026 programme as we speak, so please feel very free to drop me a line with meeting/workshop/event ideas. Do you want to deliver a workshop yourself? Great!! Get in touch.

My email is Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk, or join our Whatsapp group and share your ideas there!

Right, some opportunities, news and events, in no particular order!

Global Grooves are hiring an Arts Administrator & Venue / Events Coordinator

Job description: Global Grooves is a leading creative organisation working with communities to produce high-quality cultural projects, performances and participatory programmes across the UK and beyond. Their home, The Vale, is a vibrant cultural venue and creative centre in Mossley.

They are looking for an organised, motivated and confident individual to support and help develop the administrative and sales hub that underpins this activity. You will play a key role in coordinating the steady flow of venue enquiries, bookings, project information and event logistics that help both Global Grooves and The Vale run smoothly.

Salary: £24,785 – £30,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week. We are open to discussing a 4-day working week on a pro-rata basis for the right candidate
Application deadline: 13th January 2026
More details and to apply: Arts Administrator & Venue / Events Coordinator - Global Grooves

Tameside Means Business Enterprise Festival, for anyone wanting to build and grow a business

Operating in the creative sector can often mean setting up your own business, so if you’re in Tameside and surrounding areas and are looking to start or grow a business, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

The first ever Tameside Means Business Enterprise Festival will be held on Friday 23rd January 2026 at Stalybridge Victoria Market Hall and is a collaboration of Tameside Means Business, GM Business Growth Hub, Tameside Council and EnterprisingYou.

Join local entrepreneurs, business specialists and support organisations for a day of learning, networking and inspiration.

On the day you can:
- Hear from guest speakers - some fantastic names to be announced soon!
- Join expert-led workshops on start-up essentials, social media, and customer experience
- Explore the business support available across Tameside.

Food and music will make the day extra special too!

The event is free to attend, register your interest here: GM Business Growth Hub | Tameside Means Business Enterprise FestivalGM Business Growth Hub | Tameside Means Business Enterprise Festival

Local artist launches a new podcast highlighting the creative and cultural talent across the Tameside and the north of England!

Join Epic Vishin podcast for unfiltered conversations with the North’s most inspiring creatives. Every Saturday, artist and animator (and TCN member!) Jojo Hayfron sits down with painters, poets, filmmakers, musicians, street artists and cultural thinkers to uncover the stories behind the art.

From Tameside to Greater Manchester and beyond, this channel spotlights underrated talent, working-class creativity, artistic activism, feminist perspectives, and the real struggles and victories behind a creative life. If you’re an artist who’s tired of being overlooked or someone who loves discovering bold, authentic voices, you’re in the right place.

For the latest episode, click here.

Singin’ in the Rain party bus, leaving from Hattersley!

Buckle in for an all singin’ all dancin’ one of a kind journey - as we travel from Hattersley to the Theatre on this immersive bus ride!

Get in the festive spirit as we travel to the Royal Exchange on this immersive bus ride, curated by Sadie Mears, Assistant Director on Singin’ in the Rain.

Each £20 ticket includes an immersive experience, return private bus travel to Hattersley and 1 ticket for Singin’ in the Rain at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Event Details:

Arrival: 17:30pm @ Hattersley Hub SK14 6NT

Bus Departure: 18:00pm

Singin’ in the Rain: 19:30pm - 22:45pm (including 20min interval)

Bus Return: 23:00pm

Spaces are limited so book now to avoid disappointment!

Hands on Collage workshops at Woodend Mill Studios with Sarah Hardacre!

Join Mossley based artist Sarah Hardacre for a creative and inspiring collage workshop inside her studio at Woodend Mill, Mossley, the space where she develops her own collage and printmaking practice.

After a brief introduction to Sarah’s work and the history of collage, you’ll dive straight into making — cutting, layering, and experimenting with images to create your own unique pieces. There’ll be plenty of papers, magazines, books, and reference materials to spark ideas, and by the end, you’ll leave with original collages ready to frame and display.

Sarah’s work explores women’s experiences in urban spaces. She is represented by London based gallery Paul Stolper and her work is held in major collections worldwide, including the British Museum. Her workshops combine playful creativity with insight into the art and history of collage bringing inspiration to this immersive workshop.

All materials — plus tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks — are included in the workshop; just bring your imagination!

Book now:

Wednesday, Jan 21 2026, 10am to 12pm

Saturday Jan 24 2026, 2pm to 4pm

And that’s all for Tameside Creative Network Newsletters for 2025!

As ever, there are lots of other lovely ways to connect with the rest of the network year round:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN thing you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

• We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

That’s all from me! A happy holidays and New Year to you all, however you mark it (or don’t!).

Byeee

Hannah

How is it the penultimate newsletter of 2025 already?! Time flies when you’re having fun!

A few little things before we jump into all the creative goings-on in Tameside and beyond:

• We have a TCN WhatsApp group! Join it at the link here for creative chats and sharing news, events and opportunities.

• Give us feedback on the last TCN meeting you attended! Your feedback is always so welcome, and it helps us improve the workshops and meetings for you all. Click here to spill the beans.

Tameside Creative Network: A Festive Mixer

Date: Thursday December 11th

Host: The Nico Ditch,52 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6LB

Time: 18:00-20:00

Tickets: Click here!

Join the TCN for our final gathering of 2025: a good old artsy knees up! Expect:

• Live music from esteemed local vinyl DJ

• Tours of the Nico Ditch’s brand new visual art and mixed media exhibition.

• Food from the wonderful Lily’s.

• And of course, a range of expertly made cocktails, local draft beer, teas, coffees and soft drinks, with drinks tokens available for your first beverage!

• There is step free access into the venue, but the exhibition is up a flight of stairs without lift access.

If you have any questions about the event, please email events@tameside.gov.uk

Opportunities

Grants of up to £200,000 Available to Organisations Working With Disabled Children & Young People

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 28-11-2025

About: Youth Music’s Shift the Scene Fund offers grants of up to £200,000 to organisations who provide creative opportunities for Disabled children and young people, pushing for genuine inclusion, ambition and accessibility.

Through advocacy, creativity, and community, they want organisations to ‘shift the scene’ and create spaces where Disabled voices lead. The fund is for organisations that work across any creative discipline – not just music and actively work with Disabled people across all parts of their organisation.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 28th November 2025.

Find Out More.

Call for Sheba Festival 2026 Commissions

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 30-11-2025

About: Sheba Arts invite artists and communities from Greater Manchester to submit proposals for the upcoming Sheba Festival. You can propose a piece of work for the exhibition, a performance, or to lead workshops or events.

Mentoring and production support will be provided to help bring your ideas to life.

Sheba Festival 2026 will be a celebration of culture, creativity, and community, co-created with artists and local residents to amplify diverse voices and stories. Building on themes of healing, unity, and recognition, the festival aims to create a joyful, inclusive space that honours heritage, storytelling, and resilience within migrant and diaspora communities.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is Sunday 30th November.

Find Out More.

Venice Fellowship Programme 2026 - Open Call for Early Career Artists

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 01-12-2025

About: The Lowry, in partnership with the British Council’s Venice Fellowship programme 2026, are offering two artists from the Northwest the opportunity to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important art and architecture biennales.

The Fellowships Programme is a key part of the British Council’s presence in Venice, supporting the exhibition programme as well as being a platform for the development of artists and creatives. The Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for early career artists to represent the UK on an international level whilst broadening their perspective, making connections and developing their creative practice.

Each Fellow will receive a Travel Grant of £3,300. There will be an online information session for those interested in applying on 19 November, 12-1pm. Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

The deadline for applications is Monday 1st December 12 noon.

Find Out More.

The Early Career Promoter Fund Offers Grants of up to £3.5K to Emerging Producers

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 11-12-2025

About: The Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England, and offers grant funding and capacity building support, with the aim of bolstering the local, regional and national ecosystems.

Grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support a range of activity, including the booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances. Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance including a ‘how to make a strong application’ recorded webinar is available via the link provided.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 11th December 6pm.

Find Out More.

Events & Activities

Open Studios at Woodend Mill 6th & 7th December 2025

• Sat, 6 Dec 2025 10:00-16:00 Sun, 7 Dec 202516:00

• Woodend Mill One (map)

From 10am to 4pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December, many of the artists and artisans at Woodend Mill, Mossley will be opening their doors in the run-up to the festive season. The studio holders will be ensuring the festive cheer is flowing as they invite you once again to share the weekend with them. A full list of who will be open, what is on offer and how you can get involved will be available soon. In the meantime, save the dates in your diary and Woodend Mill Studios looks forward to welcoming you.

For more details of who is opening, see here.

Arts, Health, Action! A Creative Prescription - A Free Workshop in Trafford Exploring the Power of Creativity for Health & Wellbeing

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 25-11-2025

About: Are you using the arts to support health and wellbeing – or want to be? This hands on, engaging, practical workshop is for:

• Those already delivering Arts in Health work, looking to strengthen impact and partnerships,

• Those curious or just starting out, seeking ideas, inspiration and connections,

• Those who’ve realised, “we’re already doing this… we just want to do it better!”
  
  
  The workshop is organised by Trafford Local Care Organisation, Trafford Council, Trafford Community, Trafford Community Collective and VCFSE Organisations including String of Hearts and Gorse Hill Studios. It will explore how creativity is already making a difference, especially for people experiencing mental ill health, isolation, or who don’t engage with traditional services.

The event is free to attend, with refreshment breaks and lunch provided and will be held on Tuesday 25th November 9:30am - 3pm at Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Trafford M33 7ZF.

Find Out More.

Free Autumn Workshop Series For LGBTQ+ Arts Freelancers & Businesses

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 27-11-2025

About: Give your career or arts business a Glow Up this autumn with Dibby Theatre’s online workshop series aimed at supporting more sustainable careers in the arts.

Workshop 1 - Thursday 20 October - Vision, Values and Strategy: Setting goals and planning for success with Nathaniel J Hall, Artistic Director of Dibby Theatre. Workshop 2 - Thursday 13 November - Where to start? Project planning with Ross Carey, Producer of Dibby Theatre.
Workshop 3 - Thursday 27 November - How do I make money? A crash course in fundraising with Sarah Emmott, Creative Director, of Art With Heart.

All sessions will be delivered online (zoom) at 10am-1pm. You can attend one, two, or all three of the sessions. Sessions will not be recorded. Book your place via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Mothers Who Make - December Networking Event

Category: Networking

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 04-12-2025

About: Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a free, in person peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers.

Every kind of maker welcome, and every kind of mother!

Sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. The sessions aim to give creative mothers the chance to explore their practice in a room with their child. Professional connections have been formed and led to the beginning of joint projects between participants, so it’s a great way to meet and collaborate with other mothers from different creative backgrounds.

The next event takes place on Thursday 4th December, 10:30am-12:30pm at Arch 1, HOME 2, M15 4FN. Tickets are free and should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Thank you for reading!

We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

That’s all from me for now, see you all soon!

Hannah x

Pardon the double email, think of the last newsletter as a late September installment and this as the real October Deal!

Before we begin a rundown of the latest creative news and opportunities from across Tameside and beyond, this is your reminder that the next Tameside Creative Network meeting is TOMORROW!

Make sure to book your free spot here if you haven’t already, and we’ll see you all tomorrow.

Tameside Creative Network Meeting: Art and Local Heritage

Date: Thursday October 23rd

Host: The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre, Cotton St E, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7BY

Time: 18:00-20:00

Tickets: Click here!

• At this meeting, we will be welcoming local archivists and artists to talk about their work bringing art and local history together.

• The Local Studies Archivist will be giving us a tour of the archives, and two local artists, Christine Anderson and Martha Webster, will be chatting to us about themselves and their work, and how they have recently used the archives and drawn upon local heritage and history in their own creative practice. Christine will also be showing us her latest piece, which is currently installed in the atrium in the Local Studies centre!

• There will also be a unique opportunity to feed into the Tameside Cultural Strategy, in a short consultation led by a representative from Tameside Council.

• And as always, there will be ample opportunity for everyone there to give their own announcements, plug their own work, and network!

• Tea, coffee and biccies will be provided.

If you have any access requirements you would like the event organizers aware of beforehand, please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

Where shall we host the TCN Christmas Social?

We would love to hear your suggestions of where to host our Christmas social! It will need to be:

• In Tameside (obvi)

• Accessible via public transport

• Have step free access for wheelchair users and folks with limited mobility

• Serve food and drinks!

• Space for up to 25 people.

If anywhere springs to mind, drop me an email at Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

Ta much!

Subscribe now

Opportunities

Round 5 of the GMCA Inspire Fund Now Open!

About: Round 5 of the GMCA Inspire Fund is now open, offering grants of £500–£2,000 to support creatives across Greater Manchester.

Whether the aim is to invest in new equipment, secure support for a creative project, or access professional development, this fund is designed to enable growth and success within the creative sector.

The fund is open to freelancers, independent artists, musicians, performers, and small creative organisations based in Greater Manchester.

🔗 GMCA Inspire Fund - 10GM

🗓️ Deadline for applications: 31st October 2025

SXSW® 2026 – Applications Now Open for Greater Manchester Creatives

The GMCA have announced that applications are now open for two incredible opportunities to represent Greater Manchester at SXSW® 2026 in Austin, Texas!

The GMCA are inviting expressions of interest from creatives based in Greater Manchester in the following categories:

• One music artist

• One filmmaker or podcaster

Selected applicants will have the chance to showcase their work on an international stage, join a vibrant GM delegation, connect with global industry leaders, and represent the bold creative spirit of our city region. This is a funded opportunity with promotional support, industry introductions and travel assistance. Applicants must be based in Greater Manchester, match the application criteria, and able to travel.

About SXSW®:
South by Southwest is a globally recognised event that brings together thousands of professionals each March for music and comedy showcases, film and TV screenings, exhibitions, networking, tech competitions, and more. It’s a place where creative talent meets opportunity — and where unexpected discoveries happen.

We’d love to see Greater Manchester’s creativity shine on this global platform.

Full application details here - South By Southwest (SXSW) 2026 - Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Please note the closing date for applications is COB 31^st October 2025.

Dancers & Choreographers, Explore Your Creative Ideas With Factory International’s Artist Takeover

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 03-11-2025

About: For their next Artist Takeover residency, Factory International are inviting dancers, movement artists, choreographers and collectives to take over Aviva Studios and explore the relationship between technology and movement within their creative practice.

They’re looking for bold ideas and curious minds - artists eager to experiment, push boundaries and develop new work with the support of Factory International’s Artist Development team. This opportunity includes a dedicated producer who will support you in the run up to the takeover, a budget up to £10k and access to the Warehouse with a production team for the agreed period.

The deadline to apply is Monday 3 November 2025 with further information available via the link provided. They’re also hosting an Artist Takeover Drop-In on Wednesday 29 October, 6–7pm at Aviva Studios for those interested in applying.

This is a chance to meet the team, explore the Warehouse space, and spark ideas for your application.

To register your interest in the drop-in session, please email artist.development@factoryinternational.org.

Find Out More.

Social Experiment - Proposals Invited for Live Art & Contemporary Performance

Due date: 12-11-2025

About: Social Experiment is a free, informal evening for Live Art and contemporary performance at Manchester’s Contact.

Greater Manchester artists can test short performances, interventions, or durational works in front of an informal audience. Audience members can take creative risks and engage directly with artists.

The next event is Thursday 27th November 2025. Applications close Wednesday 12th November at 12 noon.

