Ongoing: Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme. Age 18 – 30? Got a business in mind, or want to explore an idea? Visit the Prince’s Trust website to access a range of free business resources (finance, marketing, business plans and more). From training and mentoring support to funding and resources, we’re here to help you become the best entrepreneur you can be! Visit the Prince’s Trust website to find out how they support for your business ideas.

Ongoing: Business & IP Centre (BIPC Leeds). If you’re thinking about setting up a business or looking to grow your existing business, we’re here to help you. From the first spark of inspiration to successful launching and growing your ideas, we have a wealth of information at our fingertips. We’ll support you to learn new skills, access exclusive resources to research your market, protect your products and services with patents and trade marks, and get specialist one-to-one guidance and support. The BIPC team are based in Leeds Central Library. Visit Leeds City Council’s website to find out more about BIPC Leeds. Visit Eventbrite to view the upcoming free BIPC events.

Ongoing: Funding and support by Ad:Venture. They provide fully funded support for people looking to start and grow a business in Leeds / West Yorkshire.
• Be Your Own Boss (Explore Enterprise): If you’re aged 18 to 30, the Prince’s Trust Explore Enterprise programme might be for you. It begins with a free information session exploring how you can be your own boss and how they can support you, followed by a 4 day interactive workshop. You’ll meet other like-minded people and a business expert, who covers everything from business planning and marketing, to sales, budgeting and tax. Then it’s time to start building your business. We’ll help you to plan and test your ideas, give you the opportunity to apply for funding, and invite you to meet our Business Launch Group. Once you’ve launched your business, we’ll provide you with an experienced mentor for up to two years, in addition to further support from the Enterprise programme.
• Start Up West Yorkshire: Want to start a business? Or running a business that’s been actively trading less than 12 months? Start Up will help you achieve your business goals through mentoring, 1-1 support, webinars, workshops, events and development opportunities. Eligibility: For West Yorkshire residents setting up a business, or ones that have a business that has been trading for less than 12 months.
• Growth Programme: Provides ambitious start-ups with tailored support to help them grow their business and create jobs. The programme will provide access to a dedicated business advisor who can guide you through your start up and growth journey offering practical advice, connections and help in accessing finance, including Growth Grants of up to £25,000. It’s aimed at those trading primarily business to business (for 3 years or less), within the Leeds City Region.
Visit Ad:Venture for information about business start-up, loans & grants.

Ongoing: Funding. Visit the Doing Good Leeds website to find funding for voluntary & community groups in Leeds.

Ongoing: Funding. Visit the Leeds Community Foundation website to find out more about funding for charities & voluntary groups in Leeds.

Ongoing: Funding. We know social entrepreneurs offer some of the best solutions to loneliness, community resilience and our nation’s long term economic, social and cultural health. Our tailored support for social entrepreneurs:
• Funding: Our Awards come with funding to help you get started or get to the next stage of your journey. From £500 – £20,000, it might  simply help you to pay the bills.
• Investment: Our ventures team can help find out if you are ready for investment. UnLtd offers investments from £50,000 either directly or through external partners.
• 1-1 Support: Work with one of our support managers who offer coaching and advice, and act as your ‘critical friend’.
• Business and specialist skills: From marketing to finance, build your business skills via workshops, learning sessions and accelerators. Visit UnLtd’s website to find out more about their support and funding for social entrepreneurs.

FILM & TV

Interested in writing scripts for Film / TV? Scroll down to look at opportunities under the Writing section.

Visit our Film Industry Guide for ongoing opportunities: awards / funding, talent development schemes, career and industry guidance, jobs / work experienc opportunities and much more.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE Dec.15: Five Films for Freedom. We’re looking for LGBTQIA+ short films! Are you a filmmaker looking to share your work with an international audience? For a chance to be selected for our Five Films For Freedom programme, submit your film for inclusion in the BFI’s partner programme, Flare. BFI Flare is the UK’s largest queer film event, screening the best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema from across the globe, in addition to a rich selection of events and archive titles. The festival will take place in March 2024. Visit the BFI’s website to find out more about the screening opportunity and to apply.

