Culture in Communities: Call for Artists and Creatives

Overview

Culture in Communities

Live at Libraries

Edinburgh’s library service have secured continued funding to host a  year-round programme of cultural events and activities with Edinburgh's artists and creatives. We would like to invite you to submit your brief proposal for a cultural activity, either a performance, a workshop or a workshop series that would engage communities and bring our local cultural offering to their doorsteps. We are looking for diverse musicians, dancers, storytellers, theatre practitioners and creative facilitators offering a selection of activities, including poetry/creative writing workshops, live performances, performing arts workshops, as well as arts and crafts for children & families and/or adults.

The programme is to be hosted by local libraries across Edinburgh. We can also plan longer engagements, including a workshop series taking place on a weekly/bi-weekly/or monthly basis. We offer fees in total of £250 per session / performance (inclusive of materials and travel costs). Ideally, we are looking for one taster performance followed by a workshop series in the following weeks/months. 

Programme/s should be a 45–60-minute performance or a 45–60-minute workshop/s.

Please note that you are expected to present a PVG certificate to be able to host performances or workshops for children, young people, and families in line with the safeguarding practices at our libraries.

Music Encounters

We are delighted to announce that The City of Edinburgh Council is curating the third season of 'Music Encounters' this summer (July and August 2025). The programme is to be hosted by local parks across Edinburgh.

We are looking for small vocal and instrumental groups and ensembles whose music would complement the residents' and visitors' experience of our green spaces. Whether you are a classical music trio or quartet, a hip-hop or contemporary act, or a world-music/trad group, we want to hear from you! We offer fees of £192 per musician/ vocalist who are based in Edinburgh and only require a basic PA to support their 30-45 minute performance. All acts will be assisted with professional technical support on the day. All acts are welcome to offer their merchandise to the event attendees.

The programme will be launched in July 2025 and advertised across the Council's and industry channels.

Expression of Interest Form

If you wish to be considered for either or both programmes, please complete the form below. Your proposals will be shared with our libraries who will then select the acts and arrange for activities on agreed dates. Please note the fee payments are made via bank transfer/BACS by The City of Edinburgh Council following the submission of all relevant information.

We welcome and encourage applications from artists and creatives across a diverse spectrum of abilities, professional experience and cultural backgrounds.

Please complete the form by 11 May 2025 (23:59 GMT).

Please contact Beata Skobodzinska (beata.skobodzinska@edinburgh.gov.uk), Senior Cultural Development Officer, with any questions.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS

Once you have submitted your application form, please complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

If you require this application in Braille, large print, audiotape or need to be provided with other access support such as scribing, please contact the Cultural Development on Culturaldevelopment@edinburgh.gov.uk. 

PRIVACY NOTICE

To deliver Council services we need to collect, store, use, share and dispose of personal information. This is known as data processing. When we collect personal data, we must tell you why we need it, and what we will do with it. This information is called a privacy notice. The Privacy Notice link takes you directly to the City of Edinburgh Council’s privacy notice.  Here we explain how we process your personal information as a Council.