BlackFest is an award-winning festival that has a six-year portfolio of delivering a diverse Black arts festival in celebrating, platforming, and providing developmental opportunities working with black artists and supporting community projects.
BlackFest received recognition for its outstanding work, winning an award in the Arts Culture and Media category of the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards in 2022. The work of BlackFest features on “Visit Liverpool” and, accordingly, the company is expanding across the Northwest supporting the arts and economic ecology of the Liverpool City Region bringing audiences and artists to Liverpool.
Our theme for this year is ‘Interconnection’ with much global unrest surrounding the global South, mass protests in the West and people all over the globe uniting in activism to combat capitalism and colonialism highlighting key geopolitical issues climate justice, AI, inflation, involuntary migration, societal polarisation, indiscriminate wars and more, which is interlinked with us and our environment we chose our artists to respond to our interconnectedness. We are part of a global community with responsibilities to land earth, climate action and our relationships with the whole than the singular and how we are all interrelated and everything intercorrelates with each other. Our communities have long stood in creating a society for all and we thrive to continue to strive in this way uncensored and unapologetic.
We have lots in store for our artists and community this year Kings, Queens, the true ones, shapeshifters, healers, hustlers, dreamers, believers.
BE A PART OF BLACKFEST 2024:
TO APPLY:
PLEASE NOTE: You can apply via our simple application form below under each category you are interested in.
We are also accepting proposals in video/audio format and BSL – please send a film/audio file no longer than 1 minute to festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk or send a link to the same address for us to download the file.
If you require the information in BSL or accessible formats, please email opportunities@blackfest.co.uk
APPLY NOW to be a part of the 2024 cohort details below! All commissions are paid opportunities at the festival.
WHAT'S ON OFFER
BLACKFEST FESTIVAL LAUNCH IN COLLABORATION WITH BOXEXPO
BlackFest have always prioritised and prides itself in championing local and North-West black creatives, traders and communities which are at the heart of we do. We want to continue cultivating and nurturing black artists and communities this year we proud to partner with BOBEXPO with a BLACKFEST CREATIVE CORNER a space for arts, crafts and celebration of our creatives.
This event will be family friendly where audiences will enjoy an eclectic mix of LIVE music, dance, African Fabric Workshop celebrating Black Culture, get involved suitable for a wide range of ages and many activities that are available on the day.
If you are an artist/group in music, dancer, poet, choir, and workshop facilitators to perform take up space and/or facilitate. We are also supporting the fashion brands with a catwalk to showcase their collections and opportunities for models are available too.
Our offer to you is:
– Reach new audiences
– Marketing and graphic design
– Grow In Performance
– Build business capacity
– Expand your portfolio
– Support Black Businesses
– Network with likeminded artists and creatives and black businesses
– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective
receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities
To APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Performance date: 7th September 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
ABOUT BOBExpo
BOBExpo is the UK’s largest shopping experience for cultural and diverse products and black business owners. It was founded in 2018 to provide a platform for shoppers to find products and services that meet their needs, while also giving black businesses a platform to be more visible, grow and contribute to the UK economy.
Every year, we continue to grow and aim to create a platform that all businesses can be proud to be a part of.
For all stall enquiries please contact: info@bobexpo.co.uk
Rhythms Night – Music
This year we are working with our collective of Black young musicians and Black industry professional musicians to provide LIVE music and beats for our shortlisted artists. You will get the opportunity to create a unique arrangement of your music working collaboratively with Black Musicians in the Liverpool City Region area.
Our Commissions: Available for 4 Music artists and 1 DJ or a DJ Collective to join our iconic music night this year 2024 at District Liverpool a Black owned business located in the Baltic Triangle, we are seeking a range of genres of talent to add depth and excitement to the night. Open to all genres of music you can submit RnB, Soul, Jazz, HipHop, House, Drill, Grime, Country, Rock, Pop and/OR multi-genre EP. You will have created your own original music and EP’s and would like to collaborate with young Black musicians.
Our offer:
You will receive one to one support with a professional vocalist working with and receiving 2 masterclasses. Work with our young musicians and ensemble cohort in August creating your rendition of one of your songs.
Rehearsals will provide the space to grow and enhance your music creating a rendition of one of your tracks and create a collaborative piece with artists in the sector providing an immersive experience for the audience and artists involved.
