Artist Micro Commissions

We are inviting applications from professional artists for bursaries to create new work that will bring energy and creativity to Forres High Street and Grant Park. Up to ten local artists will be supported to develop and deliver activity throughout the event.

If you work in theatre, dance, music, visual art, or any other creative discipline, we’d love to hear your ideas. We welcome a wide range of approaches — from performance and visual art to interactive or participatory experiences — especially work that animates public space and invites audiences to encounter art in unexpected ways.

We are particularly interested in work that animates public space and encourages audiences to encounter art in unexpected ways. This could include:

• Work staged in informal outdoor settings such as gazebos, parks, or under trees;
• Outdoor street art, live painting, or chalk drawing;
• Pop-up or walkabout performances;
• Circus, clowning, or physical theatre;
• Participatory or drop-in creative activity.

Criteria

We’re looking for creative ideas that help make Culture Day Forres lively, welcoming, and fun for everyone. To keep things running smoothly on the day, proposals should meet the following:

• Activities must be free and suitable for all ages.
• Activities must be delivered as part of Culture Day on Saturday 26 September 2026.
• All activity must take place within Forres High Street and/or Grant Park
• Work should be interactive, imaginative, and engaging.
• Activities should run either continuously or at set times throughout the day.
• Proposals should be lightweight, easy to set up, and not require technical or production support.
• Artists must hold valid public liability insurance.

We particularly welcome proposals that are inclusive, accessible, and created especially for Culture Day Forres.

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Fees

To ensure that artists are supported to take part, we can offer:

• an artist fee of £250;
• up to £50 towards materials for your work.

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