FUNDING DEADLINE Jan. 23: Roundhouse Film Fund. Aged 18-25? Do you have an incredible short film idea? Roundhouse Film Fund supports 3 emerging filmmakers to create new short films exploring social and political issues from their unique perspectives. What you’ll get:
• £1,000 production budget for you to spend on making your film
• An expert mentor with industry experience and connections
• Professional Equipment: camera, sound and lighting kit
• To work with Bucks Music Group to compose your film’s score
Plus, you’ll get the chance to have your film screened and entered for the Wiggin Emerging Filmmakers Award. Visit the Roundhouse website to find out more about the fund and to apply.

BURSARY deadline May 31 2024 (you can apply now): ScreenSkills Bursaries – apply for funding to progress your career. For ages 18+. A ScreenSkills bursary is a cash grant to remove the obstacles to getting into the screen industries or progressing your career once you’re in. You can apply for money to pay for most things that relate to work and continuing professional development. Money can be spent on training fees, access, accommodation during training, travel to training, driving lessons, childcare, software and equipment. Read the bursary guidelines to understand exactly what’s covered. Visit the ScreenSkills website to find out more about the bursary and to apply.

WRITING

Visit our Writing Industry Guide for ongoing opportunities: career guidance, writers’ communities, courses, talent development schemes, awards / bursaries / competitions, and publishing.

COMPETITION deadline April 1: The Rialto Nature & Place Poetry Competition 2024 (now open). The Rialto working in association with the RSPB, BirdLife International, Cambridge Conservation Initiative and The University of Leeds Poetry Centre. Poems are invited that deal with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge Zaffar Kunial. Prizes: 1st prize £1000, 2nd prize £500, 3rd prize £250. Entry fee: £7. Visit The Rialto’s website to find out more about the competition and to enter.

OTHER 

Ongoing SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY: Upload by BBC. Upload is your chance to showcase your creativity on the BBC. Wherever you are across England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, your Upload team are standing by to check out what you create.
Upload is open to submissions all year round, with content showcased every day on local BBC radio stations and on our social and online platforms. So whatever you create – comedy, fiction, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, videos, poetry, reviews, diaries, anything – we’d love you to upload it! Upload any kind of content: audio, video, text or images. We especially love video and audio, so writers: if you can record yourself reading your work, that would be brilliant. If the thought of that fills you with complete dread, you can upload the text of course!
We’ll watch, read or listen to everything you upload and what catches our attention will go on air or on our digital platforms. Whether it’s your first creation or you’ve been quietly making stuff for years, upload it. Don’t worry if you’re not quite sure where it would ‘fit’, that’s our job to sort out. And it doesn’t need to be slick: we’re all about content made at home. We’ll get back to you if we’d like to showcase your work, and we might even help you add some extra polish. Visit the BBC website to find out more about Upload and to submit your work.

Ongoing FUNDING: Leeds Inspired Small Grants. Grant range: Small grants  £100 – £1200. Main grants £1000 – £10,000. Funding activity: Their grant schemes support arts events and projects in Leeds. Since April 2012 we have funded over 650 arts projects, working with a wide range of audiences, artists and communities across Leeds. Grant surgeries are where you can talk through your project idea with us before you apply for funding – they are an informal phone call with a member of the assessment team. We can discuss your project and you can ask any questions you might have about the form or grants scheme – email leedsinspired@leeds.gov.uk to book. Visit the Leeds Inspired website to find out more about the grants and to apply.

Ongoing FUNDING: Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) by Arts Council England (ACE). Grant range: £2,000 – £10,000. The fund supports creative practitioners thinking of taking their practice to the next stage to research, have time to create new work, travel, training, develop ideas, network or find mentoring. Funding activity: Research and development opportunities, building new networks, creating new work. he fund supports the following artforms: Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Literature, Combined Arts, and Museum Practice. Eligibility: Individual artists and/or creative practitioners. To find out more about the DYCP fund and to apply, visit the ACE website.

