How to apply to perform at Preston’s Lancashire Encounter festival

Miss Baines performing at last year’s Lancashire Encounter Pic: Tony Worrall

Artists from Preston and Lancashire are being offered the chance to create a show for a major arts festival in the city.

Lancashire Encounter returns in late September to the Flag Market and other venues in Preston.

Major funding from the Arts Council has been secured for a feast of performances and Preston City Council now wants ‘great art’ to ‘represent the diversity of Lancashire’.

The red canopies are to return as part of the festival, providing temporary performance spaces in the city – and council bosses have also promised a major events space being built in the city centre.

The Red Canopies were the main attraction of last year’s Lancashire Encounter Pic: Tony Worrall

Arts groups are being sought for two levels of art work.

Shows between £200 to £2,000, of a pot of £10,000

From single one off performances to more ambitious proposals. It can be new work or adapting an existing project.

Shows up to £5,000, of a pot of £20,000

Large scale new work and a number of arts organisations working together are invited to apply.

How to apply

For an information discussion about the Lancashire Encounter, then Tim Joel – the man in charge of events at the council – can be reached on t.joel@preston.gov.uk by Friday 3 June.

All proposals must be in by 12noon on Friday 10 June.

Preston City Council’s website has details on the four cultural goals the performances must meet to be considered and what’s needed to be provided when you apply.

Will you be applying to perform? Did you go to the Encounter last year? Let us know in the comments below