Tameside Council in partnership with Greater Manchester Arts Network (GM Arts) is inviting proposals from artists, companies or collectives based in Greater Manchester (or with connections to artists in Greater Manchester) to develop an idea alongside Tameside residents that can be developed and produced for presentation in Tameside in November 2025.

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This is an exciting opportunity to develop authentic relationships with TMBC, community partners, and to develop a new, co-created artwork with Tameside residents for public presentation, or to reimagine an existing artwork that fits with our project aims below. We will appoint one artist, organisation or collective to research, develop and deliver the contract.

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We are keen to explore Tameside’s rich dance heritage and uncover what matters most to its residents today, providing a creative platform to share their ideas and stories, particularly those rooted in life in Tameside. Dance in Tamesidespans traditional folk dancing, clog dancing informed by its industrial past, to a diverse range of dance styles with roots that reveal connections with dance forms from around the world and resonate with the borough’s diverse communities.

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For guidance on exploring local archives and discovering more about Tameside’s dance heritage, please visit this link.

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We are interested in work in any artform designed for outdoor settings. This could include creating large-scale movement pieces, projection mapping, storytelling in green or urban spaces, or an immersive digital adventure – and everything in between! The final presentation will take place outdoors, so we’re looking for exciting and innovative ideas that spotlight our residents' voices and reimagine Tameside’s rich heritage in a bold and dynamic way.

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The artistic vision will be led by you, with a focus on making the outdoors a stage for creativity.

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Whatever the approach, we want Tameside residents to be embedded in the process - throughout the research, development and creation phases, with the theme and content of the piece explored with local participants to ensure an authentic co-creation process.

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Tameside Council's Culture Team form part of the Council’s wider Cultural Services offer and are responsible for Arts and Events provision in Tameside which includes creative community engagement in addition to lifelong learning in the arts.

The team also offers heritage, theatre, outdoor arts,creative network and a comprehensive Arts Award Programme, for which it has been recognised nationally. It offers a range of support to many community based arts groups and to community groups undertaking events. Through partnership working, a wide range of qualityarts provision is shared both regionally and nationally.

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Greater Manchester Arts (GM Arts) is a unique network made up ofall ten Greater Manchester districts arts provision, and this opportunity ispart of the commissioning strand of a wider GMCA and Local Authority/CulturecTrust funded project across Greater Manchester, GM Arts Spirit. The aim of the commission is also to support thecreative workforce in Greater Manchester and pilot a range of new place-based approaches to commissioning opportunities for talent in Greater Manchester across a range of settings.

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We are seeking an artist, company or collective who…

★     Is based in Greater Manchester (or with connections to artists in Greater Manchester).

★     Is working in any art form.

★     Is experienced in, and excited to deliver, a public presentation outdoors.

★     Is interested in co-developing ideas with residents in Tameside.

★     Is able to work alongside residents in a way that is safe, accessible & welcoming.

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Connecting with residents in Tameside:

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The commissioned artists will work with residents in a series of workshops in 2025.

We will support a call-out for a new group of residents to come together in a series of workshops in community spaces, to support the creative development of the commission.

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Artists will be welcome to host a series of weekly workshops, and/or arrange intensive periods - we are open to different methods of engagement that work with your practice.

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Artists will be welcome to suggest the commission connects with a particular age ordemographic on the commission.

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Locations in Tameside:

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Engagement workshops will be delivered in community spaces in Tameside.

The exact location and context of the outdoor presentation will be agreed with Natasha Lolljee, Outdoor Arts and Engagement Officer, Tameside Council who leads on producing community events throughout the year in Tameside.

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The Application Deadline is Tuesday 14 January 2025, 11pm.

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Please download the full brief with key fates and details on how to submit an application below.