One-to-one or small works up to 10 minutes work best. Priority is given to Greater Manchester artists, with limited spaces for North West-based applicants. Honoraria are available: £100 for solo, £175 for duet, £250 for trio, and £325 for quartet pieces.

Further information can be found via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Artist Callout: Beyond The Frame

Call-out for exhibition submissions: Beyond the Frame at the Nico Ditch

Black mirror, mass media, doom scroll fever. We witness atrocities before our first brew then swipe right for corgi on a skateboard ‘lols’. So what’s wrong? We have access to more info than our evolutionary minds can manage and are over stimulated beyond the ability to make a move. But what about your local area? What about your heart? What is it that makes it beat? And what about your art? This is a call out to artists of all media for an exhibition to open 21 November. The turnaround is tight. TikTok goes the clock. Absolutely no AI, artists’ have been ripped off enough, it’s IA all the way: let’s Instigate Art, ENGAGE, send us your work and let’s make good things happen…

We initiated the idea for this group show inspired by the work people sent to our call out in Spring, now, as the leaves fall we call again.

Please email your submissions to nicoditchashton@gmail.com by midnight 3rd November, along with information about yourself, your location, your practice, and why you want to be involved. We look forward to hearing from you.

* *The Nico Ditch is an independent, artist-led bar & cultural venue in Ashton-Under-Lyne. We host year round exhibitions. We serve quality craft beers, fine wine, cocktails & non-alcoholic drinks and are open Wednesday - Sunday.

Freelance Dance Artists Needed!

Afrocats is looking to engage with female, male, and non-binary dance artists who want to develop and build their portfolio of work.

You will work with refugee and asylum seeker women and families interested in cultural Dance styles from Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, and creative movement.

This role will be:
- Delivering a series or one-off dance sessions in many different settings.
- Support and training, if needed, from Afrocats lead dancer.
- Working closely with families, women and youth who are both new or have
experience in dance.

Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible

More information

Events & Activities

Bound Art Book Fair at the Whitworth

The North’s biggest and boldest annual event for arts publishing returns to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, from 25-26 October 2025.

This year Bound welcomes over 90 artist publishers, collectives and small presses to share their work alongside a free public programme of talks and events focusing on ideas of gathering and congregation. Our free public programme explores the critical and creative capacities of dancing, altered states, collaboration and collective joy, from raves to LAN parties, sacred rituals to mosh pits, high school proms to UFO clubs.

Saturday 25th October 11am - 5pm

Sunday 26th October 10am - 4pm

More information!

Upcoming Events at The Nico Ditch

Tameside’s very own Nico Ditch, a wonderfully cosy bar and cultural venue in Ashton, have lots of lovely events coming up over the next few months!

To name but a few:

GHOST WATCH - THE NICO DITCH FILM CLUB HALLOWEEN FILM SCREENING

THE ASHTON HORROR STORY - MURDER MYSTER NIGHT

Click the event for more info, and keep an eye on their social media and Eventbrite page for more.

Women in Creativity at Stockroom with Jen Samani

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 05-11-2025

About: Stockroom’s programme of Wednesday evening Women in Creativity sessions continues with this November’s guest, Artist & Youth Worker Jen Samani.

Women in Creativity sessions seek to empower female artists by strengthening connections, offering funding guidance, and creating opportunities for performance, peer support and professional development.

Each month, a featured artist will take part in a Q&A session and sharing to inspire and mentor you. Whether you’re just starting out, curious, or already working professionally, the event is open to all female identifying people welcome.

The next event will be held on Wednesday 5th November, 5:30 - 7pm at Stockroom, Stockport SK1 1PW. The event is free and you can book your place via the link provided.

Find Out More.

It would also be lovely to hear your suggestions for topics you would like to be covered in future meetings, or some formats you would like the meetings to take. Let me know!

We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

That’s all from me for now, see you all soon!

Hannah x

I hope you’re all keep well on this somewhat grey Wednesday.

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First of all, thank you to everyone who applied for the GM Arts Access Bursaries, it was so wonderful to have so many brilliant applications and hear about all the different creative ventures going on in Tameside. I am frankly heartbroken we couldn’t give everyone a grant! Everyone has received their application feedback now, and my door and email inbox is always open if you would like to talk about it more! We also will be launching them again next year, so fear not if you missed out this time round. For anyone who joined us very recently, Tameside Council, in partnership with GM Arts, offered bursaries between £100-£500 for freelance creative practitioners across Tameside to help develop their practice, build networks and grow their career in the creative industries.

In other news, the next Tameside Creative Network Meeting is almost upon us! It will be on October 23^rd in the Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre (full details in the next section), and we will be welcoming local archivists and artists to talk about their work bringing art and local history together.

BUT I just wanted to highlight a very unique opportunity that has come our way to feed into the future of Culture in Tameside: a representative of Tameside Council will be coming at the start to chat to us all and lead a short consultation on the current draft of the Tameside Cultural Strategy.

This is a great chance to have the brilliant folks in the TCN to tell those writing the strategy how they want the local authority to approach culture in the coming years. Your voices are so important and need to be heard! If you are free, please do join us.

And now, after that rather long introduction, let’s get into the news…

Tameside Creative Network Meeting: Art and Local Heritage

Date: Thursday October 23rd

Host: The Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre, Cotton St E, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7BY

Time: 18:00-20:00

Tickets: Click here!

• At this meeting, we will be welcoming local archivists and artists to talk about their work bringing art and local history together.

• The Local Studies Archivist will be giving us a tour of the archives, and two local artists, Christine Anderson and Martha Webster, will be chatting to us about themselves and their work, and how they have recently used the archives and drawn upon local heritage and history in their own creative practice. Christine will also be showing us her latest piece, which is currently installed in the atrium in the Local Studies centre!

• There will also be a unique opportunity to feed into the Tameside Cultural Strategy, in a short consultation led by a representative from Tameside Council.

• And as always, there will be ample opportunity for everyone there to give their own announcements, plug their own work, and network!

• Tea, biscuits and snacks will be provided.

If you have any access requirements you would like the event organizers aware of beforehand, please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

OPPORTUNITIES

Freelance Event Coordinator roles available at Manchester Craft and Design Centre

Due date: 15-10-2025

Category: Job role

Who is it for? For individuals

About: Manchester Craft and Design Centre are looking for freelance event coordinators to support the planning, coordination, and delivery of their external venue hires and shopping events.

They are looking for people to support their private hires, public-facing markets, and special events - ensuring they run smoothly, align with their values, and enhance the visitor experience.

Deadline for applications: 15 October, 5pm

If you think this is the role for you, please send your CV and short cover letter to manager@craftanddesign.com.

Open Call: Book of Essays with Sustainable Darkroom

Category: Open call

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 03-11-2025

About: Alternative photography has the potential to radically reshape the photographic landscape into the future. It is within the alternative that transformative ideas emerge like weeds from the cracked pavement. It is in this space, apart from the mainstream, and its relentless focus on capital accumulation - that we can imagine new worlds, and photography apart from devastating consumption. A photography that is a true alternative, not simply another niche in our failing system.

For this open call, we invite written contributions for our most ambitious publication to date: a collection of essays and creative texts exploring the afterlives and futures of photography. We are looking for voices that go beyond the technical into the environmental, social, and political dimensions of photographic practice. Submissions on moving image are also welcome.

Find Out More.

Applications Open to the Churchill Fellowship to Develop Your Learning & Make an Impact

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 04-11-2025

About: The Churchill Fellowship is a national network of 4,000 dynamic individuals who are inspiring change in every part of UK life.

Churchill Fellows discover new ideas around the world and develop new approaches to current challenges. Fellows are funded to discover the latest innovations and best practice in any practical issue they care passionately about, anywhere in the world.

You will be funded to spend 4-8 weeks discovering new ideas and best practice among leading practitioners across the world either in person or online. The grant covers living and travel costs incurred while you are learning. The topic you explore is defined by you. It must meet the eligibility criteria, which include offering a practical benefit to UK society.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is midday on Tuesday 4 November.

Find Out More.

The Teacher Development Fund Offers up to £165K for Teachers to Develop Arts-Based Approaches

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 12-11-2025

About: The Teacher Development Fund supports primary school teachers to build arts-rich, equitable classrooms where every child can learn and thrive.

Grants of up to £165,000 are available to partnerships between arts organisations and groups of 6-10 primary schools.

Over two academic years, these partnerships will equip teachers to use arts-based approaches in the primary classroom and support children to overcome barriers to learning. Together they'll share insights and learning as part of a vibrant community of practice.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 12th November at 12 noon

Find Out More.

BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund to Support Development Programmes for Creatives

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 31-03-2026

About: The BFI Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, aims to decentralise project development and stimulate a healthier, wider ecosystem by inviting organisations to apply for funding to develop and run labs and workshops across the UK.

The funded development programmes will enable creatives, resident in the UK, to develop specific projects which will be advanced through a structured ‘hothouse’ development environment and primed to receive financial support from the marketplace. Applications are accepted all year round but must be submitted 16 weeks before the start of any funded activity.

We can support programmes of any duration but all activity must be completed by 31 March 2026 unless you have approval from the Creative Challenge Fund Manager prior to making an application.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Grants up to £2.5K Available to Companies Working in Moving Image

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 01-05-2026

About: Creative UK are excited to introduce the Creative Enterprise Business Builder, a grant initiative designed to support companies who work in moving image for storytelling, spanning film, television, games, animation and immersive industries.

With grants of up to £2,500, beneficiaries will be able to work with a consultant to build meaningful connections and create opportunities for business growth. Grants can be used for marketing strategy, monetisation of IP, international operation, and more.

The Business Builder grants are only available to businesses based in England, outside of London. The fund closes on 1st May 2026.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

EVENTS AND ACTIVTIES

Factory Academy Offers a Free Project Management Course: 'Managing Creative Projects'

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 03-10-2025

About: Managing Creative Projects is a full-time course and will run Monday to Friday for nine weeks from 6th October – 5th December, combining two days of in-person delivery with flexible, self-directed study.

Learn how to make a plan and execute it – on time, on budget, on point. The course is open to anyone with an idea for a creative project living in Greater Manchester, aged 19 or over and currently unemployed or earning under £20,888. Previous experience not required. Further information is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is Friday 3rd October.

Find Out More.

Between Earth and Voice – performance by young artists in Tameside

Category: event

Who is it for? For everyone

Date: 12-10-2025

About: ‘Between Earth and Voice’ is a brand new, multidisciplinary, youth led performance piece taking place in Stalybridge Civic Hall at 5pm on the 12th Oct. It is completely youth led, and all created by artists and practitioners who may usually be seen as less worthy of professional work/payment due to their age. Between Earth and Voice is a space in which young people are respected and take control, culminating in a fierce, passionate, and impactful piece which shares authentic voices of young people from Tameside and the surrounding areas, who have felt as though before they have not been listened to.

Your support would mean that our young people share the messages they want to share and prove that they are completely capable of creating and producing their own work. Expect an evening of both tears and laughter, of original songs, poems, choreography, and movement in a piece which will undeniably leave you moved.

Tickets can be accessed completely for free here through our pay what you decide scheme - CLICK HERE

Early Years Dance Choreography with Takeshi Matsumoto

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: Monday 20th October 2025

About: What tools can be used to choreograph dance performances for early years groups? How do material and materiality inform the body—and how can the body inspire playful interaction with materials to shape the creative process?

Informed by contemporary dance, Dance Movement ‘Pscyhotherapy’, and early years practice, this workshop invites participants to explore the “ingredients” for creating dance performances for children and young audiences. These insights have been gathered by Takeshi’s working with and for neurotypical and neurodivergent children nationally and internationally over the last two decades.

Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement.

Target Audience (Participants):

It is aimed at artists and practitioners who are interested in making performances for children. No previous dance experience required.

Find Out More.

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It would also be lovely to hear your suggestions for topics you would like to be covered in future meetings, or some formats you would like the meetings to take. Shall we go for a day out to an open studios event together? Any particular workshops you would like? Let me know!

We also have an Instagram you can follow for updates and a closed Facebook group for TCN members, so you can virtually meet and chat there too.

That’s all from me for now, see you all soon!

Hannah x

I hope you’ve been having a lovely summer.

So as not to keep you from your holidays/children/creating/the lovely weather/the rainy weather (delete as applicable) this will be a short and sweet newsletter, sticking to the headlines and key opportunities in Tameside right now.

Let’s get into it!

The Next Network Meeting…

When: Thursday 21st August 2025

Time: 6-8:15pm

Where: Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw, Manchester, M34 5HJ

Book your free ​space here.

August's TCN meeting, hosted by the wonderful folk at Guide Bridge Theatre, boasts quite a packed programme! Including...

• An exclusive tour of the theatre by its volunteers!
  

• Sarah from Art with Heart will be joining us to deliver their Crash Course in Fundraising workshop. Sarah is Art with Heart’s lead fundraiser and has been arts fundraising for over a decade. She has raised significant funds via the different avenues she will be covering in this workshop. This workshop will cover:

• Trusts and Foundations

• Building your own crib sheet

• Arts Council Project Grants

• Crowdfunding

This workshop will be an overview of these four ways of funding with practical skills that you can immediately apply!

• And of course, there will be a steady supply of tea and biscuits throughout.
  

Because this is a full two-hour workshop, and we want plenty of time to get all the top tips, we will be starting bang on 6pm, and finishing about 8:15pm.

‍If you have any access requirements, please contact the event organizer directly:

Email: hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

Just Four Days Left to Apply for GM Arts Access Bursaries!

In partnership with Tameside Council, GM Arts is offering bursaries between £100-£500 for freelance creative practitioners. These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, resources, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities.

We recognise that financial barriers can significantly limit access to professional development opportunities for freelance creative practitioners. The GM Arts Access Bursaries are designed to support those who find it challenging to cover the costs associated with developing your career and expanding your practice. We aim to cover expenses that may be overlooked by other funding sources, including, but not limited to, the cost of taking time off work, travel, accommodation, and caregiving costs.

Our goal is to reduce financial pressures so that creative practitioners can focus on expanding skills and networks, irrespective of personal or economic circumstances.

Key Dates:

The deadline to apply for a GM Arts Access Bursary in Round 2 is:
Friday 15th August 2025 at midnight

You’ll hear back from Tameside Council's Cultural Services on whether we’re able to support your request for a bursary on or before:
August 25th.

How To Apply:

More information can be found here.

The link to the application form can be found here.

Make sure to take your time with the application and answer each question in full.

If for access requirements you would rather submit a video recording of your application, please contact Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk. If you have any questions about the application process or the bursaries, also feel free to contact that email address.

Good luck!

Artist Takeover at !

Would you like to lead a workshop, screening, performance or talk at a TCN meeting? Share your knowledge, expertise, artwork, WIP, all of the above or something completely different?

It can be 10 minutes, it can be an hour, it can’t be 3 days.

If you’re up for it, get in touch with Hannah via email with your proposal and a bit about yourself, and together you’ll find the best future meeting date and time, and plan your TCN Takeover!

The network wants to hear from YOU!

Become a Mentor with Arts Emergency

Registration to be a mentor in 2026 is now open! Arts Emergency mentors support young people in Greater Manchester, London and Merseyside who are interested in the creative and cultural industries and are taking their first steps out of compulsory education.

This is a wonderful opportunity to give back and support the next generation in the cultural sector, and to also expand your own experience in coaching and mentorship.

