News
→ things to watch · artist opportunities, advice, support, turn prize 2024 Updated 8 May 2025
Audiences
Our performance programme continues in May with: a double bill of developing performances in Works Ahead 2025 from Adèle Le Gallez + Martha Pailing at Contact on Thu 15 – Fri 16 May, 7.30pm; our second Social Experiment at Contact on Thu 22 May, 6pm-9pm; and Fabíola Santana’s movement ritual of care and resilience at Company Chameleon on Thu 29 May, 7.30pm. More to be announced for the summer and autumn…
• Look at what’s happened recently in our image galleries for Social Experiment, and last year’s Emergency, Haphazard, and Works Ahead.
• 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.
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Artists
Essentially industry-facing, hÅb advises and supports artists and freelancers in our sector where we can — signposting help and opportunities below.
• Haphazard is our Saturday afternoon of Live Art for all ages at Z-arts with the next edition on 2 August — the Call for Proposals is open to 30 May.
• Social Experiment is our semi-regular Thursday evening gathering for Live Art and contemporary performance at Contact on 22 May, 17 July, and 27 November — the Call for Proposals is open on a rolling basis, closing a fortnight before each event (May’s event is no longer accepting proposals).
• 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.
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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.
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Support
• Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice Round 23 is now open for applications and closes on 22 May at noon.
NB if you’ve made two unsuccessful or one successful application to DYCP since 5 August 2021 (Round 11), you won’t be eligible to apply to Round 23.
• Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants are available on an ongoing basis, with new guidance and forms since 1 November 2023.
• Arts Council England host 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.
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Turn_Prize_2024
On 30 April 2024 we were delighted to announce Fabíola Santana and Louiseanne Wong as the recipients of the Turn Prize 2024.
The Turn Prize is a commission for the development of work shown at Turn by North West-based dance-makers.
Fabíola Santana showed a work in progress of We’re Here Because They Were on 23 April 2025 at Unity Theatre Liverpool — and will show WHBTW again on Thursday 29 May 2025, 7.30pm at Company Chameleon, Manchester.
Louiseanne Wong showed a preview of I Am. Am I on 12 February 2025 in the Horizons Collective Showcase at Lowry.
Turn Prize 2024 supported by Dance Consortia North West using public funding by Arts Council England, and by Company Chameleon, hÅb, and Project Auske.