Ongoing FUNDING: Prince’s Trust Development Awards. Age 16 – 30 and from West Yorkshire? The Prince’s Trust have funding of £175 – £250 available to help you make the next steps into work, education or training. You are eligible if you are studying less than 14 hours a week or not in compulsory education, unemployed, or working less than 16 hours a week.  Development Awards can support:
● Accredited course fees up to Level 3 (A-level equivalent)
● Tools, equipment or uniforms for a job or qualification
● Job licence fees
● Transport to a new job until your first pay slip
To find out more about the Development Awards visit the Prince’s Trust website.

Ongoing FUNDING: The Leeds Fund – Micro Grants. Grant range: Up to £500 (which can be used to part fund activities). Grant activity: the funding can cover volunteer expenses, publicity costs, equipment, room hire, materials for activities, etc. The grants support individuals and small, un-constituted voluntary groups to improve the lives of the people in their communities through volunteer-led activities that aim to make a positive difference. Eligibility: For individuals who are active in the community (e.g. social entrepreneurs) or un-incorporated and un-constituted groups with income of under £2,500 in the past 12 months, or who are new to funding. Priority will be given to those who work in more deprived communities, or have new and innovative ideas to improve the lives of local people. To be considered for funding your activity needs to:
● Be community led (e.g. local people are involved and support the idea)
● Make good use of local resources such as volunteers or community spaces
● Be open to different people from the community and have a clear community benefit
● Be based in Leeds and benefit residents of Leeds.
Visit the Leeds Community Foundation to find out more about the types of activities you can run using the Mirco Grant and to apply.

Ongoing FUNDING: GUAP x Dr. Martens – GUAP Fund. Grants: £300. GUAP and Dr. Martens are supporting aspiring graphic designers and illustrators who need financial support towards training, equipment, software and more. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they are in need of financial support and have been actively creating. Visit the Monday Forms website to apply for the GUAP Fund.

Ongoing FUNDING: Leeds City College Arts Fund. Grants: £3,000. The Fund aims to facilitate the career development of emerging creative practitioners by providing funding for significant work in the early years of their careers, when self-funding projects is often a barrier to creating new work. We are particularly interested in applicants who have not received national funding. The Fund aims to support creative practitioners working across visual arts, theatre, film, dance, music, literature, and digital media. The works created should involve Leeds City College students either in the production or display of the work, or engage them within the creative process. The project should engage an audience, which could include Leeds City College staff and students, the local, regional, and national arts community, or members of the public. Visit Leeds City College’s website to find out more about the Arts Fund and to check when applications next reopen.

Ongoing FUNDING: National Lottery Funding. Grant ranges cary depending on the fund. They fund projects in Arts, Sport, Heritage, Charity, Voluntary, Health, Education & Environmental Sectors. Every project makes a real difference to lives and communities across the UK. Visit the National Lottery website to find out about their current funding opportunities.

Ongoing: Furnace Social Club by Leeds Playhouse. A free network for local artists – a community, a conversation and a chance to meet people and spark new collaborations. You need to be aged 18+ and living or working in Yorkshire to join. The benefits of signing up:
● Free rehearsal space: for all local artists (we don’t offer any payment or technical support).
● Make it happen workshops: free year-round industry focused workshops
● Regular newsletters: listing opportunities with the Playhouse and organisations across the UK.
● Be part of Furnace Festival: a fortnight-long celebration of all the work we have developed as part of Furnace.
Visit the Leeds Playhouse website to find out more about Furnace Club and to join for free.

MENTORING Ongoing (free, online): Support Sessions for Performance Artists. Artsadmin offers a unique and free one-to-one support service to UK-based artists working in contemporary performance, at any stage of their career. Sessions are informal and artist-led, offering an opportunity to talk about anything from artistic ideas and project development to funding and contexts for your work. Visit Arts Admin’s website to find out more about the sessions.

Ongoing: Tech Group by Chapel FM. For ages 18 and over. This fantastic group makes everything we do possible, such as operating a radio, cameras and lighting desk for many of our broadcasts and events. The group meets the first Monday of every month (7pm – 9pm) to talk about what all upcoming volunteering opportunities and what new things we can learn. There is an additional monthly session for more advance training and weekly volunteering opportunities. Visit Chapel FM’s website to register your interest in the Tech Group.

