ARTISTS’ COMMISSIONS 2025 CALLOUT
Ensemble Festival 2025 takes place from Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 of July in the heart of the Royal Docks, bringing an explosive mix of circus, theatre, dance, installations and outdoor performance.
This year marks the 6th Ensemble Festival with a programme of national and international work and commissions with our partners, the Royal Docks Team. Ensemble Festival is produced by Certain Blacks, a diverse-led development organisation based in Newham, East London. The company supports the work of diverse artists from many different cultural, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and life choices.
Further info about Certain Blacks and the Royal Docks Team is at the end of this document.
ABOUT THE COMMISSIONS
We have two exciting opportunities for artists to create work for Ensemble Festival 2025
We are looking for local artists living or working in Newham who are creating new work to be performed outdoors, or want to test out an artistic idea within an outdoor environment. We are offering 2 artistic commissions for artists to develop new original work to be presented at Ensemble Festival 2025.
We welcome expressions of interest from a wide range of creative practices (music, circus, performance, dance, spoken word, theatre, installations and live art) to develop works that are accessible to a cross-section of audiences to be presented free at Ensemble Festival 2025.
We particularly encourage applications from artists who are underrepresented in the arts sector, including Black, Global Majority, D/deaf, disabled, neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+, working class, absolute low-income and relative low-income artists and companies.
The festival is designed for local people, creating an accessible, safe outdoor space for audiences and artists, contributing to growing the local economy and cultural landscape.
The new commissions are being supported by the Royal Docks Team as part of the development of the Cultural and Creative workforce in the local area and will be supported by Certain Blacks, Commission Producer, Senior Producer and Artistic Director.
We are looking for:
Emerging artists who have been involved in developing professional work/have a professional track record of making art and performance.
Artists who want to test, explore and develop bold, innovative, creative work that engages local audiences in outdoor settings.
Work that is realistic to deliver within the project timeframe and is adaptable to outdoor locations.
Pieces that are approximately 15 – 20 minutes in length and can be presented in the daytime.
Applicants must be London-based. We highly encourage artists based in Newham and East London to apply.
We offer:
Up to £1,500 per commissioned artist (inclusive of artists’ fees and expenses).
Performance spots on both days of Ensemble Festival, which takes place at the Royal Victoria Docks on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July 2025.
The opportunity to work alongside our Commission Producer, who will support the artist’s needs in the development of the new work and liaise with the wider festival team.
Photo coverage of the public sharing.
How to apply
Please send an email to info@certainblacks.com with the subject line ‘Ensemble Festival 2025 commission application’ with the following:
A short expression of interest (max of 2 A4 pages) including a brief outline of the artistic idea you want to develop for the commission.
CV or history of your artistic development.
A rough budget that reflects how you will use the commission fee.
Please fill out our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form: https://forms.gle/XCatJ4Tyxpd7nnRm6
If you would like to submit your application in a different format or would like to have an informal, confidential conversation about this opportunity, please get in touch with General Manager, Maria Cuervo, at maria@certainblacks.com All submissions should be sent to info@certainblacks.com
IMPORTANT DATES
Submissions open 28th of May 2025
Application deadline 27th of June 2025
Selected commission will be notified by 2nd July 2025
Artistic development activity 3rd of July – 10th July 2025
Production deadline 14th July
Suggested rehearsal period 14 – 24 July
Sharings 26th and 27th of July at Ensemble Festival 2025
ABOUT CERTAIN BLACKS
Certain Blacks is a diverse-led arts development organisation based in Newham, East London. The company supports the work of diverse artists from many different cultural, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, life experiences and life choices. The company produces two annual festivals, pop-up and partnership events operating across a range of art forms, including live art, music, theatre, circus, digital and music. Long-term relationships with artists and arts organisations, venues, festivals, and promoters are core to the company’s mission of securing lasting investment in diverse work for touring and performance in the UK and beyond.
Certain Blacks is a Company Limited by Guarantee, non-profit objectives are:
Support the creative development and promotion of diverse artists.
Challenge assumptions about their work and the audiences that see it.
Support and develop platforms where diverse work can be experienced, including outdoor festivals, in regional and national venues and digitally.
In April 2023, Certain Blacks became an Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation and will receive regular funding until March 2027. The organisation is part of the artistic directorate of Without Walls, a national commissioning network for Outdoor Arts and regularly works in partnership with The Royal Docks and London Borough of Newham.
Further information can be found at www.certainblacks.com
Certain Blacks is committed to being a truly inclusive organisation – from our Trustees and team members to our audience and participants. We treat all applications equally, regardless of race, age, disability, gender identity or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other equality characteristic.
ABOUT THE ROYAL DOCKS TEAM
The Royal Docks Team is a joint initiative between the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Newham. Led by a multi-disciplinary team, in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, culture and community underpins one of the most significant regeneration projects in the UK.
Inspired by its diverse communities, rich heritage, and iconic landscape, the Royal Docks aims to become ‘London’s Cultural Engine’ – an innovative ideas factory and creative production centre that will build and nourish an inclusive and vibrant local scene for community arts, heritage, culture, and creativity that is open to all. www.royaldocks.london
