News
→ things to watch · artist opportunities, advice, support, turn prize 2024 Updated 8 August 2025
Audiences
2025’s performance programme is currently on hiatus and we’ll announce our autumn plans later in August…
• See what’s happened recently in our image galleries for Haphazard, Social Experiment, Works Ahead, and Turn.
• Find work to watch by reading our latest Weekly Warning: a regular signpost to performance live and online in Manchester + beyond (sign-up here).
• Visit our YouTube channel to watch archived livestreams and more. Amongst other digital platforms, there’s Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.
• And finally, please fill in our survey and tell us your thoughts if you came to a recent event.
back to top
Artists
Essentially industry-facing, hÅb advises and supports artists and freelancers in our sector where we can — signposting help and opportunities below.
• Social Experiment is our semi-regular evening gathering for Live Art and contemporary performance, next at Contact on Thursday 27 November 2025 (dates in 2026 to be announced) — the Call for Proposals is open on a rolling basis, closing fifteen days before each event.
• Join hÅb’s artist mailing list, the Emergencymcr Google Group.
• Other mailing lists that you (as an artist) may find useful to join include: Arts Jobs & Arts News from Arts Council England · Live Art UK · LIVEART from JISCmail · SCUDD (Standing Conference of University Drama Departments) from JISCmail.
back to top
Advice
• hÅb offers free 30-minute Advice Sessions via Zoom on Mondays (excluding Bank Holidays) with Tamsin Drury, our Director:
— our specialism is Live Art and contemporary performance, including dance & theatre, though all-comers are welcome;
— if you’re an artist wanting to discuss creative ideas, funding, opportunities, or just need a chat, please book an Advice Session here.
• hÅb also offers guidance on two Arts Council England funding schemes (DYCP & NLPG) via recordings on our YouTube channel:
— watch August 2022’s in-depth look at Developing Your Creative Practice with Tamsin & guests; see the GMAH DYCP guidance page;
— watch November 2023’s initial analysis of updated National Lottery Project Grants by Tamsin; see the GMAH NLPG guidance page.
back to top
Support
• Arts Council England’s application portal Grantium is currently closed — please read latest information on their funding schemes.
• Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice Round 24 opens for applications on 23 October 2025 at noon and closes on 20 November 2025 at noon.
• Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants are currently unavailable — a new digital application route will open no later than mid-September. (New guidance was introduced 1 November 2023.)
• Arts Council England host information webinars for DYCP & NLPG applicants — find dates and book on the ACE North eventbrite page.
• Arts Marketing Association’s Community Support Facebook Group — for arts, culture, and heritage professionals with marketing and communication responsibilities to engage audiences with cultural organisations.
• Factory International’s Artists & Freelance Creatives’ facebook group facebook group.
• Freelancers Make Theatre Work has comprehensive guides to financial support, advice, and resources.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s mental health services for people affected by social restrictions.
• Money Saving Expert — Martin Lewis & his team’s information is regularly updated.
• The Space’s guide to live streaming for the arts by Jason Crouch — lo-fi and low cost options.
• UK Theatre & SOLT’s Theatre Support Information — advice/info about how and where you can access support from leading theatrical charities.
• Unlimited’s blog includes opportunities and resources for disabled artists and freelancers.
back to top
Turn_Prize_2024
On 30 April 2024 we were delighted to announce Fabíola Santana and Louiseanne Wong as the recipients of the Turn Prize 2024.
The Turn Prize is a commission for the development of work shown at Turn by North West-based dance-makers, in 2024 supported by Dance Consortia North West using public funding by Arts Council England, and by Company Chameleon, hÅb, and Project Auske.
Fabíola Santana showed We’re Here Because They Were at Company Chameleon on 29 May 2025, and a work in progress at Unity Theatre, Liverpool on 23 April 2025. Louiseanne Wong showed a preview of I Am. Am I in the Horizons Collective Showcase at Lowry on 12 February 2025.