Here you can find exciting current opportunities in the creative industries. This comprehensive guide includes commissions, events, funding, jobs, paid opportunities and much more. Categories include:
Music | Business | Film & TV | Writing | Other | Jobs
Please note: Our site contains links to and from other websites. Studio12 and Leeds City Council do not necessarily endorse or support the organisations that are linked to or from our website. We cannot guarantee that links will work all the time, and we have no control over the content or availability of the linked pages on other websites. We aim to keep this page as up to date as possible, however please check details yourself before applying for opportunities. If you are a Studio12 member and want help or advice in applying for opportunities, please email studio12@leeds.gov.uk.
MUSIC
Visit our Music Industry Guide for ongoing opportunities: funding, talent development schemes, Leeds music communities, advice on performing and getting paid, career and industry guidance, music jobs and much more.
LAUNCHPAD FUTURE LEADERS 2025 – Launchpad Future Leaders, offers a group of emerging music industry professionals between 18 – 25 years old the opportunity to engage with national music industry organisations, attend training workshops on professional development in the industry and build relationships with other early career music professionals.
Participants in Launchpad Future Leaders will receive:
*Industry Training Sessions
*Mental Health First Aid training
*Outdoor Team Building activity
*Launchpad Music Industry workshop
*Social events
*One to One Career Mentoring & Coaching
The opening activities are already confirmed with a Welcome zoom call happening Tuesday 20th May at 6pm, and the first social happening Friday 23rd May (daytime) at Leeds Jazz Festival. Successful applicants will be expected to attend both of these!
Launchpad Future Leaders is open to anyone based in Yorkshire aged between 18 and 25 years old.
Deadline for applications is 5pm Thursday 8th of May 2025.
Applicants will be informed of decisions by Friday 16th May 2025 – with the above mentioned welcome event and first social taking place the following week.
To apply, click here
BBC INTRODUCING AT THE BEACON – Bradford – 25 April 2025
Whatever your experience and whatever your genre, you’ll have the chance to sign up on the night and showcase your skills and talent. Outstanding acts on the night could potentially hear their performances broadcast on BBC Introducing in Leeds and Sheffield, alongside some of the best up-and-coming talent from West and South Yorkshire. The night will also feature up-close-and-personal performances from musicians championed by BBC Introducing. More information on the website.
FREE ONLINE EVENTS now until Jul. 3 (all sessions are 1 – 2pm): How to Prioritise Self-Care When Working in Music by Help Musicians UK. Take some time with us to equip yourself with a toolkit of techniques to work through periods of anxiety. These group sessions led by an accredited counsellor will give you a chance to explore the causes and effects of different challenges you might face with your mental wellbeing, and leave you with a selection of strategies to help you through them. Feel free to join in the conversation via the chat box or just sit back and listen, and to have your camera on or off as you feel most comfortable. Sessions:
Apr. 10: How Physical Health Impacts Mental Health
Apr. 24: Problems with Sleep
May 8: Your Relationship with Social Media
May 22: Authenticity and Identity
June 5: Creativity and Motivation
June 19: Navigating Life Changes
July 3: Performance Anxiety
Visit the Help Musicians website to register to attend.
GIG DEADLINE not specified: Apply to Play, Beat-Herder 2024 (Lancashire). Are you a band or an artist? A DJ or other performer? Can you offer a workshop or a walkabout performance? Visit Beat-Herder’s website to register your interest in a gig at this year’s festival.
FUNDING DEADLINE Apr. 15 (applications open Mar. 8): The Hitmaker Fund by PRS Foundation. The fund offers an opportunity for songwriters and producers working in popular music genres to further develop their careers and writing/production with grants of between £5K – £10K. It was launched in 2017 as a response to the long-term career needs of those working behind the scenes. A summary of what the fund can support:
– Time to create
– Training / Skills courses at places such as Point Blank / SSE
– Creative / Professional development (with detailed evidence)
– Studio hire
– Purchase of equipment / software / hardware (covers up to 25% of costs)
Visit the PRS Foundation website to find out more about the fund and to apply.
FREE ONLINE EVENT May 6 (6 – 7pm): Marketing Your Release by Help Musicians UK. Give your new music the impact it deserves. Visit the Help Musicians website to register your interest in attending.