Deadline to register: Monday 29 September 2025

More details can be found here.

Job Opening at Made By Mortals!

Made By Mortals are currently recruiting for a Company Administrator to be at the heart of their creative community, who will use their skills and expertise to develop and maintain efficient systems to support the people-powered audio, film, music and theatre they make.

Made By Mortals ‘Bring Lived Experience to Life’ through immersive audio stories, films, music, theatre, and interactive workshops; and specialise in the use of participatory arts practice and the principles of coproduction in their work.

Deadline for applications Sunday 24th August 2025

For more information and to apply, please click this link.

Creative Fun for all the Family!

With it being the summer holidays, I thought it might be helpful to make you aware of the all the wonderful creative activities going on all over Tameside for everyone to enjoy!

Whether it’s summer theatre in the park sessions, outdoor arts and crafts, Portland Basin Museum creative family fun, or the pop-up beach in Stalybridge’s Victoria Hall, there is SO much gorgeous arty fun going on!

Here’s a few links to get you started…

Summer overview and link to holiday programme for Tameside.

Summer Theatre 2025

Outdoor Arts programme

Let’s Go To The Beach!

Summer at Portland Basin Museum

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please share it with me and I will pop it in the newsletter, mention it in meetings and bang on about it on our meetings too if you so wish!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you at our next meeting!

Hannah x

Big Announcement for this month’s newsletter…

The GM Arts Access Bursaries are BACK!

In a nutshell, Tameside Council have teamed up with GM Arts, which is the Greater Manchester Arts Network representing all ten GM districts, to bring you a bursary scheme where the funds are specifically to support your growth as an artist or creative in Tameside, by making it easier to attend workshops, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities.

The bursaries are between £100-£500 and for freelance creative practitioners, more details and a link to how to apply are in this very newsletter! Keep reading for more deets…

First of all, however, we have a very pertinent workshop lined up for our next Network meeting, and as always, everyone is welcome to come along!

Network Meetings

Tameside Creative Network meeting: August 2025

When: Thursday 21st August 2025

Time: 6-8:15pm

Where: Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw, Manchester, M34 5HJ

Book your free ​space here.

August's TCN meeting, hosted by the wonderful folk at Guide Bridge Theatre, boasts quite a packed programme! Including...

• An exclusive tour of the theatre by its volunteers.

• Art with Heart will be joining us to deliver their Crash Course in Fundraising workshop. This workshop will be a 101 on everything from Trusts and Foundations to Arts Council Project Grants.

• And of course, there will be a steady supply of tea and biscuits throughout.
  
  ‍

Crash Course in Fundraising, with Art with Heart

‍Sarah is Art with Heart’s lead fundraiser and has been arts fundraising for over a decade. She has raised significant funds via the different avenues she will be covering in this workshop. This workshop will cover:
‍

• Trusts and Foundations

• Building your own crib sheet

• Arts Council Project Grants

• Crowdfunding

This workshop will be an overview of these four ways of funding with practical skills that you can immediately apply!

Who is it for?

‍Whether you're a producer, artist or project manager, this workshop is ideal for people who need to fundraise and want to hone their skills before starting!

It is for people who have a creative project in mind and want support in raising the money to make it happen. Whether you’re a newcomer or have had a successful project in the past, it’s a good time to learn new skills, and polish the ones you have.

About Art with Heart

“We’re shaping change through people-led creative projects. An award-winning Salford based arts company, we design and deliver performances, workshops and people-led creative projects for community groups, arts organisations and schools across the UK. We believe that when people come together through theatre and art, they have the power to make change – and that it’s our responsibility to create accessible, representative spaces where they can give it a try. That change can take place where it’s needed: in theatres, classrooms, community centres, libraries, on trams – and even in caravans – using whatever artform fits best: plays, podcasts, workshops, films and exhibitions. We’re changemakers and celebrators, working with people on their terms to collaborate, create and make tangible social action, together.”

‍artwithheart.org.uk

Because this is a full two-hour workshop, and so we have time to get all the top tips, we will be starting bang on 6pm, and finishing about 8:15pm.

‍If you have any access requirements, please contact the event organizer directly:

Email: hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk

Phone: 0161 342 4179

Opportunities and Resources

NOW OPEN! GM Arts Access Bursaries For Tameside: Round 2

Category: Funding

Who is it for? Creative Practitioners

Due date: Friday 15th of August 2025 at midnight

About: In partnership with GM Arts, Tameside Council is offering bursaries between £100-£500 for freelance creative practitioners living and/or working across Tameside to help you develop your practice and grow career in the creative industries. These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities.

FIND OUT MORE

Arts Council Funding Advice Session for Musicians with Tom Salmon

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 28-08-2025

About: Join Tom Salmon from Arts Council England to discuss different funding avenues available to artists, advice on bid writing and success stories of grassroots musicians from across the country.

This event will be held on Thursday 28th August, 6 - 7:30pm, at Bailiff Bar, Wigan WN1 1NG.

Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided: Find Out More.

Regional Creatives Fund Offers Grants up to £30k to Charities that Help Underserved Communities Pursue Creative Ambitions

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 31-08-2025

About: The Regional Creatives Fund offers grants for charities in the UK who upskill people for careers in the Creative Industries.

Grants are available for charities with existing programmes aimed at boosting skills and increasing access to Creative Industry careers. Applications are open to registered charities operating in the Creative Industries.

Projects must focus on upskilling, training, or employment-readiness within the creative sector, particularly for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds or underserved regions. Funding is only available to projects that are already operational or have previously been piloted, this is not a start-up fund.

Applications close on 31st August 2025.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided: Find Out More.

Early Career Promoter Fund Offers up to £3.5K to Independent Promoters

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 11-09-2025

About: Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England, and offers grant funding and capacity building support, with the aim of bolstering the local, regional and national ecosystems.

Grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support a range of activities including the booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances, and the costs associated with those activities.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 11th September 2025, 6PM. Find Out More.

Soundcheck: Open Call for Musicians Aged 18-29

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 15-09-2025

About: Soundcheck is for Greater Manchester musicians aged 18 – 29 who want to try improvisation in their music, make new connections and grow creatively.

The process is simple: you apply with a musical idea and get help to develop it, via brilliant mentors, industry professionals & likeminded artists. Over eight weeks, you'll identify and transform your musical insecurities, unleash your hidden ambitions and hone your creative style.

By the end of the programme, you'll showcase a short new piece of music that reflects your learning. You don’t have to have studied music before, and they’d love it if jazz or improvisation is entirely new to you.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is Monday 15th September, 9AM.

Find Out More.

Immersive Arts Round 3 Now Open Offering up to £50K to Creative Individuals

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 29-09-2025

About: Immersive Arts is a funding and support programme for UK-based artists, designed to help them develop their art by using immersive technologies.

Artists at all levels of experience are invited to apply, to explore, experiment or expand how they work with this exciting field of practice. The fund will support artists through three strands designed to support artists at different stages in their creative development with immersive technologies:

Explore £5,000,

Experiment £20,000

and Expand £50,000.

You must be (or be applying on behalf of) a UK based individual artist, creative practitioner or creative technologist, aged 18+ and have a UK bank account to apply.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided. There is also funding available for those who might need additional support to complete the application. The deadline for applications is Monday 29 September 2025 at 2PM.

Find Out More.

Applications to AHF's Heritage Revival Fund Now Open for Grants up to £350K

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 19-01-2026

About: The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity, working since 1976 to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas.

The fund helps communities across England rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings. The programme focuses on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations by supporting community organisations to take ownership of, adapt and reuse the local heritage assets that matter to them.

There are three grants available: Project Viability Grants up to £15,000, Project Development Grants up to £100,000 and Capital Grants up to £350,000.

Deadlines for submission of all grant applications to be considered at Grants Panel are: 21st April 2025 for decision in June 2025, 14th July 2025 for decision in September 2025, 13th October 2025 for decision in December 2025,19th January 2026 for decision in March 2026.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided: Find Out More.

Funding For Activities & Projects That Promote Understanding, Management & Conservation of Historic Environments

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 31-03-2026

About: Historic England's Regional Capacity Building programme provides financial help for activities and projects that promote the conservation, understanding and management of the historic environment.

The grant prioritises activities and projects that strengthen the ability of the sector to reduce or avoid risk to the historic environment by understanding, managing and conserving. Any organisation that has an eligible project is able to apply for this grant.

This scheme is open indefinitely and has no end date, so you can apply for this grant at any time during the year.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided: Find Out More.

Creative Events and Goings-on

The Nico Ditch presents: Ashton Pride events

This weekend there will be a range of inclusive LGBTQIA+ Pride events at The Nico Ditch, Ashton's artist-led, independent bar and culture venue (Facing the market Hall on Bow Street and opposite Kraken Tattoos on Old Street).

• Friday 18th July: Queer Quiz at 8pm

• Saturday 19th: Daytime events from 12 & a night time party from 8!

‘Working with Tameside Queer Meet, Tameside Queer Network, the LGBT Foundation & Doc'n Roll Films, you're invited to a wonderfully co-created long weekend, starting this evening (Thursday), of events, screenings, talks, quizzes and ultimately a BIG CELEBRATION, of what it means to inclusive, welcoming, connected, and to build a real community here in our town.’

Head to Nico Ditch’s social media pages for more details.

Woodend Mill: Open Studios

Date: 9-10 August 2025

Times: 10am-4pm

About: Artists at Woodend Mill will be opening their doors on 9th and 10th August, exhibiting work and offering many opportunities to get involved in art and crafts activities. A full list of artists and activities can be found via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Curious Creatives Network – Creativity in reform settings - Online

Date: 31-07-2025

About: Join the Curious Creatives Network for an online session with Simon Ruding PhD, exploring creativity and care in justice settings.

Simon will offer an insight into the work of TiPP (Theatre in Prisons and Probation) and the impact of the arts in criminal justice settings.

Drawing on examples of practice, the session will provide an explanation of TiPP’s core beliefs/values and explore how those beliefs and values translate into creative arts practice.

This event will be held on Thursday 31st July 12 - 1:15pm.

Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided: Find Out More.

Curious Creatives Network - Quantifying the unquantifiable? Online

Date: 28-08-2025

About: A curious dive into: can creativity be measured? Join the Curious Creatives Network to explore evidence, impact, & the art of evaluation in arts education.

In this session, researcher and creative youth practitioner Saul Argent invites us to explore one of the most intriguing questions in arts education: Can creativity really be measured? And if so, should it be?

Drawing on his experience across participatory arts, cultural education, and impact evaluation, Saul will share insights into how researchers (including himself) attempt to measure the outcomes of artist-led work - and why this matters.

This event will be held online on Thursday 28th August at 12 - 1:15PM.

Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided: Find Out More.

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please share it with me and I will pop it in the newsletter, mention it in meetings and bang on about it on our socials too if you so wish!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you at our next meeting!

Hannah x

I hope this newsletter finds you sipping your morning beverage of choice in the sunshine. This month we have put together a marvelous crop of opportunities and creative goings-on from across Tameside, and beyond!

Not only that, but we also have two quite excellent workshops coming up at the June and August TCN meetings; next Thursday we will be welcoming the internationally exhibited Tameside based artist and community producer Sarah Hardacre to the network to share a talk about her career along with a unique collage workshop – her creative medium of choice! Then, in August, following all your feedback about the network meetings last year, there has been as slight change of plan! We have booked Art With Heart to deliver a two-hour in-depth fundraising 101 workshop. It’s not one to be missed!

More details below…

Subscribe now

Tameside Creative Network meeting: June 2025

When: Thursday 26th June 2025

Time: 6-8pm

Where: Denton West End Community Library, Windsor Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 2HB

We have a wonderfully packed programme for our June meeting! Including:

• A talk from the Digital Culture Network, who work to develop the digital capabilities of the creative and culture sector, about their free services and how to access them.

• A talk from internationally exhibited local artist Sarah Hardacre, and a workshop where she share’s her day-to-day creative practice, combining the politics of urban space and feminism through collage.

• Lots of tea and biscuits and chances to chat with your creative peers from across Tameside!

Book your free space here!

Tameside Creative Network meeting: August 2025

When: Thursday 21st August 2025

Time: 6-8:15pm

Where: Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw, Manchester, M34 5HJ

August's TCN meeting, hosted by the wonderful folk at Guide Bridge Theatre, boasts quite a the programme! Including...

• An exclusive tour of the theatre by its volunteers.

• Art with Heart will be joining us to deliver their Crash Course in Fundraising workshop. This workshop will be a 101 on everything from Trusts and Foundations to Arts Council Project Grants.
  
  AwH are an award-winning Salford-based arts company that designs and delivers performances, workshops and people-led creative projects for community groups, arts organisations and schools across the UK. They’ve been teaching, facilitating and mentoring artists for over a decade, and it’s really important to them that they share their knowledge with others!
  
  This free workshop is your one stop shop for broadening your fundraising horizons, in just a couple of hours!

• And of course, there will be a steady supply of tea and biscuits throughout.
  
  

Because this is a full two-hour workshop, and so we have time to get all the top tips, we will be starting bang on 6pm, and finishing about 8:15pm.

Book your free ​space here.

Opportunities

Salford Arts Theatre: Freelancer Opportunities

‘We are currently recruiting several freelance roles for a range of short-term projects. We’re looking for individuals who are engaging, passionate, and have experience working within community settings. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in connecting with diverse groups and creating meaningful experiences across a range of communities.’

More Information

Manchester Histories: This Is Us project job opportunities

This is Us: Tracing Manchester’s Histories seeks to reshape and redefine how Manchester’s public realm reflects its rich and diverse history. Building on insights from extensive public consultations, the project will amplify underrepresented voices and confront complex legacies, including those tied to migration, the transatlantic slave trade and industrial exploitation.

By fostering collaboration among community groups, academic institutions, cultural partners and local authorities, the initiative will create an inclusive digital platform for storytelling and dialogue.

Manchester Histories are currently seeking a Project Manager, a digital Project Manager and a Community Archivist.

More Information

QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award Offers £1k to Craftspeople Working on Environmental Sustainability

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 01-07-2025

About: Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) and Heritage Crafts will this year award two £1,000 prizes as part of its Environmental Sustainability Award, open to any craftsperson or micro-business, working with traditional craft skills or materials, who has improved their environmental sustainability within the last 12 months.

There are two prizes which will each honour a distinct aspect of environmental stewardship. Anyone, including the maker themselves, can nominate for this award. Finalists will be expected to attend the high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2025.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link below.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 1st July 2025.

Find Out More.

EOIs Open Soon to the Creative Foundations Fund

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 25-07-2025

About: The Government have announced the launch of the Creative Foundations Fund, which will be administered by Arts Council England.

The Fund is designed to help arts venues across England to address a range of issues, such as repairing building infrastructure, outdated or failing systems, inefficient energy systems and inaccessible spaces. Applicants must demonstrate that the investment in buildings and equipment is business-critical to delivering creative or cultural activity, minimising the risk of asset failure and increasing the economic sustainability of the creative and cultural sectors.

The fund is split into two strands: Strand 1 for grants of £100,000 up to and including £1 million, and Strand 2 for grants above £1 million up to and including £10 million. The fund will open for Expressions Of Interest on Monday 30th June and close on Friday 25th July 2025.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link below.

Find Out More.

