Experienced artists and arts organisations are invited to submit project proposals for Light Night Leeds 2016. For our 12th annual festival we are looking for high quality, visually engaging work which celebrates and showcases the diversity of artists and art-forms in the city.

About Light Night Leeds

Light Night Leeds started in 2005 and is an annual multi-arts and light festival which takes place on one Friday night in October at multiple venues across Leeds city centre.  It’s a celebratory night for the huge range of diverse and thriving creative activity taking place in Leeds all year round, and gives local people and visitors to the city free access to art and venues that they might not normally see.  Light Night is a great opportunity for artists and arts organisations to change the dynamics or perceptions of the city centre at night, and the festival motivates people to “come to town” by offering different events, exhibitions and shows from a variety of artists and performers.  In 2015 approximately 60,000 visitors attended over 60 unique events across 30 different city centre venues.

Light Night Leeds 2016 will take place on Friday 7th October.  We aim to host approximately 50 indoor and outdoor free activities open to the public, with the core programme happening between 6pm-11pm.

We are interested in programming a range of events and activities including light projections, installations, exhibitions, dance, music and street performances.  The theme for the 2016 event is 'The Elements' so we are asking Light Night artists to respond to the broad themes of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.  Alongside these themes, the creative use of light and connections to the city of Leeds and/or its people, buildings, history are welcomed.

Light Night will commission 10 pieces of work through this open call, with each successful artist receiving a bursary of £1000*.  Please read the information and FAQs before submitting your application.  The deadline for submissions is 5pm Wednesday 1st June 2016.

*NB all bursaries are subject to Light Night receiving Arts Council funding.  

Useful Information

What can you create?

Light Night Leeds is a great opportunity for artists and performers.  Whether you just want to show the public your skills, try something new, or use this event as a launch pad for your 2016-17 season, we want to hear from you!  Proposals can be for any art form including light projections and installations, sculpture, visual arts, performance, music, dance and street entertainment.  We are especially interested in interactive or participatory work, the creative use of light, work which can cater for large audiences, and activities or events which are accessible to families.

NB If you are a locally based performer or group who would like to showcase your work as part of the Light Night Street Performance programme (and do not require funding), please contact us directly - lightnight@leeds.gov.uk

What locations can you use?

We want Light Night events and activities to be concentrated in Leeds city centre so audiences can easily access your work during the festival.  Work can be exhibited or performed outdoors in the streets or on one of the city’s designated events spaces, or indoors in public, civic or commercial buildings. 

Locations available in 2016 include:

The Crypt, Leeds Town Hall (NB the space will be dressed as a wood)

Room 700+, Leeds Central Library

St John the Evangelist Church

St John the Evangelist Church Gardens

Trinity Kitchen 

Carriageworks Theatre Studio

Dortmund Square

The Harrison Room, Age UK

Broderick Hall, City Museum

Concourse, piazza and exterior / forecourt, Leeds Corn Exchange  

'Window of Opportunity', Nation of Shopkeepers bar

City Workshop (2nd Floor), The Tetley

Holy Trinity Church

New event space, Kirkgate Market

Plaza area, The Light

In your application please specify a particular location you would like to use, or tell us the type of space required for your work and we can suggest suitable spaces.

How we assess your application

The Light Night Festival Producer and Programming team will assess all applications and curate a mixed programme based on the submissions received.  The aim is to ensure a variety of high quality work and the best experience for artists, audience members and venues.  They will assess the applications based on 4 areas:

·         Artistic quality – the strength & quality of the idea and the artist’s previous work

·         Public engagement - who is it aimed at and how the public will engage with it

·         Financial viability – can the activity be delivered effectively within budget?

·         Project management - can the piece be created within the time available and is there a suitable space for the activity?  If it is exhibited / performed outdoors what is the wet weather contingency and can the work be delivered for a minimum of 5 hours?

When will you find out?

The deadline for submissions is 5pm Wednesday 1st June 2016.  We will review applications and then arrange interviews and site visits where applicable with artists and venues.  We aim to let all applicants (successful and unsuccessful) know by Friday 24th June 2016.

Things to consider when completing your application:

·         Be clear about your project aims and the artistic idea behind the work.  How can you demonstrate quality through examples of your previous work?

·         Be specific about who your work is aimed at.  Can the public engage with your work in an interactive or immersive way? What do you want the audience to get out of your work, and what impact will it have?

·         Demonstrate how your project can be realised for the budget available. If you require match or additional finance for your project let us know which funding schemes or sponsorship you plan to apply for.  (Please bear in mind that Light Night is partly funded through Arts Council England and you therefore may not be eligible for additional funding through any of their schemes.)

·         Give a clear indication of how your project will be managed from start to finish including the venue you plan to use and how work will be delivered on the night.

Timing

The aim is to start the majority of Light Night activities at 6pm and finish at 11pm.  You will need to be able to either perform a short durational piece which can be repeated over 5 hours (with suitable breaks) or have your installation or exhibition functioning for the full 5 hours.  Due to the nature of the event you will also need to consider your get in and out plans as many venues are only available on the day.

Examples of activities which have worked well in previous year:

Projection mapping

Light Installations                            

Sculptures                                     

Story telling

Photography exhibitions                    

Trails around the city

Interactive children’s activities                        

Dance performances

Finance

Successful applicants will receive a grant of £1000 which includes artist fees, all technical, installation and material costs.  We will not fund accommodation, food, general overheads, parking, and personal travel.  If required you can apply for match funding from other sources such as Leeds Inspired, and we can support you with any applications you make.  

Terms and conditions

By applying to be an artist during Light Night you agree:

·         Your project/activity will be ready for exhibition / performance on Light Night 2016.

·         You can provide evidence that the work is deliverable within the timescale of the programme and will be delivered on budget .

·         If it is an outdoor activity is sufficiently weatherproof to withstand outdoor autumn conditions, including wind and rain.

·         If your activity is interactive, it will be is sufficiently strong enough to withstand large audiences.

·         To attend marketing, production meetings and site visits where reasonably required.

·         To source appropriate permissions and licences for the use of non-Leeds City Council spaces.

·         Have relevant Public Liability Insurance for your activity.

·          To support the Light Night marketing campaign, supplying copy and images as and when required and utilise social media and blogging as well as being available to give interviews to the press and media.

Support

If your application is successful the Light Night Team can offer you:

·         Production advice and practical support, including technical support where suitable.

·         Health and Safety management.

·         Site security, staff and volunteer stewards.

·         Project PR and marketing including all promotional materials and special events.

Key Dates

Deadline for applications - 5pm Wednesday 1st June  

Interviews / Site visits – TBC

Applicants informed if successful - Friday 24th June

Marketing deadline for copy and images - Monday 18th July               

All Artist H&S Documentation submitted for review - Monday 29th August

Light Night programme / website launch - Monday 5th September

Light Night Event - Friday 7th October