Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) are funding two creative commissions, inspired by the archaeological discoveries along the A66 corridor. We’re looking for proposals from creatives working across a range of disciplines (visual and digital arts, film, dance, music, performance, and more) who have a socially engaged practice and are excited to collaborate with local communities.

These commissions form part of a wider programme of archaeological community engagement being delivered across the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, which includes a broad range of activities designed for different audiences and communities along the route to meet different aims and objectives.

For this commission, we are particularly interested in creatives that meaningfully engage with refugees, asylum seekers, or young people.

The commission should culminate in a public-facing element such as an event, performance, or artwork in the local area.

We are open to flexible formats; the key is meaningful community involvement and a connected process of making and sharing.

Those commissioned will have access to archaeological specialists and the opportunity to visit both the excavation sites and our project office in Lancaster.

Introduction:

As the A66 undergoes its latest upgrade, Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA), in partnership with National Highways, is bringing hidden stories to light.

Initial evaluation work began in 2024, followed by full scale excavations that have been underway since January 2025 along a 21-mile stretch of the route.

During the excavations, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of medieval settlements, Roman roads, and prehistoric tools dating back to the last Ice Age.

Alongside the excavation work, OCA has a series of engagement projects underway including open events, touring museum exhibitions, and creative commissions.

Brief:

We are offering two creative commissions inspired by the archaeological discoveries along the A66 corridor.

We’re looking for proposals from  creatives working across a range of disciplines (visual and digital arts, film, dance, music, performance, and more) who have a socially engaged practice and are excited to collaborate with local communities. 

The aim is to co-create new work with local people that responds to the archaeological artefacts and sites.

The commission should culminate in a public-facing element such as an event, performance, or artwork in the local area.

We are open to flexible formats; the key is meaningful community involvement and a connected process of making and sharing.

Those commissioned will have access to archaeological specialists and the opportunity to visit both the excavation sites and our project office in Lancaster.

Key themes:

Applicants are encouraged to explore a range of ideas in response to the archaeological discoveries along the A66.

Below are five suggested themes to spark inspiration, though proposals that venture beyond these are also welcome:

• Archaeological practice & science – Delve into the processes behind excavation and interpretation, how we uncover, record, and understand the past. This theme invites reflection on the tools, techniques, and decision-making that shape archaeological knowledge, and how that knowledge is shared with the public.
• Storytelling – Explore the power of narrative to bring our shared history to life. This could mean imagining the lives behind the artefacts, reinterpreting ancient stories through a contemporary lens, or creating new narratives inspired by the landscape and its layers of human activity.
• Environmental change – Consider how the natural environment has shifted over time, and how humans have adapted to or influenced those changes. This theme might touch on climate, land use, biodiversity, or the longerterm relationship between people and places.
• Movement of peoples – Investigate the journeys people have made across landscapes, borders, and generations. This could include migration, trade, travel, or displacement, and how those movements have shaped the cultural exchange and identity of the region. 
• Past technologies & craft – Respond to the ingenuity of earlier societies through their tools, materials, and techniques. This theme invites engagement with ancient crafts, engineering, and innovation, and how those practices resonate with contemporary creating.

Priority Audiences:

These commissions form part of a wider programme of archaeological community engagement being delivered across the A66 Northern TransPennine project, which includes a broad range of activities designed for different audiences and communities along the route to meet different aims and objectives.

For this commission, we are particularly interested in proposals that meaningfully engage with refugees, asylum seekers, or young people.

We’re looking for creatives with experience in tailoring their community engagement to one of these groups.

While the final public artwork or event can be designed for a broader audience, it should still reflect and include the perspectives of the chosen group.

Budget and support:

Each commission has a total budget of £9,650, which includes:

• £8,250 Creative’s Fee
• £1,000 Materials Budget*
• £400 Travel Allowance*

*Claimable via expenses

In addition to financial support, commissioned creatives will receive:

• Access to archaeological expertise, including site visits and conversations with OCA’s wide range of archaeological specialists.
• Marketing and logistics support, to promote and deliver the public-facing elements of the project.
• Delivery support, including guidance on working with community groups and navigating the practical aspects of engagement.

