The Idea (Project Aims):
We are keen to explore Tameside's rich dance heritage and uncover what matters most to its residents today, providing a creative platform to share their ideas and stories, particularly those rooted in life in Tameside. Dance in Tameside spans traditional folk dancing, clog dancing informed by its industrial past, to a diverse range of dance styles with roots that reveal connections with dance forms from around the world and resonate with the borough's diverse communities.
We are interested in work in any art form designed for outdoor settings. This could include creating large-scale movement pieces, projection mapping, storytelling in green or urban spaces, or an immersive digital adventure - and everything in between! The final presentation will take place outdoors, so we're looking for exciting and innovative ideas that spotlight our residents' voices and reimagine Tameside's rich heritage in a bold and dynamic way. The artistic vision will be led by you, with a focus on making the outdoors a stage for creativity.
Whatever the approach, we want Tameside residents to be embedded in the process - throughout the research, development and creation phases, with the theme and content of the piece explored with local participants to ensure an authentic co-creation process.
Job Requirements
We are seeking an artist, company or collective who…
- Is based in Greater Manchester (or with connections to artists in Greater Manchester)
- Is working in any art form
- Is experienced in, and excited to deliver, a public presentation outdoors
- Is interested in co-developing ideas with residents in Tameside
- Is able to work alongside residents in a way that is safe, accessible & welcoming.
Job Responsibilities - Connecting with residents in Tameside:
- The commissioned artists will work with residents in a series of workshops in 2025
- We will support a call-out for a new group of residents to come together in a series of workshops in community spaces, to support the creative development of the commission
- Artists will be welcome to host a series of weekly workshops, and/or arrange intensive periods - we are open to different methods of engagement that work with your practice.
- Artists will be welcome to suggest the commission connects with a particular age or demographic on the commission.
Locations in Tameside:
Engagement workshops will be delivered in community spaces in Tameside.
The exact location and context of the outdoor presentation will be agreed with Natasha Lolljee, Outdoor Arts and Engagement Officer, Tameside Council who leads on producing community events throughout the year in Tameside.