Open call: BD25 International Artist Exchange programme

The programme is designed for artists from all disciplines who seek to learn how to take their work to global audiences and make new creative connections with artists worldwide. To accommodate the various time zones, specific times will be confirmed with the cohort once participants have been selected. The exchange is designed to strike a balance between learning about each other’s practices and gaining insights into the experiences of artists working internationally.

Delivered in partnership with Bradford 2025 and generously funded by the British Council, the International Artist Exchange is a unique online artist development programme uniting UK artists from Bradford with their global counterparts.

The programme will consist of:

• Seven online workshop-style sessions each lasting around two hours.
• Opportunities for online ‘Go & Sees’ where artists will watch a range of online international performance or digital work followed by group discussions.
• Two ‘International Inspiration’ sessions with artists and companies currently immersed in extensive international work.

Examples of some of the session themes include:

• International sensitivity: context and considerations, language and assumptions and anti-colonial practice.
• My Practice, My Place: for artists to get to know one another and share their practices.
• Partnerships and ways of working: making connections, building relationships and collaborating and co-creating across borders.
• Negotiations and logistics: for presenting and touring work internationally including commissioning, communications, negotiations, costings, contacts, visas and permits.
• International production: covering designing work for international presentation as well as production, technical, transportation and environmental considerations.
• Support organisations and infrastructure: delivered by the British Council about strategic international networks, support organisations and their remits.
• International ambition: space for the artists to reflect on what they have taken away from the programme so far and to start to define their own international ambitions

What will participants get out of the programme?

Through the programme, artists will:

• Be creatively inspired.
• Forge global connections with fellow creatives and gain insights into their work, values, and processes.
• Find out about the different ways of working and the artistic environments across the world.
• Explore avenues for potential international collaborations and learn how to initiate them.
• Gain insight into the opportunities and challenges of working outside their home country.
• Start thinking about international touring and the things they need to consider should they choose to incorporate it into their practice.
• Though this programme is open to artists from all disciplines, there will be a focus on performance and live arts in some of the course content. This exchange will therefore be most relevant to artists interested in international partnerships as well as presenting and touring work around the world.

Eligibility

• All applicants must be 18 years old or over.
• UK artists must be living or working in Bradford, or from West Yorkshire with a demonstrable connection to Bradford.
• International artists can be from anywhere in the world, though priority will be given to countries eligible to receive ODA funding.
• The programme will be delivered in English.
• Participants must have a good understanding of spoken and written English.
• The programme will be delivered entirely online.
• Participants must have access to appropriate equipment to connect via Zoom and an adequate internet connection to sustain engaged participation including the use of a camera and microphone. Participants who have any access requirements due to a disability, should alert the organisers through their applications.
• Applicants must be able to attend all the scheduled sessions
• The sessions will take place between January and March 2024. The dates will be confirmed in an agreement letter with successful applicants upon receiving an offer of a place.

“Following our appointment as Bradford 2025’s cultural capacity partner earlier this year, we’re excited to announce our first partnership programme designed to connect artists from Bradford and across the world in an exciting online international exchange programme,” a statement reads. “As we embark on the journey to become the UK City of Culture 2025, we’re offering a unique opportunity for up to 15 Bradford artists and 15 international artists at any stage of their career. Our International Artist Exchange programme will prepare artists to take their work to new global audiences for the first time and provide and nurture new international artistic collaborations.”

Interested applicants should apply here before 30 November.

View the original call here.