– Adding to your portfolio of musical output and range.
– Perform at our Rhythms Night at District Liverpool.
– Take part in a panel discussion with industry professionals.
– Connect with larger audience base and reach a wider audience
– All marketing graphic design will be covered for artists
– Build a relationship with an established arts organisation
– Network with likeminded artists and creatives
– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024.
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Performance date: 28th September 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
Spoken Word / Poetry
We are commissioning 4 Spoken word/Poetry artists to use poetry to create an informative, powerful and inspiring night looking at developing a theatrical storytelling 20-minute piece. For this event we will bring in guest facilitators industry professionals to support your vision and development of your piece on stage providing a group and masterclass one to one feedback aiding you in expanding your portfolio, developing your pieces, networking and further career commissions.
Our offer:
– One to one artistic support with your pieces
– Work with professional director
– Perform LIVE your vision and story
– Take part in a panel discussion with industry professionals.
– Connect with larger audience base and reach a wider audience.
– All marketing graphic design will be covered for artists
– Build a relationship with an established arts organisation.
– Network with likeminded artists and creatives
– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective
receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Performance Date: 26th September 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
Theatre – Scripts to Stage
We are accepting scripts from black creatives to bring to life in September 2024. Our offer is very simple if you have an exciting story, you simply cannot get out of your head and would love to see it alive this opportunity is for you and/OR if you have a one woman/man show still waiting to hit the stages or touring, we are accepting applications to bring your piece to Liverpool. APPLY NOW!
Our offer:
– Actors to perform your play
– Support from a professional Dramaturg
– Work with professional director
– Perform LIVE your vision and story/ See your work come alive
– Take part in a panel discussion receive feedback from industry professionals and audiences.
– Connect with larger audience base and reach a wider audience.
– Marketing and press releases.
– Build a relationship with an established arts organisation.
– Network with likeminded artists and creatives.
– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective
receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Performance Date: 24th September 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
Visual Arts
BlackFest is providing 2 opportunities for our Visual Arts Segment this year one at Smithdown Social Gallery Arts Hub and Granby Winter Garden Artist Residency.
At Smithdown Social we are commissioning 4 Visual Artists to exhibit existing work and facilitate a workshop based on their exhibition and practice. The exhibition will be for the whole month of October starting from 2nd October – 31st October 2024. We are looking for audacious artists with lived experiences, cultural liberation, and work coming from a rooted place.
Our offer:
– Gallery Space at Smithdown Social for 2024 festival
– Free marketing and promotion of your work
– Reach new audience and promote your collection
– Cost of transporting your pieces covered
– Visual Arts Launch Post show discussion
– Workshop fee
– Portfolio support
– Build a relationship with an established arts organisation.
– Network with likeminded artists and creatives
– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective
receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities
ABOUT Smithdown Social Gallery Arts Hub
Smithdown Social Ltd is a social enterprise committed to supporting projects that benefit creative artists.
In September 2018, we established Smithdown Social Club in Liverpool within an old conservative club on Crawford Avenue in an area rich in creative arts cultural history. From its inception, Smithdown Social Club provided the area with a much needed creative arts venue which continued until Covid restrictions closed the venue in March 2020.
Our founding Directors have lived experience in the creative arts and at its foundation was the desire to provide opportunities for local creative artists under a profit-for-artist ethos.
We drastically pivoted our vision in March 2020 and set our sights on creating a new high street based cultural venue and digital platform for creative arts. We opened Smithdown Social Arts Hub and Gallery 455 in June 2021.
To date, Gallery 455 has been filled with over 1000 pieces of artwork created by over 90 local artists who reflect the diversity of the local area. During each of the 26 exhibitions, we have celebrated local artists’ work, who were either seasoned or first time exhibiting, and enriched their creative experience through professional exhibition and income opportunities. This has enlivened the confidence and creativity of many local artists.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Exhibition Launch 2nd October 2024
- Exhibition Start: 2nd Oct – 31st October 2024 (Work must be sent in a month before the exhibition start and launch)
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available one month before to send in all artwork to be exhibited one month before launch.
Granby Winter Garden Visual Arts Residency
BlackFest are offering one residential stay for a Visual artist giving space to create and curate their exhibition in the beautiful community space and hub. This offer is specifically for artists that are looking at climate action and justice, our relationship with the lands, and botanical history rooted in indigenous cultural expressions.
