Your monthly Hippodrome Creatives update

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Hippodrome Creatives Newsletter

Hello, hope you're having a wonderful February so far! 🐍 We have a very packed newsletter for you this month, so keep reading for some exciting opportunities and events coming up!

Earlier this month, we held a Creatives Social for 10 Nights in the Patrick Studio! Thanks so much for everyone that came along to experience the show, connect with other Creatives, enjoy some food and pose for a great group photo (that definitely didn't have enough light in 😞). You can have a look at the polaroids that did come out well and a video of some lovely moments here

Rehearsal Spaces & Artists' Lounge

Our spaces are open for bookings Monday - Friday,  10am – 5pm by emailing creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com by 11am Wednesday with requests for the following week. Please drop us a message with a bit of info on what you’ll be using the space for, as well as how many people will be in attendance. This ensures we can book you into the most appropriate space available!

The Artists' Lounge is a relaxed space for Creatives to be at home in the Hippodrome with drink making facilities, a lounge and library (open weekdays 10am – 5pm). 

Current Hippodrome Opportunities

Writer's Block - Wednesday 19 February

Final few tickets left for the first Writer's Block of 2025! 

✏️ Wednesday 19 February, 6:30pm at Birmingham Hippodrome 

✏️ Three new pieces of work will be shared 

✏️ Free tickets, drinks & snacks

A scratch night for artists to test out new ideas for the stage, hosted by Sophia Griffin and Grace Barrington, Writer's Block is back at the Hippodrome! You can click the button below to reserve your spot!


Birmingham Hippodrome, MAIA and Talawa are working together with a growing cohort of local Black* artists to develop craft and support an artistic community. We run various events each year as well as commissioning opportunities. 

The next Gathering event is on Friday 28 February and will be a day of connecting and deepening artistic practice.

10:30 – Welcome Workshop with Talawa
12:00 – Think Like An Artist Workshop with Roger Robinson
15:00 – Vision Workshop with Lou Robbin
17:30 – Dinner + Conversation with Amahra Spence from MAIA, Hippodrome & Talawa

You can also sign up for a creative 121 with the Talawa & Hippodrome team!

You can sign up by clicking the button below by Wednesday 26 February.

Find out more details on our website here! 

*Defined as people of African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including people of mixed white and African diaspora heritage who identify as such.


MAIA Weekender: Curating The Culture

We are so excited to be hosting the Friday of MAIA's Weekender. The day will be exploring Black cultural archiving and honouring the incredible storytellers and artists of our city. Expect panel talks, performances, food, exhibitions, and a revival of the MAIA Scratch Night.

More from MAIA below - 

We’re thrilled to invite you to MAIA Weekender 2025: Curating the Culture, 7 - 9 March. Building on “Organising ABUELOS” back in October 2024, this weekend gathering will celebrate the legacy of MAIA's work as they transition towards ABUELOS.

Join us for a weekend of talks, performances, art exhibitions, food and more exploring three key themes. 1) Archiving and Storytelling 2) Building for Ourselves and Our Communities, and 3) Celebration. Expect familiar and new faces as we explore perspectives on our cultural practices, pride, history, and the connections that bind us.




Paines Plough - Midlands Open Auditions

We're joining Paines Plough for their Open Auditions at their new home at The Belgrade in Coventry.

They're looking to meet Midlands based actors previously unknown to Paines Plough with a passion for new writing. Auditions will be friendly and informal; a chance to meet representatives from a range of Midlands venues and ask any questions you might have about our work. 

Slots for the February auditions released this morning were filled up really quickly, but you can still find out more here and sign up to hear when the next date will be!

Other Opportunities for Creatives

Birmingham Open 25 art call to shine a light on city creatives

Following the success of 2024’s inaugural Birmingham Creates: The Open, Central BID is once again working closely with Colmore Business District to launch another open call competition for the city’s emerging visual artists.

Birmingham Open 25 is an open call and competition for all printable forms of artwork. It aims to give a platform to talented, emerging artists who are producing exceptional work.

Submissions for Birmingham Open 25 are open now until midnight on Sunday 30 March 2025.

Find out more here!


Fully funded writer residencies in Dorset

Bridport Prize are offering two fully funded writer residencies in Dorset for writers from The Midlands and/or The North West of the UK who identify as:

  • Working class
  • 60+
  • Both
The residency will take place on Sunday 22 June 2025 to Friday 27 June 2025. Writers must be available for the whole period.

Deadline: 28 February 2025

Find out more and apply here!