Ongoing: Exhibition Space at The Old Red Bus Station. Are you a creative student or a graduate who is looking to expand your practice and create great connections within the city? The Station offers the opportunity for young creatives / print-makers / photographers to exhibit work at their popular venue in Leeds City Centre. We have the capacity to exhibit framed work and canvas / board paintings. It is free to exhibit but there will be a selection process. You will be able to have your own opening night / view and there is also an opportunity to sell exhibited work through the Old Red Bus Station estore. We take 22.5% commission on all purchases. Visit Curatorspace to submit your work to the exhibition.

Ongoing events (free, no booking required): Drop in & Draw at the Drawing Room. Location: Art Library, Leeds Central Library. Dates: weekly on Thursdays during term time, 12pm – 1pm. Bring your sketchbook and come along to a relaxing hour of drawing in the beautiful Drawing Room. Art books are available for inspiration and to borrow for free. This is an untutored session, however there will be props and a weekly theme.

Ongoing events (free): Virtual Sketch Club by University of Leeds. Every Friday 12:30 – 3:30. Whether you can stay for 10 minutes or 3 hours, the free club is open to everyone and materials will be provided. Each week we will have a different focus, so you can enjoy looking at works you may never have noticed before. No need to book in advance. If you prefer to sketch from home, you can join us on Twitter instead. Need come inspiration to get you going? Visit the University of Leeds website for free drawing tips and exercises.

Ongoing: Artists to Watch 2022 by Art Connect Magazine. The Magazine features artists, interviews and resources. Every month we work together with 3 international curators to seek out exceptional artistic talents from around the world who will become ArtConnect Artists to Watch. Apply for the chance to win exciting prizes that will promote your work. Winners feature on ArtConnect’s platform, social media, newsletter, and more! Visit the Art Connect website to submit your work to be featured.

Ongoing: Future Goals Digital Courses (online, free): Join a free course in Digital Marketing, Get Hired in the Tech Industry, and more.Visit the Future Goals website to browse the digital courses available and sign up to one for free.

Ongoing: Collective Creative Space (free). Collective is a new community coworking space by The Highrise Project. It’s a space for people to be creative in a supportive environment, every Tuesday, 10am – 2pm. Work on a project or take part in a class – come on your own or with a group. We can supply basic art materials or you can bring your own. We can also provide creativity prompts if you need a little help getting started. Space is available on a free or PAYF basis. Location: Armley Community Hub. Visit the High Rise Project’s website to find out more about the Collective community coworking space.

Ongoing: Free resources from Bradford Producing Hub. Visit Bradford Producing Hub’s website to access free resources: Online Training, Budgets, Working Outdoors, Applying for Funding, Risk Assessment, Health and Safety, Reports and Research. 

Ongoing: Leeds 2023 Our International Culture Festival. The programme for Leeds 2023 will shine a light on our people and their remarkable experiences of culture in and around our great city. 2023 are looking for ideas, opinions, support and participation. If you live and work here this is your Leeds 2023. Visit the Leeds 2023 website to find out more about the Festival and how you can get involved.

Ongoing: Artsadmin Anchor. A weekly email newsletter for artists and arts professionals. It’s a round-up of funding, commissions, platforms, calls for artists, seminars, workshops, courses, resources, jobs, opportunities, studio space and more. Visit Arts Admin to sign up to their E-Digest.

Ongoing: ArtsHub. Visit ArtsHub to find out about open call exhibitions, commissions, competitions etc. 

Ongoing: Curatorspace. Visit Curatorspace to find out about paid opportunities, open call exhibitions, artist funding, etc.

JOBS

For ideas on where to find music related jobs, visit our Music Industry Guide.
For ideas on where to find film/TV related jobs, visit our Film Industry Guide.

DEADLINE Dec. 11: Casual Theatre Front of House Usher for Bradford Theatres. Salary: unknown. Do you want to deliver the highest levels of Visitor Experience to patrons in our iconic city centre venues? We seek to expand our Casual Front of House team for our 2023 Panto season and beyond. Front of House Staff are fundamental to the smooth operation of our theatres and sales points, ensuring all visitors have an enjoyable, safe experience and are inspired to return. Front of House staff work on a casual basis; however we ask for staff to give a minimum availability of 3 shifts per week. Shifts offered will generally be evening work from Monday to Saturday, with some matinee’s mid-week or on Saturday’s. Occasional Sunday work may also be available. We require staff to be available throughout the year including busy holiday periods (i.e., Christmas & Easter) and bank holidays. Visit Bradford Council’s website to find out more about the role an to apply.