TALENT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT deadline May 13: Launchpad Artist & Project Support. Advice, mentoring, project funding and opportunities for live showcase for artists or emerging professionals (e.g. those involved in events, management, labels and more). Visit Launchpad’s website to find out more.
FUNDING DEADLINE May 12, Aug 11 & Oct 27. (applications open Apr. 14): PPL Momentum Fund by PRS Foundation. The fund offers grants of £5k-£15k for UK based artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing. Visit the PRS Foundation website to find out more about the fund and to apply.
FREE EVENT From Friday 23rd – Monday 26th May the free-entry, family friendly, outdoor Welcome to Leeds stage will be back on Cookridge Street as part of Leeds Jazz Festival 2025! The stage is programmed in collaboration with Leeds Conservatoire, Launchpad, DJ Lubi, Not a thing and JazzLeeds to bring you the best of local talent.
FUNDING DEADLINE 29 September: Women Make Music Fund by PRS. The fund supports the development of outstanding women, trans and non-binary songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds at different stages of their career. The fund can support projects by women, trans and non-binary songwriters, composers, artists, bands and performers who are writing their own music. The following are all considered by PRS Foundation to be Women Make Music creators:
– Songwriters
– Composers
– Artists, bands, producers and performers who are involved in the composition / writing process.
You can apply for up to £5K. Visit the PRS website to find out more about the fund and to apply.
FUNDING deadline 29 September: Open Fund for Music Creators. The fund supports the development of outstanding music creators of all genres and backgrounds at different stages of their career with grants of up to £5K. Funding can support:
– Creation of new music (including fees to cover your time and work)
– Touring and live performances
– Recording and release
– Residency costs
– Fees to creative collaborators
– Promotion and marketing (when there is also an element of creation and/or performance)
– Equipment (not exceeding 20% of the total project budget)
Visit the PRS website to find out more and to apply.
FUNDING deadline 6 October: Composers’ Fund by PRS Foundation. Between £8,000 – £15,000 is available to composers who are already making a significant cultural contribution in the UK and have the potential for greater impact in the UK and overseas. The fund supports up to 15 composers per year who can make the case for the kind of support that would enable them to make a significant step change in their career. It can be used to record, promote perform and collaborate or attend residencies. Visit the PRS website to find out more.
FUNDING rolling deadlines: Develop Your Music with Help Musicians UK. We offer financial help to develop your skills, grow your portfolio and build a career. Apply for up to £5,000 towards:
● Record and release: create your next release and get your music out into the world.
● Skills and professional development: training, mentorship or other learning opportunities. ● Touring and live: take your performance to the stage and bring it on tour.
Visit the Help Musicians UK website to find out more about the funding and to apply.
Ongoing: Free Online Advice Sessions by Launchpad. Launchpad offers one to one Online Advice Sessions to emerging artists and music industry professionals across Yorkshire.
These sessions are useful if you’re looking for advice on:
Releasing your first single
Taking the next step in your career
Creating and implementing a release plan & more
Opportunities, and funding that may be available to you
Visit Launchpad’s website to book a free online advice session.
Ongoing: Funding Information by Help Musicians. Thinking of applying for funding from Help Musicians UK? Visit their website to book a free 20-minute phone call with them.
No Deadline: Anthem Music School. AMS are expanding their team of instrument teachers. Learn what to do to apply here.
Performers, Barnsley Live, Barnsley – Barnsley Live are on the lookout for performers for Barnsley Live 2025. Barnsley Live is a free event, and takes place over 20 venues around Barnsley and features over 200 artists. This year it is taking place on Saturday 21 June. To find out more, visit the Barnsley Live website.
Bar Staff, The Leadmill, Sheffield – The Leadmill are looking for bar staff to join their team from September onwards. Experience preferred but not required, training will be provided. For more information, visit Jobs | The Leadmill
Event Production, Academy of Live Technology, West Yorkshire–Turn your passion for live events into a professional skill set with our Government funded, 2-week Skills Bootcamp and get you ready to take on projects that inspire and excite audiences worldwide. [MORE DETAILS]
Event Management, Academy of Live Technology, North Yorkshire – Join our Government-funded 5-week Event Management Skills Bootcamp. Gain valuable skills in project management, stakeholder planning, marketing and health & safety under the guidance of industry veterans. Through training, projects and real-world scenarios, you’ll develop the professional skills needed to lead successful events that consistently engage audiences. [MORE DETAILS]
Event Management, Academy of Live Technology, West Yorkshire – Join our Government-funded 5-week Event Management Skills Bootcamp. Gain valuable skills in project management, stakeholder planning, marketing and health & safety under the guidance of industry veterans. Through training, projects and real-world scenarios, you’ll develop the professional skills needed to lead successful events that consistently engage audiences. [MORE DETAILS]
Gig Opportunities, SuperFriendz – SuperFriendz are looking for local musicians, singers, bands & DJ’s for shows in Leeds. Send your music to harry@superfriendz.com.
