Compass would like to invite artists working in any medium, whose practice is based in interactive public participation, co-creating or community engagement to send in a project proposal.

They are interested in, but not limited to, artist projects that explore food and food systems in the content of climate change.

Please note they are not looking for works that can only happen in theatres and galleries. If your work is typically presented in this setting, but you can make a strong argument for how it would work beyond these spaces, you can still apply with your project.

They are looking for projects that:

• Animate the city centre or neighbourhoods of Leeds
• Unlock ‘hidden spaces’ not normally accessed by the public that change the way people see or experience the city
• Celebrate or mark the opening of the festival
• Operate as maps/trails around a specific theme or geography
• Are interactive exhibitions or installations made with local people

They will prioritize 

• Projects that break down barriers to participation and in which artists engage directly with specific communities and/or the general public.
• Works of long duration or that can be repeated several times over a number of days.
• Original and thoughtful projects that generously invite public interaction.
• Works that engage with the climate emergency and/or promote sustainability.
• Works that understand the context of a regional city and urban environment and acknowledge its possibilities, complexities and histories.
• They actively encourage applications from artists with protected characteristics as we feel their voices are currently under-represented in the arts.

Deadline

14th August 2023 at 5pm.

They envisage supporting several projects from this open call with a mixture of financial support (approx. £5k up to £15k) to include all costs, artist fees, per diems, travel, accommodation, research and artistic materials. Additionally, Compass will provide full production support (production, marketing, press, documentation and audience engagement). Most projects will need to work to the lower end of this scale.

Compass projects are either entirely financed through this support or in some cases, using this support as leverage for further funding.

Call for projects: Compass Festival 2024