The Unity Open Call is back for 2022, providing another 20 Merseyside companies and artists with funding and the chance to be a part of their programme.

They’re looking for a wide range of projects. Whether it’s a show you’d like to perform on the stage, a script you’d like test on an audience, a digital installation or online production, an outdoor event, community project, creative workshop or if you just need some free time, space and tech support to play around with new ideas – they want to hear from you!

Open to individual artists, performers and companies across Merseyside, this year’s Open Call will be made up of four different opportunities:

Programme
Performers and companies across Liverpool can apply for the chance to be a part of the Autumn/Winter programme 2022-3. Your work can take place live at Unity, be tailor made for digital and online audiences, be part of our gallery space or be an off-site piece of work in a location of your choice.

What you receive: You will receive a guaranteed fee of up to £1250, tailored support from Unity’s Artistic, Producing, Technical and Marketing Teams, the free opportunity to have your work professionally recorded and exhibited on our On-Demand platform and support reaching national tour-bookers through ProPortal.

Creative Experience Projects
Open Call also funds creative experience projects. Examples of creative experiences include community or education workshops, pop-up events, panel discussions, immersive experiences and installations. Successfully funded projects from our 2021 Open Call programme included an audio-experience in partnership with Alder Hey, a Hip Hop Dance Class for All, a projection installation in the L8 area and a letter-writing workshop in schools.

What you receive: Successful Creative Experience projects will receive a guaranteed fee of up to £1250, tailored support from Unity’s Artistic, Producing, Technical and Marketing Teams and support working with communities and partners.

Up Next Showcase
If your work is at an earlier stage of its development, they recommend you apply for our Up Next Programme. Up Next showcases exciting new work from Merseyside performers. This could be at an Up Next Weekender, a festival-style showcase giving multiple artists the chance to test new material on audiences, or you could be featured as part of a double-bill with pre-existing programme, for example the opportunity to open for a comedian. Work may be script in hand.

What you receive: All Up Next performers will receive up to £750, producing, technical and marketing support, a professional recording of your work and the opportunity to be showcased on-demand and on ProPortal.

Space to Create
Liverpool-based artists and companies can apply for up to 5 days of free rehearsal and development space at Unity.

What you receive: You will also receive free technical support, the option for a recorded sharing to an invited guest-list of your choice and mentoring from Unity’s Associate Producer.

Deadline:
Friday 18th March, 10am

Applicants informed of outcome for Round 1: Tuesday 22nd March

Application Development Period for Successful Candidates: Wednesday 23rd – Monday 28th March, 4pm

Final Programme Confirmed and Applicants Informed: Wednesday 30th March

Open Call 2022