OPEN CALL: Castlefield Gallery Associates exhibition with guest selector curator Cindy Sissokho

Key dates:

• Application deadline for proposals: Tuesday 2 September 2025, 5pm
• Install dates: 2 – 12 March 2025
• Exhibition dates: 15 March – 19 April 2025
• Easter closing: 3 – 5 April 2025

Application eligibility:

Applications must be submitted by an active member of Castlefield Gallery Associates. If you’re not an Associate yet, you can find out more about the scheme here

To learn more about eligibility and terms and conditions of application click here

Please note: not reading these terms and conditions means that you won’t be fully equipped to submit your proposal.

We are committed to equitable practice and the promotion of equal opportunities in all aspects of our work. To read our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Equity statement, click here

Budget:

The budget of £2,000 awarded to the artist is to cover the artist’s fee, and as applicable the production costs of artwork. 

Castlefield Gallery will provide a technician (c.9 days) and curatorial support to assist with producing and installing the work, arrange on-site signage and gallery interpretation.

There will be space made available to work onsite at the venue if needed, some basic tools and equipment will be made available as well as some recyclable materials from previous exhibitions. 

The gallery technician will be able to access a range of gallery equipment for installation and exhibition purposes; however, the applicant needs to consider costs for any specialised equipment that the gallery does not already own or have access to. A list of AV equipment that the gallery has can be accessed here

The gallery will provide marketing & communications support for the exhibition, as well as support audience development activities and preview costs.

Please note: if your project involves multiple individuals carefully consider how you will cover fees as well as production materials, transport and travel expenses (see Paying Artists and the Artist-led Manifesto). 

How to apply:

Please submit:

• A project proposal (500 words max)
• An artist statement (250 words max)
• Supporting material, eg. images (12 max, or 4 per artist for group projects)
• A breakdown of the proposed budget (£2,000)
• We also kindly request applicants complete an Equality Monitoring Form which is anonymised and can be completed here

Please provide all the information and images in a single pdf no more than 10MB in size, which can include hyperlinks to other images and materials*.

Please send your proposal to associates@castlefieldgallery.co.uk by 5pm, Tuesday 2 September 2025. Make sure that your subject heading is clearly marked as “Proposal for Castlefield Gallery Associates exhibition”. 

Please note that we cannot accept late or incomplete applications.

If you are already a Castlefield Gallery Associate, we’d like to remind you that a simple guide to writing an exhibition proposal can be found on the Associates Resource Page here 

If you’re not an Associate yet, you can find out more about the scheme here

*Any time-based media (eg. videos, sound work…) should be no more than 20 minutes in duration.

Further guidance and support available: 

Access: If you have any access requirements that could be a barrier to applying or taking part in the opportunity and you wish to explore access accommodations, please contact our Gallery and Volunteer Coordinator Kacey Stonnell at associates@castlefieldgallery.co.uk or on 0161 832 8034. 

Please note that our office hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm. Castlefield Gallery offices are closed on Mondays and not all staff work full-time. Please therefore allow up to 5 working days for a response from the team. 

Additional support surgeries: for any Castlefield Gallery Associate who would like guidance, feedback and support on their draft project proposal we will be hosting surgeries with Castlefield Gallery Head of Programmes, Matthew Pendergast. You can book a 30 minute one-to-one with Matthew on the following dates:

• Wednesday 6 August. Book a slot here
• Thursday 7 August. Book a slot here