Funding For Activities & Projects That Promote Understanding, Management & Conservation of Historic Environments

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 31-03-2026

About: Historic England's Regional Capacity Building programme provides financial help for activities and projects that promote the conservation, understanding and management of the historic environment. The grant prioritises activities and projects that strengthen the ability of the sector to reduce or avoid risk to the historic environment by understanding, managing and conserving.

Any organisation that has an eligible project is able to apply for this grant. This scheme is open indefinitely and has no end date, so you can apply for this grant at any time during the year.

Further information, full eligibility criteria and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Access Support Bursary

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: If you are interested in applying to one of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation's funds, you can do so online via the online funding portal, however, if you cannot apply online due to a disability or neurodivergence, they offer a bursary to cover any costs you might have in making an application in another way. The bursary is separate from funding opportunities, so will have no effect on whether or not your application for funding is successful. Bursaries are generally offered up to £750. This is based on the costs of previous requests, but they will consider each request on a case-by-case basis. If your support costs are higher than this, they strongly encourage you to still get in touch.

Bursaries can be used for support such as a BSL interpreter to help with a call, translation services or other admin support to complete the online application.

Find Out More.

The Henry Moore Foundation Offers Grants To Support The Growth & Development Of Sculpture

Who is it for? For Organisations, For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: The Henry Moore Foundation offers grants to support the growth and development of sculpture and applications from non-profit organisations, based in the UK or internationally. You can apply for a grant in support of exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, commissions, conferences, research, non-commercial publications and the development of collections through acquisitions, conservation, cataloguing and display. Individuals are welcome to apply for Research and Travel grants. This is the only category open to individuals.

Grant amounts vary depending on the category and range from £2.5k up to £20k. There are four funding rounds each year:

Spring - 1st May to 1st June.

Summer - 1st August to 1st September.

Autumn - 1st November to 1st December.

Winter - 1st February to 1st March.

Full eligibility details and application advice is available via the link below.

Find Out More.

Creative Events and Activities

The Nico Ditch Film Club

Date: 03/07/2025

Where: The Nico Ditch, 52 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6LB

About: Join us on the 3rd of July for the Nico Ditch Film Club free monthly screening, with local film maker Nell Conron both showcasing her short documentary and selecting the main feature. ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’, based in a local pub explores the importance of film clubs just like ours, where no matter people’s struggles, the ‘Amateur Film making Club’, and coming to the film club matters most! Much like The Nico Ditch, it’s like family, and no matter how tough, we all need each other. While Conran’s no holds barred ‘David Vs Goliath’ shines light on the major beer companies across England who monopolised the pub industry during the pandemic, taking advantage where independents struggled.

The event starts at 7:30pm at Nico Ditch, Ashton. Come and see something different and be part of building the scene you want to see!

Book your free space here.

Woodend Mill: Open Studios

Dates: 9-10/08/2025

Where: Woodend Mill, Mossley OL5 9FQ

The next open studios event at Woodend Mill is coming up in August, on the 9^th and 10^th! It is a unique opportunity to meet all the artists and crafts folk at Woodend, snap up some lovely stuff and chat to lots of creative people!

More information

DANC - Creative Workspace at HOME Arches

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 30-06-2025

About: DANC are hosting a 2hr in-person space for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (DDN) creatives to get jobs done! This event provides a focussed and motivating space where you can enjoy a tea/coffee, run ideas/questions or even the wording of emails past other creatives, and leave feeling like you’ve just had a “good couple of hours in the (creative) office”.

Whether it’s working on your own projects, sending those emails, writing that tricky scene, researching opportunities, creating a directors showreel or pitch deck, collating an industry database, learning a new scene or monologue or maybe rehearsing/filming a self-tape, then this workspace is for you!

This event will be held on Monday 30th June, 5-7PM at HOME Manchester. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link below.

Find Out More.

Mums Meet and Make Monthly Creative Workshop - July

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 03-07-2025

About: Join Arc for this monthly creative workshop. Relax, meet other mums and enjoy discovering the therapeutic benefits creativity can bring. Each session will focus on a different art form, craft or theme - no previous art experience required.

Arc's cafe will be open serving hot drinks and cakes and little ones are welcome to attend with you, if childcare is unavailable. Places are limited, so booking is essential.

This month's event takes place at Arc Centre, Hat Works, Stockport SK3 0EU on Thursday 3rd July at 10am. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Artist Residency Toolkit

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.


About: A new Artist Residency Toolkit has been developed by Manchester-based organisation, PROFORMA.

The toolkit has been developed to help both visual artists looking to embark on a residency, and artist-led organisations looking to host them. It aims to support artists to feel confident in taking the dedicated time for practice offered by residencies, and to provide practical, actionable information for organisations to help create the best conditions when hosting a residency.

Find Out More.

Online Evaluation Training For Arts, Culture & Heritage Professionals

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.


About: Centre For Cultural Value have a free-to-access online course that will help you understand the principles and master the practice of carrying out evaluation in the arts, culture and heritage sector. The course aims to support a more purposeful and proportional approach to evaluation, exploring the Evaluation Principles and enabling learners to consider how to apply them in their specific context to complement and support artistic ambitions.

The course is online and you can learn at a time that suits you. The content is devised and delivered by sector experts and evaluation specialists The course is available to start at any time and is free-to-access for two weeks via the FutureLearn platform.

Find Out More.

Free Artist-Tested Guides to Social Media Strategy

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

About: Are you a freelancer, maker, creative or small biz founder struggling with reach, engagement, or just feeling burnt out by the algorithm? Short Supply have turned five years of trial and error into bite-sized, no-fluff PDFs designed to help you show up confidently, creatively, and consistently online.

Find Out More.

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please share it with me and I will pop it in the newsletter, mention it in meetings and bang on about it on our socials too if you so wish!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you next Thursday at our June meeting!

Hannah x

I am LOVING all this sun, but does anyone else feel like it’s an awful lot of pre-Summer before actual Summer? I’m concerned that when actual Summer comes around it will either be not-enough-Summer or rather-too-much-Summer.

But that’s enough about the weather, onto the arty goings-on in Tameside and beyond!

As I am sure a some of you might have heard on the grapevine, the Royal Exchange Theatre have brought the Den festival to Tameside! Stalybridge Civic Hall to be precise. Over the next few weekends, up until the closing night on June 1^st, they’re working with loads of Tameside-based creative people and organisations to deliver a pretty fantastic programme of workshops, performances and activities, as well as bring in the likes of the Bridgewater Hall and HER Productions. There is also, as we’ll go into more detail in a bit, a full day dedicated to the creative folk of Tameside, aptly named Creatives in the Den. More info about all this is here!

It's always great to see all the Tameside Creative Network folk in the flesh, so here’s all our upcoming meetings from now until August:

TCN Meeting Programme

Tameside Creative Network in the Den: Artist Mixer

When: Sunday 18^th May 2025

Artist Mixer: 6-7pm, book your free ticket here.

Where: The Den, Stalybridge Civic Hall (also occasionally known as the Victoria Market Hall!), Trinity St, Stalybridge SK15 2BN

The Royal Exchange Theatre and their Den, a giant temporary theatre, are returning to Tameside in May 2025 and we have teamed up with them to dedicate a full day to the artists of Tameside!

Throughout the day, the Royal Exchange will be programming lots of surgeries, drop-ins and workshops to help share resources and information with the creatives of Tameside, and in the early evening there will be a big ol’ creative network mixer 6-7pm followed by a night of live music in the Den!

Tameside Creative Network meeting: June 2025

When: Thursday 26th June 2025

Time: 6-8pm

Where: Denton West End Community Library, Windsor Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 2HB

We have a wonderfully packed programme for our June meeting! Including:

• A talk from the Digital Culture Network, who work to develop the digital capabilities of the creative and culture sector, about their free services and how to access them.

• A talk from internationally exhibited local artist Sarah Hardacre, and a workshop where she share’s her day-to-day creative practice, combining the politics of urban space and feminism through collage.

• Lots of tea and biscuits and chances to chat with your creative peers from across Tameside!

Book your free space here!

Tameside Creative Network meeting: August 2025

When: Thursday 21st August 2025

Time: 6-8pm

Where: Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw, Manchester, M34 5HJ

August's TCN meeting, hosted by the wonderful folk at Guide Bridge Theatre, boasts quite a the programme! Including...

• An exclusive tour of the theatre by the its volunteers.

• A 'Things I Wish I Knew' workshop, where we share some of the key lessons we've learned from creating and working in the creative sector.

• A Know Your Rights as an Artist workshop: it can be a tough old world out there, so best to know your rights regarding pay, sick pay, maternity, and the rest!

• And of course, there will be a steady supply of tea and biscuits throughout.

Book your free ​space here.

If you ​have any access requirements for any of the above TCN events, please ​contact the event organizer directly:

Email: hannah.alwan-weston@tameside.gov.uk
Phone: 0161 342 4179

Events, Activities, Places to go, Resources, the shipping forecast, and much more…

Short Supply presents: BRUSH UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA GAME

As those of you who were at our last meeting and met Becs from Short Supply will know, they have been working very hard to put together a series of guides for artists, available free of charge:

Download Our Free Artist-Tested Guides That Actually Work

Are you a freelancer, maker, creative or small biz founder struggling with reach, engagement, or just feeling burnt out by the algorithm? We’ve turned five years of trial and error into bite-sized, no-fluff PDFs designed to help you show up confidently, creatively, and consistently online.

We know these tips work because we've been there and we want to help you skip to the good part...

For more information and to sign up, head to their website here.

The People’s Gallery in Stalybridge

Category: Place to go

Who is it for: everyone!

Date: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-3pm

The People’s Gallery in Stalybridge have recently opened a wonderful retrospective on local artist Jim Fidlar, and also regularly host creative workshops in the gallery space from artists from all over!

Tomorrow they will be hosting a full day workshop with internationally renowned artist Dave Coulter, head to their Facebook page for more details!

If you can’t make this, keep your eye on their socials for more announcements, or pop your head round the door for a spontaneous look at all the lovely art!

Mothers Who Make June Networking Event

Category: Networking

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 12-06-2025

About: Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a free, in person peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers…every kind of maker is welcome, and every kind of mother. The sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. The sessions aim to give creative mothers the chance to explore their practice in a room with their child. Professional connections have been formed and led to the beginning of joint projects between participants, so it’s a great way to meet and collaborate with other mothers from different creative backgrounds. The next event takes place on Thursday 12th June, 10:30am-12:30pm at Arch 1 HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN. Tickets should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Freelancer 101: Introduction to The Arts Webinar

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 19-06-2025

About: Art with Heart are running a new online workshop on 19th June, 10am-12pm (on Zoom) for people who are new to freelancing (about to register - under 3 years in). It will be a 2 hour online workshop which will cover practical actions to apply across: setting up as a freelancer or company, tax and pensions, balancing different types of work and building relationships. The workshop is on a Pay What You Can basis. All money raised through this workshop funds their artist development and community programmes. If any cost at all is a barrier please contact them. Tickets can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Opportunities

Tameside Creative Communities Grants Launched!

Category: Funding

Who is it for: Creative individuals and organisations

About:

This grant scheme, funded by the Flexible Local Authority Grants, offers artists and creative organisations across Tameside the opportunity to apply for a £1000 grant to deliver a brand-new creative project in their local area.

Funders are looking for projects that…

Support the creation of an exciting and diverse programme of cultural activities across the borough of Tameside.

Focus on creativity and celebrate new and inclusive ways of encouraging the public to engage with the arts through activities and events.

Bring people into their town centres or invite them to explore their green spaces and attract people from Tameside and beyond into the borough.

Applications will close on June 16th at midnight.

The grants will be awarded to ensure an even spread of creative activity across Tameside, spanning all kinds of modes of creating and engaging.

For more information and to apply: https://www.intameside.co.uk/.../tameside-creative...

6 New Jobs Opened at the People’s History Museum

Category: Job Opportunities

Due Dates: Vary

About: The renowned People’s History Museum in Manchester City Centre have opened up a range of roles, at a range or pay bands and experience levels, from Visitor Assistant to Programme and Events officer, to Collections Manager.

Find out more here.

Wild Rumpus 2025 Freelance Performer Call Out!

Category: Freelance Opportunity

Who is it for: Freelance performers

Due Date: 13/06/2025

‘We have a jam packed year this year, and are inviting individual freelance outdoor performers (primarily actors and puppeteers) to apply for any and all of the opportunities below [see website]! We’ll contact applicants for each project separately, with full details of confirmed dates (including rehearsals), and project specific day rates.

Additional opportunities for other projects still to come!’

For more information and to fill in the application form, click here.

Hugo Burge Foundation Creative Grants

Category: Funding

Who is it for: Creative individuals and organisations

About:

Aims/priorities: The funding is intended to support creativity across the UK. There are three key areas:

• Creative Education: Supporting projects that provide young people (ages 0-29) with opportunities to engage in creative activities. This includes funding for workshops in schools, field trips to cultural sites, and the purchase of materials for student engagement.

• Creative Communities: Aiding organisations, festivals, fairs and community groups that develop and deliver cultural and creative arts initiatives within their local areas.

• Creative Individuals: Providing individual artists, including those in visual and expressive arts, writers and craftspeople, with funding to support their artistic projects.

Grant amount: For the Creative Education and Creative Communities strands, the maximum award is £15,000. For Creative Individuals, the maximum award is £5,000.

For more information and to apply: Hugo Burge Foundation - Creative Grants | Action Together

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please share it with me and I will pop it in the newsletter, mention it in meetings and bang on about it on our socials too if you so wish!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you hopefully this Sunday for the Artist Mixer!

Hannah x

I have very long newsletter for you all today, there’s just so much to talk about! We have Tameside Creative Network meetings and mixers in April, May and June, all sorts of events happening up and down the borough, and more opportunities that you can shake a stick at.

But first! A couple of miscellaneous bits:

• The Greater Manchester Creative Industries Consultation – it does what it says on the tin really: the GMCA are in the process of developing a Creative Industries Sector Plan, to be published in June, 2025. This plan will provide an overview of the sector as it is and where targeted investment and activities could support the creative industries further. They are consulting the sector through an online survey and online sub-sector sessions. If you have capacity to take part, get your voice heard! It closes on April 17^th.

• A key, but often lesser-known source of news and opportunities in Tameside for me are the Action Together eBulletins, and I would recommend taking a look at the range of newsletters they offer and see if any would be relevant to you. Click here for more information.

Right, grab a cuppa and let’s dive in…

Tameside Creative Network meeting: April 2025

Where: The Vale Studio 1, Vale Mill, Off Micklehurst Road, Mossley OL5 9JL

When: Thursday 24^th April 2025

Time: 6-8pm

Building an online presence & marketing yourself as an artist workshop, with the superb folk from Short Supply!

Short Supply is an artist-led organisation based in the North-West, which creates opportunities for emerging artists within an increasingly competitive industry locally and nationally, producing exhibitions, talks and workshops that address the barriers creatives face to employment and education. They have also amassed quite an online presence for themselves, and even recently published a book, and are very well placed to be sharing their wisdom with the TCN.

The marvelous Emily Wood, the Creative Director of Cabasa Carnival Arts and resident artist at The Vale, will also be popping in to tell us more about her work, Cabasa, and share some tips and ‘things she wished she’d known when she was starting out’!

There will also be the usual tea, biccies, chatting, and sharing of opportunities, news and notices from around the borough and beyond. Everyone is welcome!

Book your free space here.