Project timeline:

• Application deadline- March 1, 2026
• Selection complete and outcome shared- March 27, 2026
• Commission begins- April 6, 2026
• Visit to the archaeological excavations- End April/Early May
• Visit to the local OCA office in Lancaster- End April/Early May
• Delivery of public-facing element completed- August 31, 2026
• Project evaluation (OCA led, with contributions from creatives)- September 30, 2026
  *Please note that this is an illustrative and approximate timeline, and dates may be subject to change.

Project background:

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project is one of the most significant archaeological undertakings in northern England in recent years.

Led by Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) in partnership with National Highways, the project spans a 21-mile stretch of the A66 corridor through Cumbria, uncovering a rich and layered history that stretches back over 10,000 years.

Excavations have revealed a remarkable range of discoveries - from prehistoric settlements and stone tools, to Roman roads, vicus settlements, and imported tableware, and even medieval castles and Anglo-Saxon structures.

This landscape has long served as a vital corridor for movement, trade, and cultural exchange, and the archaeological work is helping to illuminate how people have interacted with it across millennia.

The project is not only about uncovering artefacts, but also about connecting communities with their heritage.

These creative commissions are part of a broader effort to share the stories of the A66 with diverse audiences through art, engagement, and public programming.

Key project partners:

• Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA)- Oxford Cotswold Archaeology is a partnership between Oxford Archaeology and Cotswold Archaeology, leading charities that conduct archaeological research to the highest standards.
  
  
• National Highways- National Highways is a government company which plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains England’s motorways and major A-roads, known as the strategic road network.
  
  
• Aureos- Aureos is a multi-disciplinary energy, transport and technology networks specialist engineering services provider. Their integrated capabilities span design, engineering, installation, upgrade and maintenance.
  
  
• Balfour Beatty- Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 27,000 employees across the UK, US and Hong Kong. They finance, develop, build, maintain and operate complex and critical infrastructure.
  
  
• AtkinsRéalis- AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear organisation. They design and deliver major projects on the built and natural environments all around the world.
  
  
• Kier- Kier is a leading provider of construction, infrastructure and property developments in the UK, with a commitment to leaving lasting legacies in the communities they serve.

Who can apply:

We welcome applications from creatives at any career stage, from emerging to established practitioners.

Proposals are invited from individual creatives as well as groups or collectives.

What matters most is a strong, socially engaged approach and a clear vision for working with communities in response to the archaeology of the A66.

Selection criteria:

• Connection to the archaeology: We’re looking for projects that engage meaningfully with archaeological discoveries along the A66. This could be through the themes explored, the creative process, or the way the work interprets and communicates archaeological narratives. Strong proposals will demonstrate a clear understanding of the context and show how archaeology informs or inspires the work in a way that is accessible and relevant to communities.
• Standard of delivery: This refers to the overall quality and feasibility of the proposed project. We’ll consider how clearly the creative has articulated their approach, how realistic the delivery plan is, and how well the proposal addresses practical aspects such as community engagement, logistics, and public presentation. We’re looking for thoughtful, well-structured proposals that show a commitment to inclusive and respectful collaboration.
• Depth of engagement: We value projects that foster connection, dialogue, and shared ownership of the creative process. Strong proposals will demonstrate a clear understanding of the needs and interests of the chosen audience group (refugees and asylum seekers or young people) and show sensitivity in how engagement is approached. 
• Creativity: We are looking for creativity, originality, and the potential for meaningful social impact. The proposal will offer a distinctive creative vision and present innovative ideas that stand out while remaining relevant to the project’s aims.
• Locality: One of the priorities of this programme is to support and strengthen the local creative economy. As such, priority may be given to applicants based in or with strong connections to the North of England, particularly those living or working in areas along or near the A66 corridor. However, locality will not outweigh the other criteria. Being local is a valued factor, but not a deciding one—our focus is on supporting projects that deliver genuine benefit to communities and respond creatively to the archaeology.