As part of QueerChange, a joint partnership project between Milk Presents (Midlands), Homotopia (North West) and Curious Arts (North East), are offering four bursaries of £2000 each to early career artists within performing arts, alongside a programme of supported development. 

Over the course of 10 months the recipients of the bursaries will be supported to develop a new piece of work, apply for additional funding and develop their practice through workshops and mentorship. 

QueerChange is offering each artist: 

• A £2,000 seed commission to develop a new work.

• Monthly mentorship from an experienced artist who resonates with your practice. 

• Support with fundraising from Homotopia, Milk Presents or Curious Arts

• A programme of development workshops on fundraising, marketing and project management.

• Get-together at Homotopia Festival 2021.

• Weekend residency retreat to develop work with QueerChange peers. 

• Showcase performance of seed commission at Curious Festival July 2022.

Applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

• Define as LGBTQIA+

• Live in the North East or Midlands

• Be at a key stage in your practice where you are ready to develop new work 

• A performance maker of any discipline

We strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds including those who identify as Trans, Intersex, Black people and people who experience racism, deaf, neurodiverse and/or disabled. 

Please do contact alex@homotopia.net if you have access needs around your application.

How to apply
Please submit a short application via the link below covering the following;

• Where you are based (North East or Midlands)

• Your practice/the work you make, including any links to previous work (200 words)

• Your seed commission idea (300 words)

• The challenges and opportunities you think you may encounter making the piece (300 words)

Apply by filling out this application form

Deadline: 9am, 29th September 2021. You will hear by two weeks after this deadline.

Project key dates

Successful applicants must be available to:
Attend the first week of Homotopia Festival, week commencing Monday 1st November 2021 in Liverpool.

Attend a residency weekend in Early Summer 2022 (Date/location TBC)

Perform at Curious Festival in July 2022 (Date TBC)

Shortlisting panel

Applications will be shortlisted by representatives from Milk Presents, Homotopia and Curious Arts alongside independent artists/creatives working in the queer arts sector.