Music Lab Mondays, Hull – Goodwin Development Trust and Youth Arts Takeover will be hosting a season of Monday night Music Labs. These Music Labs are aimed at people aged between 16-29 who want to learn an instrument for free or want to improve their skills and become part of a live band [MORE DETAILS]
Live at Leeds In The Park, Leeds, Apply To Play – applications are now open to play Live At Leeds In The Park [MORE DETAILS]
Get Involved, Chapel Allerton Arts Festival, Leeds,– whether you want to volunteer and help out on the day, or you want to lead an activity or a performance, Chapel Allerton Festival want to hear from you [MORE DETAILS]
Dot To Dot 2025, Bristol & Nottingham, Apply To Play – applications are now open to play Dot To Dot festival at either the Bristol date or the Nottingham one [MORE DETAILS]
Songs with a Bradford Accent, Topic Folk Club – to mark Bradford City of Culture 2025, Topic Folk Club is gathering together folk songs about the story of people and/or groups who work make Bradford District a welcoming and supporting place. They’re inviting songwriters to write a song about a person, group or special place in the Bradford District [MORE DETAILS]
Community Gospel Choir, Leeds – develop a passion for singing at the Community Gospel Choir in Leeds every Monday evening from 6.30 – 8.00pm at Music House on St Mark’s Avenue. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Find out more on the Music House website.
Start Up, West Yorkshire – Start-Up West Yorkshire is offering the opportunity for people who are going to start a business, or those running a business, to work directly with an experienced business advisor [MORE DETAILS]
The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, Sheffield – The Power of Music Foundation supports people of any in age in Sheffield who are socially or economically disadvantaged. They work with individuals and organisations supporting people with disabilities and complex needs, with children and schools and with anyone experiencing hardship. Small grants of up to £500 are open on a rolling basis [MORE DETAILS]
Arts Council Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund – the Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund has been extended with an extra £1.5 million available to support Grassroots music venues across England [MORE DETAILS]
Arts Council England Project Grants – National Lottery Project Grants is an open access programme for arts, libraries and museums projects. The fund supports thousands of individual artists, community and cultural organisations [MORE DETAILS]
Doncaster DAB – if you are interested in starting a new local or community radio station in Doncaster, or want to put an existing radio station onto DAB in Doncaster, contact Doncaster DAB [MORE DETAILS]
Apply to join the Futuresound Promotional Team – Leeds’ promotions company Futuresound are looking for people to join their promotional team [MORE DETAILS]
Leeds Dance Community Radio – Presenter open call, no deadline [MORE DETAILS]
Girls I Rate #GIRARMY – Support and funding for women aged 16+ in music and the creative sector [MORE DETAILS]
The F-List – A directory of female and gender minority musicians in the UK, sign up to create your listing [MORE DETAILS]
Bradford Producing Hub Advice Sessions – Monthly in-person and online drop-in advice sessions open to artists and professionals working in the music industry [MORE DETAILS]
Music Centres Across Leeds – Get expert tuition and friendly support at one of the Leeds Music Centres. The Music Centres run on Saturday mornings at venues all over Leeds. All ages are welcome, from under 5s to over 60s. Something for everyone, from fun beginner groups to advanced ensembles, covering all styles and levels of experience. [MORE DETAILS]
Join Music Industry Yorkshire – [MORE DETAILS]
Adopt a Music Creator, Making Music – Making Music members or groups can apply to adopt a Music Creator [MORE DETAILS
Music Leader, Curriculum and Classroom Instrumental Learning, Calderdale Music – Calderdale Music are looking for a Music Leader for 30 hours per week to work on the curriculum and classroom instrumental learning. Deadline to apply is Friday 10th May [MORE DETAILS]
BUSINESS
Ongoing: Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme. Age 18-30? Got a business in mind, or want to explore an idea? From training and mentoring support to funding and resources, we’re here to help you become the best entrepreneur you can be! The free programme begins with an information session, followed by a workshop covering planning and marketing, 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, in addition to further support. Visit the Prince’s Trust website to find out how they support for your business ideas. You can also browse our free business resources.