In Good Company - FROM SCRATCH! – Performer Call Out

FROM SCRATCH! is an evening where performance makers can share their work-in-progress with a live audience and hear feedback and development ideas. FROM SCRATCH! will take place at Derby Theatre Studio on Saturday 15 March from 8pm. 

Deadline: Monday 17 February, midnight 

Find out more and submit here!


MAIA - Disabled Offers & Needs Market!

Disabled Offers & Needs Markets are a space for disabled folks to gently & generously share our passions, knowledge, resources & needs with each other. MAIA are partnering with Black Minds to host their next Disabled Offers & Needs Market on Saturday 22 February @ The Signing Tree. 

This will be a heartfelt, relaxed, practical session, where we’ll be guided to identify what we have to offer our communities, and reflect on the things we would like to ask for support with.  

Find out more here!

The 2025 Writers' Award is open for entries!

The Creative Future Writers' Award is the only free to enter national competition for all underrepresented writers: those who face barriers due to mental health challenges, physical or learning disability, neurodiversity, survivors, and those from LGBTQIA+, working class and/or Black, Asian and global majority backgrounds.

The theme for this year’s award is ‘Wild’. The theme is a creative prompt, not a requirement. We’re looking for quality writing first and foremost.

Fifteen winners will share:
  • £20,000 worth of cash and development prizes
  • publication in our anthology and eBook
  • read at our showcase as part of the London Literature Festival 2025
  • ongoing development support from Creative Future
Deadline: Sunday 18 May 2025, 11.59pm

Find out more here! 

NFTS - Diverse Writers Development Programme

With a focus on building a more inclusive film and television industry, Left Bank Pictures and the NFTS, with support from Sony Pictures Television, are looking for four up-and-coming screenwriters from lower socio-economic backgrounds to join a paid writers’ development programme.

✒️Collaborate with fellow writers on creative briefs
✒️Find out more about the process of taking a project from script to screen
✒️Learn from and network with industry professionals

Deadline: Monday 17 February, midnight

Find out more and apply here!


International Coproduction Fund (IKF) Application Round Open 

The International Coproduction Fund (IKF) supports coproductions worldwide that grow out of collaborative and dialogue-based working processes in the fields of music, dance, theatre and performance art. The fund promotes innovative productions and international cultural exchange as well as new approaches to intercultural collaboration and networking.

Deadline: 15 May 2025

Find out more and apply here!


The Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize 2025

The Alpine Fellowship is a charitable foundation that supports, commissions and showcases artists, writers, academics and playwrights. This year, The Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize will be awarded for the best playwriting response on the theme of Fear. Prizes are:

  • First place: £3,000
  • Second place: £1,000
  • Third place: £1,000
Deadline: 1 April 2025

Find out more and apply here! 


Sonia Sabri Company - Dancer call out 

Sonia Sabri Company are looking for two female dancers, based in the West Midlands, to join their tour in Summer 2025. They're looking for South Asian classical dance training OR contemporary dancers with acrobatic skills and outdoor touring experience. ITC rates paid.

Email info@ssco.org.uk to express your interest. 

Deadline: 28 February 


Future Stories Fund - West Midlands

Applications are open to Audible’s Future Stories Fund. Organisations and projects across the West Midlands can apply for grants of up to £15,000 to engage with young people (aged 16 to 25) through storytelling, using the power of language to amplify their voices, share their stories. Eligible projects may involve reading, writing, podcasts, poetry, theatre, acting, playwriting, and anything else relating to literacy.

Deadline: 23 February 2025

Find out more and apply here!


Sonia Sabri Company - Technician call out

Sonia Sabri Company are looking for a Touring Technician based in the West Midlands to join us on the road for our touring shows: Roshni & Mughal Miniatures! They're looking for experience as a touring technician with professional touring companies, UK Driver’s Licence + tour van driving experience. ITC rates paid.

Email info@ssco.org.uk to express your interest.

Deadline: 28 February 2025

From our Creative Community

Akaar 2025

Join Sonia Sabri Company for two fantastic evenings of outstanding South Asian music and dance, showcasing the skills of a host of students, alumni, artists and undiscovered talent. With a different line-up each day, discover the delights of Kathak, Bollywood and other Indian Classical Dance, as well as performances of Tabla, Harmonium, Sitar, Indian Singing and much more!

Find out more here! 

If you'd like us to share any events, sharings, shows, readings or anything you're working on in this newsletter, please get in touch through creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com.

Thank you for being part of the Hippodrome Creatives community. See you soon!

Maria-Magdalena (New Work & Artist Development Coordinator)

creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com
0121 689 3043 (local call charges apply)

birminghamhippodrome.com/creativesbenefits

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