Tameside Creative Network x The Royal Exchange Theatre: Creatives in The Den and Artist Mixer

When: Sunday 18^th May 2025

Creatives in The Den: 1-7pm (drop in)

Artist Mixer: 6-7pm, book your free ticket here.

Where: The Den, Stalybridge Civic Hall (also occasionally known as the Victoria Market Hall!), Trinity St, Stalybridge SK15 2BN

The Royal Exchange Theatre and their Den, a giant temporary theatre, are returning to Tameside in May 2025 and we have teamed up with them to dedicate a full day to the artists of Tameside!

Throughout the day, the Royal Exchange will be programming lots of surgeries, drop -ins and workshops to help share resources and information with the creatives of Tameside, and in the early evening there will be a big ol’ creative network mixer followed by a night of live music in the Den!

For more info on the Den and to download a full brochure, click here.

Tameside Creative Network meeting: June 2025

When: Thursday 26^th June 2025

Time: 6-8pm

Where: Denton West End Community Library, Windsor Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 2HB

Meet the artist: Collage Workshop with internationally exhibited artist Sarah Hardacre, and a talk from the Digital Culture Network.

In June we will be joined by Tameside-based visual artist and printmaker, Sarah Hardacre, who will be leading us in a one-of-a-kind collage workshop, introducing us to her practice and process through the hands-on medium of creating alongside her. As well as the workshop, she will also share a talk about herself and her career, answer all your burning questions and dispense sage advice for creative folk just starting out. Not to be missed!

And that’s not all! We also be joined by the Digital Culture Network. The DCN was launched in 2019 to develop the digital capabilities of the creative and culture sector. It helps organisations and individuals develop digital skills, find new ways to reach and engage audiences and help develop business models. Carl Stevens will join us to talk about the network and how you can access its free services. Carl is Senior Manager for New Technology & Innovation at Arts Council England and a trustee of Denton West End Community Library.

This is going to be a packed programme, so please make sure to arrive on time!

Book your free space here.

If you have any questions are access requirements you would like to discuss about this or any TCN event, please contact the event organisers via email or on 0161 342 4179.

Opportunities and Funding in Greater Manchester

Callout for Tameside Creative Network Musicians to perform at Street Fest

Category: Open call

Who is it for? For artists

Due date: the next Street Fest with an open slot is May 9^th. There are also slots available in September and October.

About: Street Fest is a small street festival taking place 5-9pm on the second Friday of the month from April through to October in Stalybridge and hosts a range of street food and drink vendors, street theatre, and live music. The event is very family friendly and attracts a lot of people of all different ages. If you are interested in performing, please email Hannah with your availability and a link to your work.

Grants of £2-30K Available for Organisations From The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: the current round closes April 11^th, but there will be two more rounds after this, the next opening on August 1^st 2025.

About: The Youth Music Trailblazer fund offers grants of £2,000 to £30,000 to organisations in England to run projects for children and young people (25 or under) to make, learn and earn in music. The project should trial work or test a new way of working, sustain a grassroots programme or disrupt the status quo (or all three!).

Your work must meet one of their themes: early years, disabled, deaf and neurodivergent young people, youth justice system, young people facing barriers, young adults or organisations and the workforce. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 11th April. Further information and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Northern Doc Fund Applications Open to Filmmakers from Working Class Backgrounds

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 22-04-2025

About: In 2025-2026, Northern Heart will be supporting 2x emerging documentary filmmakers from working class backgrounds based in the North of England. Every year they share a theme, and each applicant must apply with an idea for a short (up to) 10-minute documentary film they can make over the next six months. The theme for this year is class & climate.

The winners will receive a £3,000 cash grant, mentoring, postproduction support, one industry pass to Sheffield DocFest ’25, plus a screening of your film in a cinema, and more!

Further information and application guidance is available via the link provided. The deadline for applications is midnight on Tuesday 22nd April.

Find Out More.

Stopgap Dance Company: Future Leaders Applications Open

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 28-04-2025

About: Stopgap Dance Company are looking forward to welcoming two new Future Leaders in September 2025, for a 12-month contract running until September 2026. Future Leaders offers paid positions for Disabled professionals at the start of their leadership journey.

You’ll gain hands-on experience, work with a diverse range of people, and be guided by an experienced Stopgap mentor every step of the way. Plus, the Future Leaders Coordinator will ensure you feel supported, valued, and empowered throughout the programme. They're seeking passionate and driven individuals who identify as Deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent.

If you have at least three years of experience in the creative sector and are eager to grow as a leader, they’d love to hear from you! They are particularly interested in people with skills and experience in: Advocacy, Education & Training, Producing & Project Management and Creative Leadership.

The application deadline is Monday 28th April2025. Further information and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Bursaries to attend 'The Big Thing' in Bradford

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 07-05-2025

About: Immersive Arts are offering a limited number of bursaries to support artists to attend The Big Thing if costs would otherwise be a financial barrier. The Big Thing is a non-profit, three-day event in Bradford bringing together artists, creatives, researchers, and technologists to explore the future of immersive art. All income from pass sales goes directly toward covering event costs and supporting others to attend. The bursary can be used to pay for necessary travel, accommodation, subsistence and a reduced rate pass.

Applications will close on Wednesday 7 May at 6pm. Further information is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Information Session 7th May - Trading for Good: Community Business Programme

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 07-05-2025

About: The Trading for Good: Community Business Funded programme is for community businesses who want to improve their community. The programme offers up to £4,000 funding, the chance to develop skills to increase your organisation's income and building a network of support.

Your organisation must: Be based in England, plan on starting or growing the income it makes from trading, be established within the last 1-5 years and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.

An information session to support applications is being held over Zoom on Wednesday 7th May 4-5PM.

Attend via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Princes Trust Development Awards: Ongoing support, offering grants of up to £500 for ages 16-30

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: Princes Trust Development Awards can cover the cost of course fees, tools or equipment to help young people achieve their goals. We offer grants of up to £500 to support young people into a positive outcome.

Email GreaterManchesterOutreach@princes-trust.org.uk or click the link below for more information.

Find Out More.

Events and Activities In Greater Manchester

The Nico Ditch’s 1st Birthday Events Menu

Where: 52 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6LB
About: WHAT IS THE NICO DITCH? A BOUNDRY, A DEFENCE, A MARKER...

A line stretching from Stretford to Ashton landing directly under our Bow Street/Old Street bar. We are a pub, gallery, mini cinema & live music TARDIS of ideas. The Nico Ditch is an open door to all and the culture we create together. And our first birthday celebration week showcases exactly that with a programme of events created by Ashton’s Finest for yours truly:

Games Night at Nico’s Wed 23rd April | 7.30pm

The Nico Ditch Film Club Thur 24th April | 7.30pm

Exhibition Launch Sat 25th April | 6pm

The 1st Birthday P{Arty + N/D Records Launch Sat 26th April | 6pm - 2am

N/D Records daytime Vinyl Fair + Open Decs + Sunday Session Jam Night Sun 27th April | 1pm - 9pm

For more info head to Instagram and FB: @thenicoditch or email thenicoditch@gmail.com

Tax for Freelancers Online Session with Cathy Waller

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 11-04-2025

About: For over a decade, choreographer and arts consultant Cathy Waller has been supporting freelancers working in the Arts and Culture sector to better understand their finances, self-employment, and tax. This TWO HOUR session (with breaks) will be facilitated by Cathy and will cover: Self Employment vs PAYE, Tax free income, NI classes and Student Loan Repayments, How and what you can expense, Benefits and Self-assessment, Online self-assessment: the confusing questions, Budgeting. There will be time for questions at the end of the session. This event will be held on Friday 11th April, 1 - 3pm. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Environmental Responsibility Day

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 22-04-2025

About: Rochdale Creates are hosting 'Environmental Responsibility Day', a free event for anyone passionate about arts, culture, and sustainability in the Rochdale borough. This one-day symposium is designed to: Start a sector-wide conversation about sustainability in the arts. Equip you with practical tools, knowledge, and connections to take meaningful action.

No prior knowledge needed to attend; everyone is welcome! Just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm.

This event will be held at Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade Rochdale OL16 1AZ on Tuesday 22nd April 09:30 - 17:00.

Find Out More.

Arts Council Advice Session for First Time Applicants in the North - NLPG Webinar

Who is it for? For Organisations, For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 24-04-2025

About: This is an opportunity for you to find out more about what Arts Council England do and how you can apply for funding. This webinar is for first time applicants based in the North of England or those who may have never heard about the Arts Council before. The webinar will cover:

- An introduction to Arts Council England

- Our main funding programme: National Lottery Project Grants

- How to get started with your application + top tips

- Questions & Answers session

The session will be online via Zoom on Thursday 24th April 2025 at 12:00 - 13:30.

Tickets can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Arts Council England Review – Have Your Say

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 24-04-2025

About: A new independent review of the work of Arts Council England (ACE) was announced last December as an opportunity for “a national conversation about the future of ACE and how creativity is nurtured and developed in the future”.

A survey supporting the review has now been released and we’re encouraging you – both organisations and individuals – to complete it before the deadline of 24th April.

Find Out More.

Freelancer 101: Introduction to The Arts Webinar

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 19-06-2025

About: Art with Heart are running a new online workshop on 19th June, 10am-12pm (on Zoom) for people who are new to freelancing (about to register - under 3 years in).

It will be a 2 hour online workshop which will cover practical actions to apply across: setting up as a freelancer or company, tax and pensions, balancing different types of work and building relationships. The workshop is on a Pay What You Can basis. All money raised through this workshop funds their artist development and community programmes. If any cost at all is a barrier, please contact the event organisers. Tickets can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Crash Course in Fundraising Webinar

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 18-06-2025

About: Art with Heart are running an online workshop on 18th June, 10am-1pm (on Zoom) for people to learn more about fundraising in the arts.

This 2 hour workshop will cover:

• Trusts and Foundations

• Building your own crib sheet

• Arts Council Project Grants

• Crowdfunding

The workshop is on a Pay What You Can basis. All money raised through this workshop funds their artist development and community programmes. If any cost at all is a barrier, please contact them.

Tickets can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Connect/Reflect – Expression of Interest Open for A New Programme for Cultural Leaders

Due date: 30-05-2025

About: Are you a leader in the arts and cultural sector in England? Would you like to carve out space to think beyond the daily pressures of your role? Want to connect with, learn from, and build relationships with peers?

Clore Leadership, in partnership with Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, are piloting a new programme of low-cost peer support groups and 1:1 coaching for leaders in NPOs/ IPSOs and Paul Hamlyn Foundation Arts Fund recipients based in England.

Application is via expression of interest, opening 9 April. If places are over-subscribed, they will prioritise Global Majority, D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent leaders and leaders who are working in places identified as Arts Council England Priority Places or who have not previously accessed support of this kind.

Applications close on Friday 30th May 2025. Further information and application guidance is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

The Big Freelancer Survey 2025

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: The Big Freelancer Survey IS BACK and once again aims to provide a detailed report of the past 12 months.

Like the previous Big Freelancer Surveys (conducted in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024) this data will feed into ongoing lobbying of both industry bodies and government, informing them where support is most needed and what the greatest issues facing freelancers are.

The Big Freelancer Survey is the only survey of freelancers, by freelancers, for freelancers and provides a unique chance to make your voice heard and help organisations to advocate and lobby on your behalf.

The five-year Big Freelancer Survey is a unique long-term project which is now approaching its conclusion, and it’s vital that as many people as possible complete this year's final survey.

Find Out More.

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please share it with me and I will pop it in the newsletter, mention it in meetings and bang on about it on our socials too if you so wish!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you all next month!

Hannah x

Subscribe now

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Tameside Creative Network: What do you think?

We want to hear from you! Your feedback will help the network evaluate exactly what we've been doing and how we're supporting the cultural sector in Tameside, and what we can do better! It also will help us secure funding for the coming year.

Whether you have come to the odd meeting, read every newsletter or applied to the access bursary scheme (just leave blank the bits that don’t apply to you!), it would fab to hear from all of you.

The survey will only take around ten minutes!

You can find the form here, it closes on March 17^th!

Tameside Creative Network meeting: April 2025

Where? The Vale Studio 1, Vale Mill, Off Micklehurst Road, Mossley OL5 9JL

When? Thursday 24^th April

Time? 18:00-20:00

Building an online presence & marketing yourself as an artist workshop, with the superb folk from Short Supply! https://www.shortsupply.org/

Short Supply is an artist-led organisation based in the North-West, which creates opportunities for emerging artists within an increasingly competitive industry locally and nationally, producing exhibitions, talks and workshops that address the barriers creatives face to employment and education.

It’s going to be a brilliant and informative evening, come on down!

Book your free space here.

Tameside Creative Network in The Den

The Royal Exchange Theatre and their Den, a giant temporary theatre, is returning to Tameside in May 2025 and we have teamed up with them to dedicate a full day to the artists of Tameside!

Throughout the day, the Royal Exchange will be programming lots of surgeries, drop -ins and workshops to help share resources and information with the creatives of Tameside, and in the early evening there will be a big ol’ creative network mixer followed by a night of live music in the Den!

Everyone is welcome, and more details about the exact timings will be following soon.

When: 18/05/2025

Where: The Den, Stalybridge Civic Hall (also known as the Victoria Market Hall!), Trinity St, Stalybridge SK15 2BN

Opportunities and Funding in Greater Manchester

GMCA’s Collaborate Fund is Now Open for Expressions of Interest

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 17-03-2025 (Expressions of Interest)

About: The Collaborate fund represents a strategic investment of £300,000, designed to foster innovation and collaboration among culture, creative, and heritage organisations, as well as individuals in the Greater Manchester area.

This fund aims to support projects that align with and drive forward progress in the following key areas: Health & Wellbeing, Economy & Innovation, Education & Skills and Environment.

The £300,000 investment is allocated across three distinct funding opportunities which ensures that a variety of projects, ranging from smaller-scale initiatives to larger collaborations, can be supported effectively. The deadline for expressions of interest is Monday 17th March 2025 with full applications invited on 24th March. More information, including FAQs and eligibility can be found via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Up to £13,000 Funding Available for Artists Working in Live Performance

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 20-03-2025

About: The CoSTAR Live Lab invites companies, technologists, and creatives to help them shape the future of live performance. Artists can access cutting-edge tech, expert research support and up to £13,000.

This call invites applications from teams with creative R&D projects focussed on the live performance sector, that would benefit from access to the CoSTAR Live Lab’s cutting-edge infrastructure to accelerate and advance their innovation activity.

Applicants can apply for cash funding of up to £13,000 to contribute to the costs of their R&D project. In total, the support package on offer is valued at over £100,000 per project. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 20th March, 2025. For full information and eligibility criteria, please see the link provided.

Find Out More.

Project Grants: Supporting Grassroots Music Offers Organisations Funding Between £1-40k

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 25-03-2025

About: You can apply to Project Grants: Supporting Grassroots Music for a variety of projects that aim to support the grassroots music sector in England and, ultimately the wider music industry, by developing audiences and increasing the talent pipeline.

This funding is available to grassroots music organisations including rehearsal and recording studios, music festivals, promoters, venues for live and electronic music performance working at the grassroots of the music industry.

The deadline for applications is Monday 25th March 2025. Full eligibility details and application advice is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Calling All Artists for An Opportunity To Lead & Design A Series of Creative Missions In A Wigan Community

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners

Due date: 27-03-2025

About: Down to Earth is Wigan and Leigh's Creative People and Places project working to involve more people than ever before in creative activities. They are on the lookout for an artist/s to lead and design a series of creative missions to bring moments of joy to a community within the Wigan Borough, sparking small connections in well-known and hyperlocal spaces.