Accommodation will start and you must be available from 17th – 24th September 2024. During this time, your exhibition will be curated in the space with the support of BlackFest curation team for the launch due to take place on the 23rd September 2024. BlackFest will provide artistic and logistical support to bring your vision alive for the launch. The exhibition will stay up for another week until the 7th October 2024. You will deliver a workshop in the space to support the participation in the exhibition for people to have an immersive experience of your work and practice.
All artwork will need to be down by end of business 7th October 2024.
Our offer:
- Gallery Space at Granby Winter Garden for 2024 festival.
- Residency and accommodation.
- Free marketing and promotion of your work
- Reach new audience and promote your collection
- Cost of transporting your pieces covered.
- Visual Arts Launch Post show discussion.
- Deliver a workshop to compliment your work and practice.
- Portfolio support
- Build a relationship with an established community arts organisation.
- Network with likeminded artists and creatives within Granby area
- Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2024
- Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective
- Receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Exhibition Launch: 23rd September 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival is outlined above. Please note Granby winter garden has regular community based and arts classes downstairs during your stay full schedule will be sent across once you are shortlisted and can only use space can only be used to curate when it is clear. You are welcome to support and join in any community classes and arts workshops during your stay.
Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
ABOUT GRANBY WINTER GARDEN
If you don’t know about the Granby Winter Garden, this is the place Granby people decided to make for themselves. It is a kind of culmination of all the community-led activity that got most of the empty homes in Granby Four Streets restored and lived in again.
Two empty houses were in poorer condition than the rest and would have cost us more than we could afford to turn them back into homes again. But we managed to raise enough other kinds of funding to knock the two houses together, put a glass roof on them, and create a beautiful indoor garden and meeting venue – a resource for our community, owned by our community.
The idea is that it brings the guerilla gardening the people here have long done on their streets into an inside gathering space as well. It can be used for workshops, events, artist residencies and social gatherings as well as a shared space for gardening. It has a ‘spare room,’ kitchen and accessible bathroom. The interiors, like the 10 House Project, have also been installed with ceramics by Granby Workshop.
The Winter Garden was opened in March 2019, with the garden designed and planted by the gardener in residence Andrea Ku. It was made possible by the support of Arts Council England, The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, PH Holt Foundation, The Granada Foundation, The People’s Health Trust, Veolia Environmental Trust, The Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust and the Co-operative Foundation. The Finnis Scott Foundation and the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust supported establishing and equipping the garden.
BlackFest Finale
BlackFest hosts a special Celebration evening to celebrate the end of the festival, and to look to the future as we honour a night in Black History Month with remembrance, celebration, peace and love.
We are accepting applications from poets, musicians, bands, comedy excerpts, community choirs, young people’s groups and community production.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024
- Performance: TBC
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Commissions for this category of the festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for rehearsals and tech August – September.
Caterers
BlackFest have always had 100% turn over in investing in local Black plant based and Afro Caribbean caterers at the festival celebration event and other well-being events. If you are a caterer, please let yourself be known to us. We will be happy to expand in capacity and commissioning caterers to deliver authentic flavours that speak to our audiences and brings education and knowledge to those experiencing flavours for the first time.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:
Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2023 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved. You must be available for few training, peer to peer networking support August – September.
BlackFest Open Proposals
This year 2024 we want to open our doors to accepting proposals from community members, artists, and businesses that would like to collaborate with us.
BlackFest are committed to effectively working with communities, artists, and audiences.
We are here to support in sharing resources, ideas and supporting you to manifest your aspirations.
Do you have a passion project you’d like to realise? Are you a community group or individual doing amazing things in the city or starting out? Let us enable you to build or add to your portfolio and help you gain valuable industry experience and making your dreams a reality.
We have many case studies of community members, socially trading businesses, artists that we have supported and boosted their vision in working with us and created further momentum and opportunities for growth across Liverpool City Region. In turn they have come under the radar of various arts, community organisations providing more equitable work.
Please put in your enquiry and we will get back to you in ways we can support and collaborate with you/your organisation/group on your vision, enhance and work on a collective shared vision.
TO APPLY:
- Please fill in an event form PLEASE CLICK HERE
- Application Deadline: Friday 31st May 2024
- Shortlisting: 3rd June 2024
- Interviews: 7th June 2024