News
→ things to watch · artist opportunities, advice, support Updated 13 November 2025
Audiences
Our performance programme continues with Malandra Jacks’ award-winning love letter to working-class communities, at HOME from Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 November — followed by the final Social Experiment of the year, at Contact on Thursday 27 November from 6pm to 9pm…
• See what’s happened recently in our image galleries for Emergency, Haphazard, Social Experiment, Works Ahead, and Turn.
• Find work to watch by reading our latest Weekly Warning: a regular signpost to performance live and online in Manchester + beyond (sign-up here).
• Visit our YouTube channel to watch archived livestreams and more. Amongst other digital platforms, there’s Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.
• And finally, please fill in our survey and tell us your thoughts if you came to a recent event.
back to top
Artists
Essentially industry-facing, hÅb advises and supports artists and freelancers in our sector where we can — signposting help and opportunities below.
• Social Experiment is our semi-regular evening gathering for Live Art and contemporary performance, next at Contact on Thursday 27 November 2025 — followed by Thursdays 19 February (a Queer Contact Edition), 9 April, and 11 June 2026 — the Call for Proposals is open on a rolling basis, closing seventeen days before each event.
• Turn 2026 is our thirteenth annual platform for North West dancers and dance-makers, at Contact on Friday 20 March 2026 — the Call for Proposals closes on Friday 16 January 2026 at 5pm.
• Join hÅb’s artist mailing list, the Emergencymcr Google Group.
• Other mailing lists that you (as an artist) may find useful to join include: Arts Jobs & Arts News from Arts Council England · Live Art UK · LIVEART from JISCmail · SCUDD (Standing Conference of University Drama Departments) from JISCmail.
back to top
Advice
• hÅb offers free 30-minute Advice Sessions via Zoom on Mondays (excluding Bank Holidays) with Tamsin Drury, our Director:
— our specialism is Live Art and contemporary performance, including dance & theatre, though all-comers are welcome;
— if you’re an artist wanting to discuss creative ideas, funding, opportunities, or just need a chat, please book an Advice Session here.
• hÅb also offers guidance on two Arts Council England funding schemes (DYCP & NLPG) via recordings on our YouTube channel:
— watch August 2022’s in-depth look at Developing Your Creative Practice with Tamsin & guests; see the GMAH DYCP guidance page;
— watch November 2023’s initial analysis of updated National Lottery Project Grants by Tamsin; see the GMAH NLPG guidance page.
back to top
Support
• Arts Council England’s grant management system (Grantium) is currently unavailable — please read latest information on their funding schemes.
• Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice Round 24 is now paused until April 2026; instead there is a ringfenced £7.5 million Research and Development (R&D) fund now available within National Lottery Project Grants (NLPG).
• Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants (NLPG) are now available again in all strands using a new online platform.
• Arts Council England host occasional information webinars for DYCP & NLPG applicants — find dates and book on the ACE North eventbrite page.
• Arts Marketing Association’s Community Support Facebook Group — for arts, culture, and heritage professionals with marketing and communication responsibilities to engage audiences with cultural organisations.
• Factory International’s Artists & Freelance Creatives’ facebook group facebook group.
• Freelancers Make Theatre Work has comprehensive guides to financial support, advice, and resources.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s mental health services for people affected by social restrictions.
• Money Saving Expert — Martin Lewis & his team’s information is regularly updated.
• The Space’s guide to live streaming for the arts by Jason Crouch — lo-fi and low cost options.
• UK Theatre & SOLT’s Theatre Support Information — advice/info about how and where you can access support from leading theatrical charities.
• Unlimited’s blog includes opportunities and resources for disabled artists and freelancers.
back to top