Ongoing: Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Leeds. Thinking about setting up a business or developing an existing one? From the first spark of inspiration to successful launching and growing your ideas, we have a wealth of information. We’ll support you to learn new skills, access exclusive resources to research your market, protect your products and services, 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. For new business start-up or growth, visit Ad:Venture’s website.
Ongoing: Funding for voluntary, charity and community groups in Leeds. Visit the Doing Good Leeds and Leeds Community Foundation websites.
Ongoing: Funding for Social Entrepreneurs. Visit UnLtd’s website.
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 experience opportunities and much more.
Visit our Film Industry Guide for ongoing opportunities: awards / funding, talent development schemes, career and industry guidance, jobs / work experience opportunities and much more.
COMMSSION opportunity deadline Apr. 21: Aesthetica Short Film Festival’s Listening Pitch. Five filmmakers will be selected to present their documentary idea at a live virtual pitch in May 2024. The filmmaker with the strongest idea will win £20,000 to make their documentary which will premiere at Aesthetica Film Festival in November 2024. We welcome submissions from first-time filmmakers and those underrepresented in the industry. Visit Aesthetica’s website to find out more.
FUNDING deadline May 9: Short Film Fund by BFI (British Film Institute). This fund supports the production costs of standalone fiction shorts that showcase new perspectives from Northern filmmaking teams. The fund is intended to stimulate original idea and stories, so it doesn’t support adaptations of existing material. We welcome applications for amounts from £5,000 up to a maximum of £25,000. Projects can be of any length, up to a maximum of 15 minutes. Visit the BFI’s website to find out more.
DEADLINE Fri. May 24 (submissions open now): BFI London Film Festival (LFF). Submit your short, mid-length or feature films. Entry fees are cheaper if you submit by March 27. The LFF showcases exceptional British filmmaking alongside international work, and the programme spans features, shorts, fiction, documentary, artists’ moving image, restorations, animation and films for families, alongside titles destined for awards-season glory. Visit the BFI website to find out more about the festival.
TALENT DEVELOPMENT SCHEME DEADLINE TBC (applications open in May): WFTV (Women in Film and TV) Kay Mellor Screenwriters Lab. This 5-day writers’ lab is a fully-funded opportunity for screenwriters taking place at the Arvon Foundation in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. The 2023 programme consisted of craft writing masterclasses, tutor-led workshops and independent writing time. Across the week there will also be evening sessions with special guests from the industry, including Happy Valley creator and writer, Sally Wainwright OBE.
Eligibility: The Lab is an opportunity to spotlight and develop emerging female writers who have some writing experience and are looking to achieve their first screenwriting credit in Film or TV, whether that is finding an agent or pitching their project to an independent production company.
The lab is for writers who do not yet have any industry writing credits (in either feature film or TV) and are actively working on a script (or more than one project) that is at final draft stage and who have further speculative ideas for future projects, which have the potential to be developed in production. Writers will be required to select one of their scripts to develop and work on across the week. The script/screenplay selected by the writer can be a series (episode), feature film or short film for either Adult or Young Adult audiences. Visit WFTV’s website to find out more.
BURSARY deadline May 31 (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.
FILM SCREENINGS Wed. June 12 – Mon. June 17: Sheffield DocFest. Sheffield International Documentary Festival is held annually in Sheffield. Visit Sheffield DocFest’s website to view the festival programme and to book tickets.
WRITING
Visit our Writing Industry Guide for ongoing opportunities: career guidance, writers’ communities, courses, talent development schemes, awards / bursaries / competitions, and publishing.
A Writing Chance – New Writing North: A Writing Chance aims to open access to the writing industries for new and aspiring writers from working-class and lower-income backgrounds and for those who face barriers due to intersecting challenges, including but not limited to ethnicity, disability, sexuality, gender identity, age and religious beliefs. Find out more here.
Northern Writers’ Awards – New Writing North: The Northern Writers’ Awards discover and support writers in the North of England, with a focus on supporting new work-in-progress. They offer a wide range of opportunities for writers at all stages of their careers, including publication, mentoring, manuscript assessment, writing placements, retreats and cash awards to buy time to write. They are the largest writing development programme of their kind in England. Visit their website to find out more.