With the artist's support, Down to Earth will take the lead in recruiting 50 local households to act as Agents of Joy, empowering them to carry out these missions within their community. The timeline for the project is flexible and can span up to a year and the budget is £20k inclusive of all costs, VAT and delivery.

They're looking to offer a variety of artistic opportunities for residents to engage in, however, if you have a particular single art form in mind, they are open to discussion!

Your application must include:

Personal Information e.g. your full name, date of birth, address, etc.

An outline of your relevant experience in delivering arts activity, preferably in community settings.

How you would frame the invitation for residents to sign up.

Present a mission that would work well in this format.

A breakdown of costs involved (expect the artist fee to be approx. half the fee of the commission)

You're welcome to present your application in the format that feels most appropriate to you, e.g. CV, project proposal and budget, or a video to camera.

Send your application to hannah.thompson@groundwork.org.uk by 9am on Friday 27th March.

To ask any questions about this opportunity, email downtoearth@groundwork.org.uk.

Apply to Perform on MIF25’s Festival Square

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 31-03-2025

About: Festival Square is back for MIF25 and looking for Greater Manchester-based performers, musicians, and creatives to take the stage. From steel bands and folk musicians to hip hop collectives, DJs, dance troupes, and live podcasts, we want to showcase the city’s incredible talent. Taking place 3rd - 20th July across The Social and the Undercroft at Aviva Studios, Festival Square is a vibrant hub where audiences gather to discover new artists and celebrate the energy of Manchester.

Applications open Monday 24th February 2025 and close on 23rd March.

All performances are paid, and we welcome artists from all backgrounds, genres, and disciplines.

Are you ready to be part of a major international festival?

Find Out More.

The Henry Moore Foundation Offers Grants to Support the Growth & Development Of Sculpture

Category: Funding Other

Who is it for? For Organisations, For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: The Henry Moore Foundation offers grants to support the growth and development of sculpture and applications from non-profit organisations, based in the UK or internationally. You can apply for a grant in support of exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, commissions, conferences, research, non-commercial publications and the development of collections through acquisitions, conservation, cataloguing and display.

Individuals are welcome to apply for Research and Travel grants. This is the only category open to individuals.
Grant amounts vary depending on the category and range from £2.5k up to £20k. There are four funding rounds each year:
Spring - 1st May to 1st June.
Summer - 1st August to 1st September.
Autumn - 1st November to 1st December.
Winter - 1st February to 1st March.

Full eligibility details and application advice is available via the link provided:

Find Out More.

Princes Trust Development Awards: Ongoing support, offering grants of up to £500 for ages 16-30

Category: Funding

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: Princes Trust Development Awards can cover the cost of course fees, tools or equipment to help young people achieve their goals. We offer grants of up to £500 to support young people into a positive outcome.

Email GreaterManchesterOutreach@princes-trust.org.uk for more information.

Click here to Find Out More.

Events and Workshops!

Factory International's March Artist Drop In

Category: Networking

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners

Due date: 19-03-2025

About: This event is a casual meet-up for artists from across Greater Manchester and beyond. Come together with artists from across the city and share ideas over a cuppa. Plus, get to know Factory International staff including Artistic Director & Chief Executive John McGrath and Creative Director Low Kee Hong. The event will be held on Wednesday 19th March 2025, 6-7pm at The Social, Aviva Studios in Manchester.

Tickets are free (and include a free drink!) and should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

DANC - Creative Workspace @ HOME

Category: Networking

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 21-03-2025

About: Whether it’s working on your own projects, sending those emails, writing that tricky scene, researching opportunities, creating a directors showreel or pitch deck, collating an industry database, learning a new scene or monologue or maybe rehearsing/filming a self-tape, then this workspace is for you!

DANC have set up a space where DDN creatives (writers, actors, directors, producers, musicians, dancers, comedians, theatre makers to name a few) can come together in a supportive space, connect with each other and get those jobs ticked off the 'to do' list!

This event will be held at HOME Manchester, 2 Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN on Friday 21st March 2 - 4pm.

Find Out More.

'Get Started with Visual Arts' Course for NEAT Young People Age 16-25 Year Old’s

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 24-03-2025

About: Take part in a range of visual arts like clay, dark room photography, AI and digital art and textiles. Meet like-minded people, try new mediums of art, and showcase your work in a gallery opening at the end of the week. This free 5-day course will be led by artists George Gibson and Gee Collins, known for their innovative exhibition "The Fourth Wall," which explored audience interaction with art through printed posters, QR codes, engraved mirrors, and zines. Additionally, you will receive up to 3 months of support after the course to help you continue your creative journey and achieve your goals.

Get Started courses are open to young people not in work, education or training. The course runs from 24th-28th March 2025 with a taster day held on 19th March. Full eligibility details and application advice is available via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Ignite: First Time Arts Council Applicants Online Session

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 24-03-2025

About: This webinar is an opportunity for you to find out more about what Arts Council England do and how you can apply for funding. This webinar is for first time applicants based in the North of England or those who may have never heard about the Arts Council before. The session will cover:

· An introduction to Arts Council England

· ACE main funding programme: National Lottery Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice

· How to get started with your application and top tips

· Questions & Answers session

Once you have booked a ticket, you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite. A link to the Zoom webinar will then be sent out to attendees closer to the event. The webinar will be held on Monday 24th March 2025 18:00 - 20:00.

Find Out More.

Growth Hub's 'Create Growth' Programme is open to Greater Manchester creative businesses that employ at least two full time equivalent staff/freelancers!

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Organisations .

Due date: n/a - see website

About: Create Growth is an innovative programme, designed to help businesses unlock and develop their creative potential. With a buzzing community of creative businesses, Greater Manchester boasts one of the country’s leading creative forces and contributes an estimated gross value added (GVA) revenue impact of £1.4bn to the UK economy from culture and creative industries.

Create Growth has been created to further develop what is already a thriving industry, helping creative organisations attract investment to grow their business sustainably. The programme is fully-funded by the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).

- A bespoke two-day cohort programme covering the essentials to support your business growth and investment readiness.

- 1-2-1 access to a business coach

- Peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities

- Masterclasses and coaching sessions from industry experts.

Find Out More.

Online Evaluation Training For Arts, Culture & Heritage Professionals

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.


About: Centre For Cultural Value have a free-to-access online course will help you understand the principles and master the practice of carrying out evaluation in the arts, culture and heritage sector.

So what’s it all about? The course aims to support a more purposeful and proportional approach to evaluation, exploring the Evaluation Principles and enabling learners to consider how to apply them in their specific context to complement and support artistic ambitions.

- Online and learn at a time that suits you

- Course content devised and delivered sector experts and evaluation specialists

- Learn at your own pace

The course is available to start at any time and is free-to-access for two weeks via the FutureLearn platform.

Find Out More.

The FreelanceHER Progamme - Applications For Cohort 4 Are Open & Starts Soon!

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: n/a - see website

About: The FreelanceHER 100 programme is an award-winning fully funded training accelerator for women by women, working to launch and grow sustainable businesses across Greater Manchester.

FreelanceHER 100 was aimed at supporting women who had lost their jobs during the pandemic and helping them succeed during challenging times.

Delivered online, this 4-week programme is an exciting, easy-to-access and flexible opportunity for anyone from Greater Manchester who self-identifies as a woman and/or non-binary to learn the ropes of starting their own enterprise.

Applicants should be: Aged 16+, self-identify as a woman and/or non-binary, pre-trading, i.e. not yet have an active business, interested in gaining entrepreneurial skills and connecting with like-minded people. FreelanceHER100 recruitment is ongoing, check website for details:

Find Out More.

That was a bumper crop of opportunities and news this month! Do feel free to share far and wide with anyone you think will benefit from something shared here.

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please email it over to me at Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you all next month!

Hannah x

I hope you’re all having a splendid week, and you’ve seen some of the snowdrops and crocuses that have started popping up!

Programming this year’s Network Gatherings is in full swing, if you have anything you’d like to input, artists or workshop leaders you’d like to recommend, or something you’d like me to never programme again, drop me a line! I would love to hear how you’d all like the network to take shape this year… As always, I do also have the honest feedback form that you can fill in about any of the network events you’ve been to.

Speaking of, we have some pretty great workshops planned for the next few months, as well as plenty of time to meet and mingle with all the lovely creative folk we have here in Tameside. Keep reading for the run down on those!

I’m also looking into a couple of online workshops dotted throughout the year – for those who can’t make always make it to a meeting in person.

Enough yapping from me, let’s get into the news!

Share

The first Tameside Creative Network meeting of 2025 is here!

Where? The CREATE Centre, Tameside Arts Ltd. 8 Market St, Denton, Manchester M34 2XW

When? Thursday 27th February

Time? 18:00-20:00

The Dark Art of Networking in Arts and Culture, a free in-depth creative workshop with Olivia Peers:

Networking can feel like an overwhelming obligation when you would much rather focus on your creative practice but is a very useful tool that when wielded to your advantage can have a profoundly positive impact on you and your work! Join Olivia Peers, Tameside-based Community Arts practitioner and Artistic Director of Born and Bred Dance Theatre, for a collaborative workshop to de-mystify the rather broad concept of networking and carefully unpack what you might want from it, as well as sharing lots of advice and tips!

More information

Book your space

The second Tameside Creative Network Meeting isn’t far behind!

Where? The Vale Studio 1, Vale Mill, Off Micklehurst Road, Mossley OL5 9JL

When? Thursday 24^th April

Time? 18:00-20:00

Building an online presence & marketing yourself as an artist workshop, with Short Supply!

Short Supply is an artist-led organisation based in the North-West, which creates opportunities for emerging artists within an increasingly competitive industry in the North-West and nationally, producing exhibitions, talks and workshops that address the barriers creatives face to employment and education.

It’s going to be a brilliant and informative evening, come on down!

Book your free space here.

Tameside Creative Network Collaboration with the Royal Exchange Theatre we’ve all been waiting for:

When: 18/05/2025

Where: The Den, Stalybridge Civic Hall, Stalybridge

The Den, a giant temporary theatre, is returning to Tameside in May 2025 and we are dedicating a full day to the artists of Tameside! Join us in the Den for a day of talks, workshops and surgeries about all things creative. Then stick around for the artist mixer which will be run by the Tameside Creative Network, to be able to meet like-minded neighbours. More information will be available when the Den’s programme is officially launched in March, but for now, pop May 18^th in the diary for very lovely a TCN x Royal Exchange mixer event!

If you have any access requirements you would like the event organizers aware of beforehand for any of the above, please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

Events and Interesting Goings-on

'Page to Stage' Webinar with Writer & Director Kwame Owusu

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 26-02-2025

About: DANC presents a session exploring Kwame’s career as a writer and director, tips and advice for writers/directors and applying for assistant director roles. The session also includes a mini masterclass in how Kwame tackles a script as a director - From page to stage - Taking attendees through processes, offering tips and advice and answering any questions. This session will be on Wednesday 26th February 2025 - 3pm - 4pm. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

DANC Online Creative Writing Masterclass with Cathy Crabb

Category: Professional Development Other

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 27-02-2025

About: DANC are holding a fortnightly series of online masterclasses for creative writers. In each session they will do a different genre, sometimes there will be a menu of characters, setting and story, or just a short set of instructions. These sessions will include writing poetry, scenes, songs, films and stories. You don't need to attend all the sessions as each week will be different. This session will be on Thursday 27th February 2025 - 11am - 12:15pm. Tickets are free and can be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Theatre Green Book: Introduction Webinar

Category: Professional Development

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Due date: 26-03-2025

About: The Theatre Green Book is a complete method for sustainable theatre based on theatre-makers’ practical expertise and sustainability experts’ methodology This webinar is an introduction to anyone who hasn't used Theatre Green Book before or is coming back to it after a while. This online webinar will guide you through the tools and how to get started. Wednesday 26th March 2025 at 2:00 PM. Click the link provided to register.

Find Out More.

Mothers Who Make April Networking Event (In Person)

Category: Networking

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 08-04-2025

About: Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a free, peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers…every kind of maker welcome, and every kind of mother. The sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. The sessions, which have gathered momentum over the past few years, aim to give creative mothers the chance to explore their practice in a room with their child. Professional connections have been formed and led to the beginning of joint projects between participants – so it’s a great way to meet and collaborate with other mothers from different creative backgrounds. The next event takes place on Tuesday 8th April, 10:30 at Arch 1 HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN. Tickets should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Opportunities and Resources

Opportunity to submit your film for screening at the Nico Ditch Film Club!

Starting in February, TCN member Thomas Jackson will be hosting a new film night at Nico Ditch in Ashton Under-Lyne on the last Thursday of each month. Instead of screening mainstream films, they will begin the night by showcasing a short film created by local filmmakers, followed by a feature film that either inspired the short or is thematically linked.

Applying is free, but we ask that at least one production team member be available to attend a short Q&A session and introduce the feature film on the event day. While filmmakers from anywhere in Greater Manchester are welcome, we particularly want to focus on those from Tameside when possible.

If you would like to apply, please email NicoDitchFilmClub@outlook.com with an introduction and a link to your film. Thank you!

Action Together: Art of The Community Robin Estill Fund & Launch Event

Would you like to work in partnership with others to improve the health and wellbeing of Tameside residents through creative arts?

Action Together are delighted to announce the launch of the second round of the Robin Estill Fund – Art of the Community.

This fund aims to bring together Voluntary, Community, Faith or Social Enterprise organisations in Tameside to collaborate on a project which uses creativity and arts-based activities to promote the general wellbeing of people living with poor mental health, autism, and or learning disability.

The launch event will provide the space and opportunity for groups to network, share local insight and priorities for groups living with poor mental health, autism or learning disabilities in their communities and explore ideas and ways they can use an arts-based or creative programme to improve health and wellbeing of residents.

If you are interested in applying for this fund, Action Together strongly recommend that you attend the launch event on Wednesday 26 February.

When: Wednesday 26 February, 2pm - 5pm

Where: The Vale, Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley OL5 9JL

CASTING CALL: HER Productions, Girl Gang MCR and Unseemly Women are now casting for their 2025 show: Macbeth

We are building an ensemble of Manchester-based women and non-binary performers to be part of the 12-strong ensemble. Their 2025 Shakespeare will tour Hope Mill Theatre, Shakespeare North Playhouse, The Dukes Lancaster & The Lawrence Batley Theatre. We are interested in hearing applications from a range of ages, backgrounds and experiences. We want to work with actors who enjoy working as an ensemble with our focus being productive collaboration. Our Shakespeare projects are a profit share – with all box office takings split between the team.

Please send applications to herproductions19@gmail.com

Deadline to apply February 26

For more information on how to apply, please clink the link here.

New role: Programme Manager (Inclusion) at Curious Minds

We’re looking for a passionate and ambitious Programme Manager to join our small but mighty team at Curious Minds.

We are passionate about advancing anti-racist practice, amplifying working-class voices and championing disability inclusion in arts education. This is an opportunity to combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery - turning big ideas into meaningful action. You don’t need to know everything... but you’ll have the passion, curiosity, and drive to learn and make an impact. The role offers opportunities to lead, influence, and collaborate with creatives, educators, and cultural leaders.

Closing date for applications: midday (12pm) on Friday 14 March.
For more information click here.