DEADLINE Dec. 11: Freelance Event Manager for Viv Gordon Company. Location: Leeds. Duration: Jan. – Mar. 2024. Salary: £2,100 (12 days at £175 per day plus a separate Access Budget if required). We are looking for a Leeds-based freelance contractor to join us, who has local knowledge and experience in arts producing or events management. You may have experience in producing a theatre show, putting on workshops, running open mic nights, organising activism events – or something else bringing people together.
You will work in the UpFront Survivors Pop-Up Cultural Space weekend of workshops and events in Leeds, venue TBC in March 2024. Reporting to the Lead Producer, you will deliver a programme of workshops for survivors of CSA delivered by our Trainees, alongside a series of creative events, likely to include an open mic night, live performance, film screening(s) and a visual arts exhibition. Visit the Viv Gordon Company website to find out more about the role and to apply.

DEADLINE Wed. Dec. 13: Playhouse Connect Administrator for Leeds Playhouse. Salary: £11,379 per year (actual). Hours: 21 per week. Contract: permanent, part-time. The Administrator would sit within the heart of the operational element of the department, providing administrative support to the Playhouse Connect team, with a particular focus on supporting the Learning and Skills element of the team. You will be responsible for ensuring that people’s first interactions with the department, whether in person, via the website, social media or email are positive and welcoming.
We see this as a development role and will suit someone interested in developing a career in Arts Administration and Producing. It is an opportunity to learn in-depth about all aspects of Playhouse Connect and its vital role within the Leeds Playhouse. Visit the Leeds Playhouse website to find out more about the role and to apply.

DEADLINE Dec. 15: Freelance Drama Facilitator for Kala Sangam (Bradford). Contract: temporary. Salary: unknown. Are you a drama facilitator working in Bradford or the surrounding areas? Do you have experience of working with children and young people? We’re looking for a drama facilitator to deliver a weekly drama club in partnership with One in a Million (a Bradford based charity).
This is a paid opportunity and ideally you must be available to deliver the club on a Thursday evening from 4:30 – 6:30pm (term time). The club will start in January 2024 specific date to be confirmed. You must have a current and up to date Enhanced DBS and clear knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. If you are interested, please email an expression of interest to Fay Beesley, Education and Outreach Officer: fay@kalasangam.org (you can also call Fay for more information on 01274 303340).

DEADLINE Dec. 30: Drum and / or Guitar Teachers Needed for RAD Music Hub. Competitive pay & flexible hours. Are you looking for a fulfilling career that lets you do what you love and make a difference? Head to our website and register your details, we will be in touch with potential opportunities in your area.

DEADLINE Jan. 7: Senior Creative Arts Workshop Leader for Art Works (South Yorkshire). Salary: £24k. Do you want work that is rewarding and helps others? Do you want to look forward to coming to work each day? Join ArtWorks as a Senior Creative Arts Workshop Leader to run art workshops, lead a small creative team and get involved in big art projects. You will manage a team of 3, organising daily art activities for up to 15 artists with learning disabilities and/or autism. The role involves running art workshops, writing a weekly activity schedule and supporting ArtWorks commissions and creative community commitments.
We are looking for a creative individual with experience managing others, such as a team leader or management position. This does not have to be in the arts as we appreciate these skills are transferable. We are looking for someone with a creative background/skills – this could be art, photography, filmmaking, sculpture, animation, or textiles to name but a few. A creative degree is preferred. We need someone with good organisational skills who is willing to try new things. We ask you have a car and acquire business insurance, as we attend galleries, events, and workshops in other areas. We will provide care and first-aid training, so you can understand autism and learning disabilities and confidently support our artists. Visit the Artworks website to find out more about the role and to apply.

