Creative Callout: Upskill & Upgrade – Creative Scratch Day
Event Date: Friday 3 October, 4–8pm
Venue: Centrala, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5RT
(Part of Digbeth First Friday)
We’re looking for 4 artists/creatives to share or test a creative idea, workshop or activity as part of a Scratch-style event led by and for the Inclusive Network.
Priority is given to registered Inclusive Network Members – Register Here
What is it?
Upskill & Upgrade: Creative Scratch Day is a practical and informal space to:
Test new ideas in front of a real audience
Try out a taster session, performance, or creative activity
Get live feedback to shape your work
Connect with peers and potential collaborators
Practice speaking about your practice or process
Build confidence in a safe, inclusive space
This is an opportunity to develop your creative practice. You don’t need a finished product, just have a solid idea. All levels of experience are welcome.
What we’re looking for:
We’re open to a wide mix of formats and practices. Your idea should link to one or more of the following themes:
Wellbeing
E.g. sound therapy, journaling, movement, mindfulness, collective care workshop, etc.
Upskill & Upgrade
E.g. creative hacks, digital tools, quick masterclasses or skill/knowledge shares.
Activism / Sector Change / EDI
E.g. facilitated discussion, soapbox talk/prepared (Ted talk) type speech, art with a social or political message.
Interactive / Participatory
E.g. zine-making, vision boards, sip & paint, DJ demos, spoken word, scratch monologues, etc.
We’re especially interested in ideas that are:
Low-cost, high impact
Easy to access
Ready for audience testing or feedback
Rooted in your livedd expertise or creative practice
What you get:
£200 honorarium (to support with planning, time, travel and materials where applicable)
The chance to develop audience-facing skills like facilitation, public speaking, and feedback gathering
A platform to connect your work to new audiences
An opportunity to network and build visibility within the sector
Support with event logistics and comms & marketing (Please state any tech requirements)
You’ll need to:
Be a registered Inclusive Network member
Not signed up yet? Register here
Submit your pitch by 8 August - Pitch Form
Be available for:
Online briefing – Monday 8 September, 1pm
Check-in call – Monday 29 September, 1pm
Be ready to:
Collect feedback on your activity
Promote your session and bring a few people with you
To Apply:
Please complete the Pitch Form
(You can also upload your answer in audio or video format)
You’ll be asked:
1. Please tick all that apply to your activity:
Low-cost, high impact
Easy to access
Ready for audience testing or feedback
Rooted in your lived expertise or creative practice
2. Briefly describe your activity
3. Tell us how your session/activity aligns with the themes (Wellbeing / Upgrade & Upskill / Activism & Sector Change / Interactive & Participatory)
4. What else would we need to know about your activity to support you? (E.g Logistics / length of time etc)
If you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail, email charlenecarterjames@culturecentral.co.uk