Creative Internship Opportunities at Visual Architects

Are you passionate about interior design, visual storytelling, marketing, and immersive experiences? Join Visual Architects and gain hands-on experience in a dynamic, creative environment!

Roles Available:

Interior Design Intern – Transform spaces into stunning environments!

Design Intern – Create captivating visuals & branding materials!

Marketing Intern – Craft engaging campaigns & grow our brand!

Ready to bring your creativity to life? Apply now & be part of something extraordinary!

For more information email: jobs@visual-architects.co.uk

If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please ping it over to me!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you all soon and have a great February (what’s left of it).

Hannah x

I hope you’re all very well and are keeping cosy out there in the Arctic tundra, formerly known as the North-West of England.

It is, of course, the very last day of January (I’ve really pushed ‘monthly newsletter’ to its limit for this one!) and whilst it may have been the longest January on record, it has given me plenty of time to save up a plethora of exciting opportunities and events, so do keep reading for those!

We also have a confirmed date, venue, and theme for our next TCN gathering – all the details are coming up shortly – but I would like to emphasise that any and all creative folk are welcome at the Tameside Creative Network no matter your background, where you are in your career or practice, or if you can only make one meeting in ten! Everyone is welcome. Bring a buddy if it would make it more likely that you could attend!

So without further ado, let’s begin the first Tameside Creative Network Newsletter of 2025!!

Upcoming TCN Meeting and Workshop:

Date: Thursday February 27^th 2025

Time 18:00-20:00

Venue: The CREATE Centre, Tameside Arts Ltd. 8 Market St, Denton, Manchester M3 4XW

Theme: The Dark Art of Networking in the Arts

Programme:

18:00-18:10 – Arrivals, hellos, everyone helps themselves to drinks and snacks!

18:10 – 18:30 – Sharing Knowledge Time!

Notices and opportunities from across the creative and cultural sector in the region.

Hannah from Tameside Council will share all the notices and opportunities she’s gathered, and then the floor is open for anyone to chip in! If you know of an exhibition you think people should go to, a local music gig, a creative workshop, a new film club, please do share! If public speaking isn’t your thang, just send ‘em over to Hannah and she will add them to her presentation!

18:30-20:00 (with a break in the middle, don’t worry!)

The Dark Art of Networking in Arts and Culture, an in-depth creative workshop with Olivia Peers

Networking can feel like an overwhelming obligation when you would much rather focus on your creative practice but is a very useful tool that when wielded to your advantage can have a profoundly positive impact on you and your work.

Join Olivia Peers, Tameside-based Community Arts practitioner and Artistic Director of Born and Bred Dance Theatre, for a collaborative workshop to de-mystify the rather broad concept of networking and help you carefully consider what you want from networking and how that might realistically take shape in the future. As the High School Musical cast once said, we are all in this together.

If you’re coming, please quickly book a free spot here so we get in enough teabags!

If you have any access requirements you would like the event organizers aware of beforehand, please email Hannah.Alwan-Weston@tameside.gov.uk.

Creative Events and Things

OAUK National Conference 2025 - Equity in Action: The Power of Diverse Narratives

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.
Date: 06-02-2025

About: [Ticketed event] OutdoorArtsUK’s 2025 National Conference is coming to Stoke-On-Trent to hear from pioneering organisations, artists, and producers from the local area and beyond. The day will begin with a series of short presentations by local representatives to set the context of Stoke as a place and the equitable support they are offering their marginalised communities.

There will be an Induction event on Wednesday 5th February 2025, 3pm – 6pm at B-Arts, Stoke-On-Trent, followed by a Networking Evening from 7.30pm – 10.30pm. The main conference will be held on Thursday 6th February 2025, 10am – 6pm at Victoria Hall, Stoke-On-Trent.
Find Out More.

Artist Social hosted by Wigan and Leigh Art Map

Category: Networking
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Date: 08-02-2025

About: Chat about arts and culture across the Wigan Borough, and get involved in some fun live art mapping. There will also be free cake! Held on Saturday 8th Feb 12:30pm - 2:30pm a Little Fifteen, 17-19 Wallgate Wigan WN1 1LD. Tickets are free and should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Artist Network Sunday at The Lowry

Category: Networking
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Date: 16-02-2025

About: Chat with other GM artists and practitioners working across performance and visual arts over food and drink. Includes a special performance as part of Local / National / International by ceramicist Paloma Proudfoot, choreographer Aniela Piasecka, and composer Ailie Ormston. Followed by a short Q&A with the artists and curator Zoe Watson. The event will be held on Sunday 16th Feb 2025 at The Lowry, 12pm-2.30pm. It's free to attend, booking required as limited capacity available. Find Out More.

Mothers Who Make February Networking Event at HOME

Category: Networking
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Date: 18-02-2025

About: Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a free, peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers…every kind of maker welcome, and every kind of mother. The sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. The sessions, which have gathered momentum over the past few years, aim to give creative mothers the chance to explore their practice in a room with their child. Professional connections have been formed and led to the beginning of joint projects between participants – so it’s a great way to meet and collaborate with other mothers from different creative backgrounds. The next event takes place on Tuesday 18th February, 10:30 at Arch 1 HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN. Tickets should be booked via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Opportunities

Associate Artist Callout: Seed Commission and Creative Incubator:

Calling all North-based British East and Southeast Asian artists/companies! New Earth Theatre is on the lookout for 3 artists/companies who will receive:

£2,000 seed commission
Mentoring in fundraising, marketing & creative development
A residency in one of these North-based venues: Contact Theatre MCR, Sheffield Theatres or Theatre in the Mill.
A short work-in-progress performance slot in our Twisted Roots Festival at Leeds Playhouse and Bush Theatre London

Deadline to apply: Feb 5
Link to find out more and apply.

Qweer Shorts: Hope 200 - Opportunity for Actors to Perform at Turn On Fest

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Due date: 07-02-2025

About: Hope Mill & Qweerdog have commissioned a group of writers to create 4 short pieces based on researched historical LGBTQ+ stories to celebrate Hope Mill's 200th birthday and are looking for performers to help bring these pieces to life at February's annual Turn On Fest. They are particularly interested to cast LGBTQ+ and/or global majority heritage performers from the North West. Rehearsals will be Manchester based, and the equivalent of 2 days - spread over 2/3 weeks (between Mon 20th Jan - Friday 7th Feb) and will be organised in conjunction with the director to accommodate work, and previous commitments. Tech & Dress - Fri 7th February. Performances will take place at Turn On Fest 2025, Hope Mill Theatre on Saturday 8th February (2 performances - matinee & evening). There is also a £250 fee. Email qweerdog@outlook.com or click the link provided if you're interested.

Find Out More.

Onward Community Fund Round Four: up to £2,500 to deliver a project in your neighbourhood.

Category: Funding
Who is it for? For Organisations.
Due date: 07-02-2025

About: The Onward Community Fund aims to support local groups and projects, helping them to succeed. Underpinned by their commitment to enable people to be their best, in a home they love and place they are proud of. Up to £2,500 could be available to support local groups and projects in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester - as long as the location is in one of their defined 'Onward' neighbourhoods (check their website for info!). For this year’s funding they are looking for projects that aim to support people and communities that are facing increased challenges as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis. Projects should aim to address one or more of the following: WORK, FOOD, WELLBEING or DIGITAL. Examples could include: IT training, youth projects or community events. There are a number of funding rounds annually to keep your eye on! Round three closes on 15th November 2024 and is judged on 5th December 2024. Round four closes on 7th February 2025 and is judged on 25th February 2025.

Find Out More.

BBC Sounds' Audio Lab 2025 Programme Now Open for Applications

Category: Professional Development
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Due date: 11-02-2025

About: Audio lab is a podcast accelerator programme for audio creatives and podcasters who have stacks of potential but are missing professional support and practical resources. They're looking for new voices, perspectives and stories that authentically reflect the UK from people who have a range of audio content and storytelling experience. The programme is open to all and they encourage those from under-represented groups to apply; that includes those who are Black, Asian, or ethnically diverse, those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, those from low socio-economic backgrounds and people who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. The application deadline is Tuesday 11th February 2025.

Find Out More.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Research Associate at Creative Manchester

Deadline: 17 February
Salary: £36,050

Hours: 0.4fte (14 hours per week)

Duration: Fixed Term for 18 months

Location: Oxford Road, University of Manchester

Come and work with the English National Opera and University of Manchester! As part of ‘Tuning into Opera’, there is an opportunity to carry out research and consultation into ENO’s move to the city-region and its engagement with local audiences and communities.

More details can be found here.

Showcase your work in the upcoming Rochdale Creates Outdoor Gallery!

The gallery will feature around 15 artworks for a bold new public exhibition, with works selected by a community panel.

What’s on offer?

£350 artist fee per selected piece.
Your work displayed for over 12 months with a QR code promoting your artist profile on Rochdale Creates

This is a Digital file submission – can include any artform that can be printed at large scale (including photos of 3D artwork)

Deadline: 23rd February 2025.

Don’t miss this pioneering opportunity – apply now!

How to Start and Maintain a Small Business Workshops Aimed at the LGBTQIA+ Community

Category: Professional Development Other
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Due date: 26-02-2025

About: In partnership with Islington Mill, these workshops explore creative entrepreneurial paths through the lens of queer perspectives and provide space for creatives dedicated to fostering opportunities for artists. The workshops will be led by Chelsie Southern, the founder of Studio Dawn, a queer owned self-care space in Salford. Chelsie will be leading a series of informative workshops sharing her unique perspective as an LGBTQ+ business owner with 5 years lived experience in the field, providing a friendly welcoming approach to starting and maintaining a successful small business. The workshops will be held at Islington Mill, Ordsall, M3 5HW on 12th ,19th & 26th February 6pm – 8pm.

Find Out More.

WOMEX 2025 Call Out - Proposals Invited From Musicians, Filmmakers, & Music Professionals

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions
Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.
Due date: 28-02-2025

About: The organizers of WOMEX, Piranha Arts and the local partners for this edition, Rockadillo Production Oy announce the opening of the annual call for proposals for the 31st edition of WOMEX, scheduled to take place in Tampere, Finland, from October 22 to 26, October 2025. The call for proposals is open to musicians, filmmakers, and music professionals worldwide, fostering a global representation of talent. Each year, the official programme is selected by an independent, international jury (the jury members for this year will be announced in the coming weeks). Proposals can be submitted in four categories: Showcase, Club Summit, Film or Conference. WOMEX is committed to diversity and inclusivity and welcomes submissions from all backgrounds. The organization encourages proposals that contribute to the diversity of the international music scene, encompassing aspects such as culture, region, gender, styles, performance tradition, and more. The deadline for sending the proposals is Friday, 28 February 2025.

Find Out More.

Open Call for Artists: Collaborate and Share a Creative Space!

Are you an artist or designer looking for a vibrant and collaborative space to create, exhibit, and grow? We’re seeking like-minded creatives to join us in sharing and co-running an inspiring artistic venue in the centre of Ashton-Under-Lyne, on Stamford Street.

Deadline for applications: 28th February 2025.
Let’s Build Something Amazing Together!

For more information on how to apply, reach out to wealthartgallery@gmail.com.

Funding for UK research organisations to form a community-driven research network to enhance access to culture:

Category: Call-Outs & Commissions
Who is it for? For Organisations.
Due date: 10-04-2025

About: The Locally Unlocking Culture through Inclusive Access (LUCIA) programme aims to fund research networks which will empower communities across the UK to have the agency and opportunity to enable growth and address equitable access through a culture of policy design. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding. Funded networks will create partnerships across communities, researchers, and policymakers, to promote urban cultural renewal. Apply by 10 April 2025. An event offering further information is being held online on 10th October.

Find Out More.

Phew, there were a lot of events and opportunities to get through this month! If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please ping it over to me!

And finally…

Join our Facebook Group!

Follow us on Instagram!

That’s all from me for now, see you all soon!

Hannah x

I hope you are all well, and having a lovely festive season.

This is a just a little newsletter, rounding up a couple of not-to-be-missed opportunities that I wanted to share with you all before the year was out!

First of all, I’m working behind the scenes to put together a programme for our meetings in 2025, and I would love all of your input:

Are you a Tameside-based artist or creative who would be interested in sharing a bit about your journey and practice with the network at a meeting? If so, please get in touch with me! Similarly, if you have suggestions about workshop topics or activities you would like to see at a network meeting, email me!

I will share the programme in the new year, so keep your eyes peeled for more information!

And without further ado, let’s get into some of the fab opportunities and events I’ve come across of late!

TMBC: Artist Creative Commission Call Out

Tameside Council in partnership with Greater Manchester Arts Network (GM Arts) is inviting proposals from artists, companies or collectives based in Greater Manchester (or with connections to artists in Greater Manchester) to develop an idea alongside Tameside residents that can be developed and produced for presentation in Tameside in November 2025.

• Q&As Available for Interested Artists: Tues 17^th & Thurs 19^th December

• Application Deadline: Tuesday 14th January 2025, 11pm

• Interview Dates: Thursday 30th or Friday 31st January 2025

• Decisions By: Tuesday 4th February 2025

• Research & Development Budget £3,000.

• Commission Budget £19,000.

• Find out more & apply!

We are keen to explore Tameside’s rich dance heritage and uncover what matters most to its residents today, providing a creative platform to share their ideas and stories, particularly those rooted in life in Tameside. Dance in Tameside spans traditional folk dancing, clog dancing informed by its industrial past, to a diverse range of dance styles with roots that reveal connections with dance forms from around the world and resonate with the borough’s diverse communities.

‍We are interested in work in any artform designed for outdoor settings. This could include creating large-scale movement pieces, projection mapping, storytelling in green or urban spaces, or an immersive digital adventure – and everything in between! The final presentation will take place outdoors, so we’re looking for exciting and innovative ideas that spotlight our residents' voices and reimagine Tameside’s heritage in a bold and dynamic way.

Download the full information pack here!

The Curious Creatives Network's December Networking Session for Cultural Education Freelancers & Organisations (Online)

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Date: 19-12-2024

About: Join the Curious Creatives Network for inspiration, learning and connection on 28th November. The sessions are informal and interactive, and the December event will be an opportunity to celebrate and share some of your achievements from 2024 and look forward to 2025. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking, connection and finding out about each other’s work. These network sessions are free and take place online over Zoom once a month. This network is for anyone with an interest and commitment to creating high quality work for, by and with children and young people. You may be an artist, creative, teacher, producer, programme manager, director, policy maker, freelancer or part of an organisation. This event will take place on Thursday December 19th at 12 - 1:15pm.

Find Out More.

TripleC's Weekly Community Group for Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent Creatives Aged 25+

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 20-12-2024

About: Are you a deaf, disabled and /or neurodivergent (DDN) person 25 + years? Would you like a creative outlet to explore new opportunities and make new friends? TripleC’s motto is “never leave anyone behind” which is why run a weekly creative community project to give an opportunity for the DDN community to come together, create, explore new experiences and meet new friends. These free weekly, in-person workshops are designed to help you explore how to channel and showcase your lived experience through various creative avenues. The event takes place at 53two, an accessible theatre in the heart of central Manchester. The next event is Friday 20th December 2024 at 10:30 - 13:00. Hosted by writer Cathy Crabb & facilitated by members of the TripleC team. These workshops are for all experience levels, and the relaxed and structured setting is perfect for learning new skills and meeting people. Please book your place via the link provided.

Find Out More.

