BlackFest 2025 CALL OUT

BlackFest is an award-winning festival 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.

ANNOUNCEMENT THIS YEAR we are also introducing a COMEDY segment to tickle your fancy and make you have a laugh and take some education too; we are collaborating with SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE FOR THEATRE + TAYO ALUKO AND FRIENDS WITH CAPSTONE THEATRE to celebrate the life and legacy of SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR on the150th anniversary of the birth of Black British composer! More announcements to come!

We would love to introduce the theme this year: that has organically developed which is looking at the ‘MASCULINE + MASCULINTY,’ and centring the energy. Masculinity is looking at qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men and Masculine energy refers to an invisible spiritual force that is thought to relate to traits focused on ambition, reason, accountability and logic which everyone can tap into. We have centred a lot of great Black Men that will be contributing to the festival this year. Artists can also consider these themes and again your work does not need to be bound to any theme.

We have lots in store for our artists and community this year Kings, Queens, the true ones, shapeshifters, healers, hustlers, dreamers, believers. 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.

Throughout the festival being a multidisciplinary platform if you are an artist/group in music, comedian, dancer, poet, choir, and workshop facilitators want to perform + take up space and/or facilitate we want to hear from you. We are also supporting fashion brands with a Fashion showcase supporting their collections and opportunities for models are available too.

Please APPLY below and be a part of the magic!

BE A PART OF BLACKFEST 2025:

TO APPLY:

PLEASE NOTE: Apply via our simple application form and also fill out an artist/trader/designer/facilitator/model registration form below under each category you are interested in.   Please Scroll down to see our offer)

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 2025 cohort details below!

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WHAT’s ON OFFER:

BLACKFEST FESTIVAL GRANBY MARKET LAUNCH:

Every year we have a launch to give a flavour of what to expect throughout the festival being a multidisciplinary platform. If you want to be a part of the launch and are an artist, musician/group in music, dancer, poet, choir this is for you!

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

Our offer to you is:

– Reach new audiences

– Marketing and graphic design

– Grow In Performance

– Expand your portfolio

–Support Black Businesses

– Network with likeminded artists and creatives and black businesses

– Be a part of BlackFest Cohort 2025

– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective

receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities

To APPLY:

Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:

Festival opportunities are paid commissions please note: commissions for festival are varied upon experience and portfolio. Announcements for shortlisted artists will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2025 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 tech on the day September.

ABOUT Granby Market

Liverpool’s most original and friendly community market, run entirely by volunteers is open on the first Saturday of every month from 10am to 3pm, showcasing the talents, spirit and diversity of the community. It has become a much-loved event for local residents as well as the wider L8 region, attracting crowds from across the city.

The stalls range from bric-a-brac, vintage clothes and memorabilia to handmade soaps, arts and crafts. There also food stalls, selling hot international cuisine, and home cooked health foods, from kombucha to kimchi.

BLACKFEST IS A REGULAR SUPPORTER OF THE MARKET AND ORGANISATION COLLABORATING TO BRING ARTISTS TO PEROFORM FROM TIME TO TIME AND HAVE THE PLEASURE OF KEEPING OUR AUDIENCSE AWARE OF OUR WORK THROUGH GRANBY MARKET – BE A PART OF AN INCERDIBLE COMMUNITY AND APPLY TO PERFORM AND/SHARE YOUR SKILLS + MEET THE BEST PEOPLE!

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Rhythms Night – Music

Our Commissions: Available for 4 Music artists and 1 DJ or a DJ Collective to join our iconic music night. 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 your own original music and EP(’s) with a vision in mind for your 20 minute slot. We will support you to bring this to life with you! We want ambitious ideas and how you stand out from the crowd.

You have the option to work with our collective of Black young musicians and Black industry professional musicians in Liverpool we can recommend you to, to provide LIVE music and beats for you as a shortlisted artist. You will get the opportunity to create a unique arrangement of your music working collaboratively with Black Musicians in the Liverpool City Region area. Requests need to be made early as possible.