PAID APPRENTICESHIP DEADLINE Jan. 8: BBC Production Apprenticeship – Level 3. Location: Leeds. Hours per week: 35. Salary: £20,475. The apprenticeship helps you to gain experience with our BBC production teams across the UK, making world-class content for our audiences on radio, TV or digital platforms. You’ll learn on-the-job as part of a BBC production team, developing your knowledge and skills in an area that interests you, while working towards your Production apprenticeship qualification with one of our learning providers. What will you be doing:
• Depending on your chosen placement area, you could be helping to come up with ideas and stories for content, providing logistical support to productions or learning how to use technical equipment and specialist software.
• Get BBC Academy training, delivered by experienced trainers. You’ll learn a range of skills that will help you make content for programmes.
• You’ll study for your industry recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off the job.
This scheme starts in September 2024 and runs for 18 months. Afterwards you’ll be able to apply for entry level roles in TV, radio, digital and in technical areas across the industry. Examples include Runner, Junior Researcher, Content Assistant or Edit Assistant, Technical Operator. Visit the BBC Careers website to find out more about the apprenticeship and to apply.

DEADLINE Jan. 15: Participatory Artist for South Yorkshire Housing Association/Cara McAleese Arts. Salary: £120 per 1.5 hour session. We are recruiting participatory artists to deliver weekly activity focusing on music, dance and visual arts, working towards a sharing at the end of their project. From mid-February to July we will deliver weekly creative activity at three Extra Care Schemes. During these creative sessions artists and participants will work towards finished pieces in whatever artform they are working with e.g. a piece of dance or a song.
• Sessions run the week of 19 Feb. 2024, until early July 2024.
• An artist may deliver each week for this time or for a shorter period within this, this will be discussed.
• Each scheme will have more than one artist working there, sometimes delivering together (e.g. a dance artist and a musician).
• We do not expect any individual artist to deliver more than one session a week.
• There will be 1 -2 paid hour-long online meetings/training sessions before delivery begins, during the week of February 5th, 2024.
• There will be paid online group project meetings at regular points during the project, including a debrief session at the end of the project.
Visit the Arts Council England website to find out more about the role and to apply.

DEADLINE Jan. 22: Drama Facilitators for Schools. We are recruiting freelance Drama facilitators from across the UK to deliver drama workshops at Primary Schools throughout the country from Spring term 2024.  Contract: Freelance. Rate of Pay: Workshops paid at £165 per day or £100 per half day. All travel and accommodation expenses are reimbursed from your door to the school, and to attend training if travelling long distances. Locations: We deliver work in schools across the UK and are looking for facilitators in all regions. About you: You can be either a full time facilitator, or an actor or director with facilitation skills. Visit the West End School’s website to find out more about the role and to apply.

FREE SUPPORT: Leeds Employment Hub. They can help you to find a job, apprenticeship, a training or learning opportunity. Advisors can offer:
● Individual support tailored to your needs
● Careers advice and guidance
● Opportunities to learn new skills
● Tips on CV writing and completing application forms, plus CV checking
● Interview practice
● Access to local job and apprenticeship opportunities
Visit the Inclusive Growth Leeds website to find out more about their free services.

Ongoing: Music Tutors. Do you have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a music specialism? Are you an established or aspiring music professional? Or do you have experience as a private music teacher? Visit the Music Tutor’s website to access job vacancies.

Ongoing: Crew members for The Music Consortium. We work on festivals of all shapes and sizes such as Latitude/Longitude, Lollapalooza, and Leeds Festival, with a team of crew members. To apply it’s likely you will need a valid driving licence and access to your own vehicle. Visit The Music Consortium’s website to apply for a Crew member role.

Ongoing: National Careers Service – The Skills Toolkit. Free courses to help you learn new skills or change jobs. Including general skills that apply to all sectors and more specialised skills. Courses include: Business and Finance, Coding, Computer Science, Digital Design and Marketing, Personal Growth and Wellbeing, Professional Development, and more. To find out more about the Skills Toolkit courses and undertake them for free, visit the National Careers website.

“If you want to be moved, inspired and impressed this is where to look; some extraordinarily powerful work produced by some of the city’s newest emerging talent.” Sally Joynson – Chief Executive, Screen Yorkshire