Migration Stories: Art as Activism Bursary - Applications Open To Producers Whose Work Highlights Migration Issues

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 06-01-2025

About: This new bursary opportunity offers financial support to producers whose work highlights migration issues and inspires action. You might be a producer who has migrated to the UK or work with artists, activists, and projects that are fostering a global conversation about migration. This bursary offers three £1,000 grants to producers exploring migration and activism through the arts. This is a great opportunity to advance your practice with financial support, create projects that raise awareness and inspire action, build global networks and collaborations, and develop sustainable and impactful practices Applications are open to Mid-career producers (3-10 years experience), Experienced producers (10+ years experience) and Producers from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds. The deadline for applications is Monday 5th January 2025.

Find Out More.

Monthly Playreading Sessions at HOME Manchester (January)

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Date: 10-01-2025

About: HOME's Playreading group meets on the first Friday of most months and are open to all. They offer an opportunity to read and discuss plays that are linked to their theatre productions or discover new plays from local talent. The sessions are fun, friendly and informal and new members are always welcome. The next session takes place on Friday 10th January 2025, 11:00 at Event Space HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN. Tickets cost £5 and include refreshments and script.

Find Out More.

Applications For The Factory Sounds 2025 Cohort Now Open & Offer Up To £1k To Musicians

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 20-01-2025

About: Factory Sounds is an annual programme designed to support and raise the profile of the music industry in Greater Manchester by offering support to 15 talented individuals. The programme offers financial support of up to £1,000 for anyone based in Greater Manchester who’s involved in music, whether as a professional or amateur. This includes musicians and DJs, producers and promoters, even label owners and managers. Successful applicants will also receive peer to peer support, mentor sessions, tailored workshops, access to a bespoke space for developing music and the opportunity to perform in the Social. To apply, send your name and contact details including an expression of interest detailing what you'd like to do and how you plan to do it, how you would spend the £1,000, who you are and any practical support you might need. Applications close on Monday 20th January 2025 at 10am.

Find Out More.

Arts Council January Advice Session for First Time Applicants to National Lottery Project Grants.

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations.

Date: 30-01-2025

About: Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. They support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. They are holding FREE online Introductory sessions to the Arts Council and funding for creative work This webinar is for first time applicants based in the North of England or those who may have never heard about the Arts Council before. The session will be online via Zoom on Thursday 30th January at 12:00 - 13:30. There will be BSL interpretation and Live Captioning during the session.

Find Out More.

Onward Community Fund Round Four: up to £2,500 to deliver a project in your Neighbourhood

Who is it for? For Organisations.

Due date: 07-02-2025

About: The Onward Community Fund aims to support local groups and projects, helping them to succeed. Underpinned by their commitment to enable people to be their best, in a home they love and place they are proud of. Up to £2,500 could be available to support local groups and projects in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester - as long as the location is in one of their defined 'Onward' neighbourhoods (check their website for info!). For this year’s funding they are looking for projects that aim to support people and communities that are facing increased challenges as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis. Projects should aim to address one or more of the following: WORK, FOOD, WELLBEING or DIGITAL. Examples could include: IT training, youth projects or community events. There are a number of funding rounds annually to keep your eye on! Round three closes on 15th November 2024 and is judged on 5th December 2024. Round four closes on 7th February 2025 and is judged on 25th February 2025.

Find Out More.

"Write On Track" A 6 Week Online Workshop Series For Writers Starts in January 2025

Who is it for? For Creative Practitioners.

Due date: 15-02-2025

About: Write On Track is a new online workshop series designed to inspire and empower writers aged 26+ You will learn to craft compelling characters, nurture new ideas, experiment with form, and push through creative blocks. Plus, take part in a friendly, focused writing session and Q&A. All sessions are 10am-12pm on Zoom. The first class is pay what you can/free. The other classes have a small fee but there are some limited pay what you can/free tickets available upon request: 11/01/25: Unlock Your Creativity & Nurture Ideas 17/01/25: Defeat Writer’s Block & Develop Positive Habits 21/01/25: Create Compelling Characters 01/02/25: Play with Form & Structure 08/02/25: Write from Personal Experience 15/02/25: Focused Writing Session and Q&A,

Find Out More.

And finally…

Thank you to everyone who has joined the mailing list or come to the meeting, or participated in the Tameside Creative Network in any way in 2024!

It has been a wonderful first year building a creative network for Tameside folks with you all, let’s keep it going in 2025!

Whether 2024 has been a great year for you in your creative practice, or if this year has been one of those ‘just one thing after another’ sort of years, I hope you find some time to rest over this festive period, and return to making and creating in the new year refreshed and reinvigorated!

I’m wishing you all a warm and cozy festive season, however you choose to mark it, and a peaceful New Year.

All the best,

Hannah x

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I hope you’re all keeping well, and warm! (I found ice on the INSIDE of my windscreen this morning, which seems rather unfair)

I’m delighted to say that we’ve have had a little influx of subscribers to the mailing list, so hello to you all, welcome to the TCN Substack! I hope we meet soon at a network gathering in the future, if we haven’t already.

Our October network meeting at Woodend Mill in October was tremendous fun, with our largest meeting turnout yet! We were joined by Matthew Prendergast, Curator at the Castlefield Gallery, as well as a number of artists and craftspeople from Woodend Studios, who shared their lovely work with us. If you have any thoughts and suggestions you would like to feed back about our last meeting, it is always appreciated, please fill in this form.

I am also in the process of putting together the network’s 2025 programme. Are you a Tameside-based artist or creative who would be interested in sharing a bit about your journey and practice with the network? If so, please get in touch with me!  Your presentation can be in any format you like, and for about 15 minutes.

Similarly, if you have suggestions about workshop topics or activities you would like to see at a network meeting, email me! I very much welcome everyone’s input into what the network does.

UPCOMING TCN MEETINGS:

Tameside Creative Network – Christmas Social

Date: Thursday December 5th

Host: The Nico Ditch, 52 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6LB

Time: 18:00-21:00

Come along to the Nico Ditch for a drink, a bit of food, some music, and generally a lovely end-of- year mixer with all the wonderful creative folk of Tameside!

Book your place here please - places are limited as Nico Ditch is a finite space, so do sign up if you want to come, it’s totally free!

Please also feel free to share this invitation - creative folks living and/or working in Tameside are all very welcome!

EVENTS AND THINGS GOING ON

Woodend Studios Open Studios Weekend - Meet the studio-holders opening their doors this Christmas

DATE:  Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December 2024 (10am - 4pm)

ABOUT: Woodend Mill Studios’ open studios events offer a fabulous experience to all who visit; there will be bauble making, free workshops in embroidery, knitting, jewellery making, traditional crafts, pottery and glass demonstrations, a reindeer trail where children collect clues, Santa's workshop with children can write their letter to Santa and post it.  We have prop makers among our studio-holders, so we are able to fill the mill with large puppets and interactive installations for all visitors to engage with.  We have science experiments for children too provided by SciTech! There will be an exhibition of children's art, working in conjunction with local schools and many of the children who attend art classes with some of our studio holders.

There will be some local craft stalls, with stall fees and raffle tickets sales donated to Emmaus, Mossley.

There will be food and a great deal of festive cheer!’

FIND OUT MORE: WOODEND STUDIOS

Bound Art Book Fair returns to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

DATE: Saturday 30 Nov: 11.00am-5.00pm Sunday 1 Dec: 10.00am-4.30pm

ABOUT:  The fair will feature dozens of local and international publishers, artist presses and collectives, as well as a free public programme of talks, workshops and parties. This year our programme examines the cultures and politics of food and dining: recipe zines, cookbooks, culinary newsletters, community food initiatives, food in the arts and artists working with food. Across a series of talks, panels and workshops we’ll explore the intersecting roles of both digital space and the printed page in contemporary discourses around cooking and eating, appetite and hunger.

FIND OUT MORE: https://boundartbookfair.co.uk/

Phantasmagoria’s Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibition

A magical exploration of the strangest artefacts from Portland Basin Museum's collection.

DATE: Friday 13th December (4pm to 6pm)

LOCATION: Portland Basin Museum, Ashton-under-Lyne

ABOUT: ‘Join us for a captivating evening of:

•A unique exhibition of paintings, prints, stories, and poetry inspired by the museum's extraordinary artefacts.

•Special performances of the stories and poetry.

•The grand unveiling of our new Travelling Magical Emporium, bringing the magic of Phantasmagoria to your community.

•Fantastical Refreshments and a chance to mingle with fellow art enthusiasts.

This project has been made possible by the generous support of Arts Council England, the Postcode Lottery Foundation, and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council's Museum staff.

We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.’

RSVP to: ann@phantasmagoria.space or 07989529964

The Curious Creatives Network's November Networking Session for Cultural Education Freelancers & Organisations (Online)

DATE: Thursday November 28th at 12 - 1:15pm.

ABOUT: Join the Curious Creatives Network for inspiration, learning and connection on 28th November. The sessions are informal and interactive, with an opportunity to network and find out more about each other’s work.

Natasha Ryan, the Education Manager at The Poetry Society, the UK’s leading poetry organisation will be attending this month’s Curious Creatives Networking event. The Poetry Society has an extensive education programme, including work in formal educational settings such as schools and colleges, and informal work with poets of all ages.

These network sessions are free and take place online over Zoom once a month. This network is for anyone with an interest and commitment to creating high quality work for, by and with children and young people. You may be an artist, creative, teacher, producer, programme manager, director, policy maker, freelancer or part of an organisation.

FIND OUT MORE (NOVEMBER): here!

FIND OUT MORE (DECEMBER): Here!

Mothers Who Make In Person Networking Event (December)

DUE DATE: 03-12-2024

ABOUT: Mothers Who Make (MWM) is a peer support group and creative exchange session for mothers who are artists – professional and/or passionate – writers, painters, actors, dancers, filmmakers, photographers…every kind of maker welcome, and every kind of mother. The sessions are held monthly, and you are invited to bring along your children of any age. Tuesday 3rd December 2024, 10:30 at Event Space HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN. Tickets should be booked via the link provided.

FIND OUT MORE: https://homemcr.org/event/mothers-who-make-sessions/

Outdoor Arts (OAUK) Webinar 'Environmental Action: Green Riders & Artist Donut Toolkit' Free For Members

WHO IS IT FOR? For Creative Practitioners, For Organisations

DUE DATE: 05-12-2024

ABOUT: In this webinar, Lorna Rees the Artistic Director of Gobbledegook Theatre will discuss the work that she's done, supported by Without Walls, in developing Green Riders for outdoor artists to find out how you can deliver your work in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. This will be followed by a discussion with Andrew Lansley, developer of the OAUK Donut Advisory Toolkit, about what elements might feed into the development of a version of the toolkit designed for touring artists. This is a chance for you to feed directly into the key areas that the toolkit will focus on. The webinar is available for free to OAUK Members, or £10 for freelance non-members and £20 for non-member organisations (please note that this is per employee). The session will be held on Thursday 5th December 2024 at 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM via Zoom, with a link emailed out the day before the session. The session will have BSL made available if required.

FIND OUT MORE: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/outdoorartsuk/1423863

Arts Council Advice Session for First Time Applicants to National Lottery Project Grants.

WHO IS IT FOR? For Creative Practitioners

DATE: 20-02-2025

ABOUT: Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. They support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections.

They are holding FREE online Introductory sessions to the Arts Council and funding for creative work National Lottery Project Grants on 28 Nov, 12:00 GMT Thu, 30 Jan, 12:00 GMT Thu, 20 Feb, 12:00 GMT.

The webinars will cover:

- An introduction to Arts Council England

- Their main funding programme: National Lottery Project Grants

- How to get started with your application + top tips

- Questions & Answers session

FIND OUT MORE: here!

OPPORTUNITIES

Hiring at Factory International: Creative Learning Facilitators (freelance)

DUE DATE: 06 December 2024

ABOUT: ‘We are looking for two Creative Learning Facilitators to co-deliver Factory International Schools, Factory International’s year-round partnership programme for secondary schools across Greater Manchester.

Contract period – 03 Jan 2025 to 31 Jul 2025 (anticipated equivalent of 2-3 days’ work per week during this period, to be discussed with candidate)

Fee - £7000 (fixed-fee) for 2 days a week or £10,000 (fixed-fee) for 3 days a week’

FIND OUT MORE: here!

Hiring at Outside In: Exhibitions Coordinator

DUE DATE: 06 December 2024

ABOUT: Outside In is recruiting for the role of Exhibitions Coordinator (Maternity Cover). The Exhibitions Coordinator will work closely with the Exhibitions Manager to deliver an exciting programme of exhibitions at venues across the UK.

This role will be focused on organising and delivering an existing programme of exhibitions including work on Outside In’s National Exhibition, ‘Shelter’, at The New Art Gallery Walsall in the Midlands, and at Christie’s, London. Outside In’s exhibition programme for 2025 also includes exhibitions at the De La Warr Pavilion, and Pallant House Gallery.

This is a UK-wide role and will involve remote working and travelling for exhibitions.

FIND OUT MORE: here!

Places for 6 Artists to Develop Their Career on 'The Factory Fellowship' Programme

WHO IS IT FOR? For Creative Practitioners

DUE DATE: 09-12-2024

ABOUT: The Factory Fellowship Programme programme allows Fellows to explore their practice with new commissions and international artists making work at scale. As part of the fellowship, artists receive mentoring opportunities, coaching, observational placements, peer-to-peer learning and access to Factory International staff and creative teams as well as monthly meetings with Creative Director Low Kee Hong. The fellowship is open to independent artists and creative practitioners based in the North of England, who are at a stage in their career where they would benefit from access to new and international artistic processes, environments, and experiences. The intention is to support individuals who are at a pivotal point in their career to develop new knowledge, experience, skills, and networks. To Apply, send a short video or complete an application form via the link provided.

FIND OUT MORE: here!

Soundcheck presents: Kickstart Your Career in Live Music

A Live Music Industry Training Programme

DATE: Multiple, please see application form

ABOUT: The Sound Check courses are now being offered at the Met in Bury and Band on the Wall in MCR city centre. From sound engineers to event managers, lighting designers to box office, the innovative Sound Check programme will introduce you to the range of job roles and skills you need to make your career in the live music industry.

FIND OUT MORE: here!

Business Support Events at Tameside Libraries

ABOUT: Whether you’re setting up a new business, planning to grow, investigating the competition, marketing your business or want networking opportunities, Tameside Libraries BIPC run a variety of free workshops and events for local businesspeople!

There are huge range of workshops and events to attend, from Tameside Talks Business Networking Drop-Ins to Build A Business: Marketing - The Essentials.

FIND OUT MORE: here!

Career Development & Project Support Sessions For Artists - In Person or Online

WHO IS IT FOR? For Creative Practitioners

DATE: Multiple dates available

ABOUT: HOME are offering Talent Development Surgeries for artists to discuss a project idea, receive career advice or talk about your practice with one of their Artist Development producers either online or in person. These 30-minute sessions are a great chance to discuss whatever you’re working on, get some feedback from an industry professional or find out more about all the opportunities at HOME. Surgeries dates and times are usually set on the first of every month, or the Monday after if the first falls on a weekend. Follow the link to see availability and book your slot.

FIND OUT MORE: Here!

Phew, there were a lot of events and opportunities to get through this month! If there is ever anything that you would like to share with the network – be it event or opportunity – please ping it over to me!

And finally…

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That’s all from me for now, see you all soon!

Hannah x

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