Our offer:

You will receive one to one support with a professional vocalist working with and receiving 2 masterclasses. (Optional) Work with our young musicians and ensemble cohort in August creating your rendition of one of your songs.

Masterclasses 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
  • 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 2025
  • Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities

 

To APPLY:

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 2025 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.

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 Spoken Word / Poetry

This year we are excited to announce we are collaborating The Capstone Theatre for the poetry showcase. 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 with their poetry. 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:

– Perform at The Capstone Theatre

–  Receive 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 2025

– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective are receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities

To APPLY:

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 2025 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.

 

 

 

The Capstone Theatre

The Capstone Theatre, Liverpool’s International Arts Venue, is a stunning concert venue for leading national and international musicians, with a vibrant multi – arts programme featuring concerts by some of the best local musicians, spoken word events, radio broadcasts, plays, dance performances and film screenings. The theatre established the annual Liverpool International Jazz Festival in 2013.

THEATRE: BLACKFEST SCRATCH TAKEOVER AT SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE SCRATCH TAKEOVER

Very excited to announce we will be part of working with Shakespeare North Playhouse 2025. Scratch Night is our quarterly platform for creatives to share, experiment, and connect. This is your chance to present work in progress or showcase completed pieces to a supportive audience and gather valuable feedback.

Whether you’re refining a play, testing a new script, or presenting your latest artistic venture, Scratch Night is your space. We invite artists across disciplines—actors, playwrights, performers, and creatives of all kinds—to step into the spotlight and share their work.

Scratch Nights feature a mix of two featured artists (Headliners) and a limited number of bookable slots for those eager to present their work to an engaged and enthusiastic audience. In total we have 4 slots including Headliners. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned creator looking to try something new, we’d love to hear from you.  APPLY NOW!

Our offer:

– Perform a short of your piece 15 mins

–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 2025

– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective

receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities

To APPLY:

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 2025 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.

Shakespeare North Playhouse

Shakespeare North Playhouse aims to bring people together to participate in a unique programme of performance, activities and conversations, inspired by Shakespeare and relevant to all of us.

At its heart is a traditional 470 seat timber framed Shakespearean theatre that will host a mix of vibrant new performances. Theatre, music, comedy, workshops, events and activities will spill out into the exhibition gallery, Studio and Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden, creating an accessible space full of joy and creativity, where everyone is welcome.

Inspired by Prescot’s historic connections to William Shakespeare and a real love of storytelling, Shakespeare North Playhouse will play a key role in the ongoing regeneration of Knowsley; a place full of brilliant people with a story to tell.

Working together with audiences, artists and its local communities, the creative programme, learning opportunities and social spaces will help to open doors, invite debate and inspire a love of learning that will reach far beyond the walls of Shakespeare North Playhouse.

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Visual Arts

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. We are looking for audacious artists with lived experiences, offer some fun and playfulness in their work.

 

Our offer:

– Exhibition Space 2025 BlackFest 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 2025

– Be a part of BlackFest Creative Collective

receiving discounted tickets within arts events nationally and wider opportunities.

To APPLY:

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 2025 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.

 

SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR DAY FESTIVAL
Liverpool, Saturday October 11, 2025
CALL FOR MUSICIANS

 

 

2025 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Tayo Aluko & Friends CIC is working with BlackFest and Liverpool Hope University to hold a Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Day Festival on Saturday 11 October 2025 at Hope University’s creative campus.

 

Subject to funding, the day will include some of Coleridge-Taylor’s works for orchestra; chorus; chamber ensembles; soloists, and Tayo Aluko’s play, Coleridge-Taylor of Freetown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are seeking suitable musicians to participate in this extravaganza.

Musicians of all backgrounds and ethnicities are invited to apply, and those of Black African descent are especially encouraged to do so, particularly as soloists, conductors, and members of chamber ensembles.