Photoworks Writer in Residence: Photography+ is Photoworks’ quarterly online magazine. Read by international audiences, the digital publication showcases new writing, imagery, and perspectives on photography. Each issue focuses on a different theme, exploring how photography crosses over with everyday life. The Writer in Residence will work closely with the Photoworks Editor, Diane Smyth, to meet deadlines and deliver four articles of approximately 1000 words.
The successful writer should have a working knowledge of contemporary photography as well as a willingness to look beyond photography for inspiration. This opportunity suits an early-career writer looking to gain experience writing and publishing online. Photoworks is based in the UK, but writers are welcome to apply from all over the world. This is pa aid residency with a fee of £300 per article, with expected outputs of four articles plus online or in-person meetings with the Photoworks team. The opportunity is open to all and runs from April 2024 to March 2025. Visit the Photoworks website to find out more and to apply.
And Other Poems submissions: the end of each month in January, May & September (free entry): And Other Poems. And Other Poems is an online poetry magazine edited by Tom Bailey and Laurie Ogden. Submissions are now open for the Spring issue. All forms, themes and styles are welcome. Visit the And Other Poems website to find out more.
Propel Magazine submissions: This online literary magazine was founded in 2022, featuring the work of poets based in the UK or Ireland who have yet to publish a first full length collection of poetry — showcasing exciting new poetry at an impressively high standard and acting as a free and open resource for editors, readers and curators alike. Visit Propel Magazine’s website to find out more. They accept submissions six times a year, and you can find out more on their website
Dust Poetry Magazine Submissions: The magazine was founded in January 2020 and publishes issues of new poetry online. The work in Dust is unsolicited and international. Open for Issue 11 – no theme. Visit Dust’s website to find out more.
OTHER
Click Start Courses with FutureLearn by University of Leeds. Get into the world of tech with hands-on courses in software development, cloud computing, AI, blockchain, web development, and robotics.
Learn the skills you need to land a job in some of the most exciting fields out there. These courses make it easy to dive in, get practical experience, and start opening up opportunities in tech. Ready to get started? Visit the Click Start website to find out more.
Upload by BBC – Ongoing submissions: Upload is your chance to showcase your creativity on the BBC, with content showcased every day on local BBC radio stations and on our social / online platforms. 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’ll check everything uploaded 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 or if it’s polished. We’ll get back to you if we’d like to showcase your work, and we might even help you add some extra touches. Visit the BBC website to find out more about Upload and to submit your work.
Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) Funding closes 22 May: 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. The fund supports the following artforms: music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, and combined arts. To find out more about the DYCP fund and to apply, visit the ACE website.
Kings’s Trust Development Awards. Age 16 – 30 and from West Yorkshire? The King’s Trust have funding of £10 – £500 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, 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 King’s Trust website.
National Lottery Funding:They fund projects in Arts, Sport, Heritage, Charity, Voluntary, Health, Education & Environmental Sectors. Grant amounts vary depending on the fund. 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.
Future Goals Skills Connect (online, free): Join a free digital course in marketing and content creation, web design and development, virtual production, event production, and much more. Visit the Future Goals website to browse all the digital courses available and to sign up.
Collective Creative Space (free). Collective is a new community coworking space by The Highrise Project in Armley. It’s a space for people to be creative in a supportive environment. You can attend on your own or with a group. We can supply basic art materials or you can bring your own. Visit the Highrise Project’s website to find out more about the Collective creative space.
Artsadmin Newsletter: Visit Artsadmin to sign up to the fortnightly newsletter for artists (includes funding, commissions, and workshops).
ArtsHub Opportunities: Visit ArtsHub to find out about open call exhibitions, commissions, and competitions.
Curatorspace Opportunities Visit Curatorspace to find out about paid opportunities, open call exhibitions, and artist funding.
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.
COME PLAY WITH ME – PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR – Deadline 27 April: Come Play With Me is looking for an enthusiastic and driven project co-ordinator to build upon the foundations of Karen Emanuel’s ‘Moving the Needle’ project. Due to be rebranded and relaunched, the project aims to support women and gender-minority individuals throughout their careers and raise awareness of the diverse opportunities available in the music sector, emphasising that one doesn’t have to be a performer to have a career in the music industry. For more information, and to apply, click here
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.
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.
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.
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.