Please apply using the following forms:

We require an application directly to BlackFest

Please fill in an artist registration PLEASE CLICK HERE

Please fill in Festival Registration Form PLEASE CLICK HERE (click file and download when opened)

Send all entries/applications to email: festivalapplication@blackfest.co.uk‏

AND

Enquiries to Tayo Aluko. info@tayoalukoandfriends.com

Orchestra/choir conductors, violin, organ, soprano, contralto and baritone soloists (Closing date: 31 July 2025)

Ensembles (Closing date: 31 July 2025)

Choristers (Closing date, 31 July 2025)

Orchestral players (Closing date: 31 July 2025)

Please forward as you see fit to people you think might be interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enquiries to Tayo Aluko. info@tayoalukoandfriends.com

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BlackFest Does Comedy – With Che Burnley – The Alternative Black Cabaret Showcase

The first time we experienced Black comedy in Liverpool was at the Royal Court ran by beautiful funniest person we know in the POOL Che Burnley. We took our 2019 cohort of Empowering Women’s participants to one of the very firsts The Alternative Black Comedy Showcase and we are delighted beyond words that we are working collaboratively with Che to bring you a night of comedy in October!

If you are interested in comedy PLEASE APPLY! You only need an interest in Comedy you will go through workshops with Che who will support you with the techniques to perform on the night along with industry professionals. Workshops start at the end of August 2025 and will be notified upon application.

 

To APPLY:

CHE BURNLEY:

Oldhamer and honorary Scouser, in the last few years Che has established his own Showcase show in Edinburgh & Liverpool, provided tour support for Reginald D Hunter, written his own solo shows and still found time to gig across the country. At home MCing as he is in any spot Che is currently working on his next show HATE (pt. 1)

“one of very few acts that are repeatedly requested back by audiences, consistently fantastic” (Trapdoor Comedy Manchester)

“It takes a special talent to deal with serious subjects with a suitably light touch and Che kept the audience laughing throughout.” (Liverpool Comedy Festival)

“Instantly engaging, Che gets the audience laughing before he’s even got on the stage. The laughs are as big as his character. A definite audience pleaser!”

Ryan Gleeson (Comedy Station)

“Elvis Was Racist? “A show that is a bit political, a bit clever and a lot funny” (Liverpool Comedy Festival 2015)

The Royal Court Theatre – Studio

Royal Court Liverpool is the friendliest theatre in the city. With pre-show dining and a range of drinks served before and after the show, a trip to The Court is night of great entertainment.

An historic art deco building which has been modernised and refreshed, The Royal Court is a mix of modern service standards in a traditional setting. The theatre produces eight long running plays every year, mostly comedies and musicals. The shows have a Liverpool theme with largely Liverpool cast and crew. Sets are built in the city, rehearsals take place here and 95% of all money spent by the theatre goes back into the local economy.

If you want a real Liverpool theatre experience and, most importantly, a brilliant night out then do what more and more Liverpudlians are doing. Get down to The Court!

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BlackFest Fashion Fest Finale at Invisible Wind Factory

BlackFest is taking you to the most retro beautiful venue for its finale this year with an exciting  and 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 Black Joy + Excellence, celebration, peace and love.

We are accepting applications from fashion designers, models, poets, musicians, bands, comedians, community choirs, young people’s groups and community productions, you have an act worth the grand stage then you are welcome to participate and apply!

To APPLY:

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 2025 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.

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CATERERS

A caterer standing behind their food stall, holding a paper cup.BlackFest have always invested in local Black caterers at the festival events 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:

Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:

Announcements will be made in July. You must be available for few dates in JULY 2025 where we will be doing individual and group headshots which will include networking and collaboration with all festival artists involved.

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BlackFest Open Proposals

This year 2025 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: 6th June 2025
  • Shortlisting: 9th June 2025
  • Interviews: 11th June 2025

Terms and Conditions Disclaimer:

We will look forward to hearing from you and your event idea will be dependent on co – producing ensuring we have shared values and visions align.

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