Curious Spaces – Artist Commissions

We are seeking to connect with multidisciplinary artists who wish to develop and present innovative works of installation, performance, and public engagement within Newport City Centre.

We are particularly interested in work that engages directly with the fabric of the city—its streets, bridges, thresholds, and gathering points—and explores how public space can be experienced differently through artistic intervention. This may include work that gently disrupts everyday use of the city, reimagines familiar routes, or creates unexpected moments of encounter between audiences, performers, and passers-by.

Newport City Centre is the canvas for this programme. We are especially interested in proposals that respond to specific locations such as the city’s bridges and key streets, including Commercial Street, Bridge Street, High Street, and Charles Street, or other clearly identified public sites within the city centre including parks and sites close to the Transporter Bridge. 

Artists are encouraged to consider how their work interacts with the rhythms of everyday life in the city, and how it might invite the public into new forms of participation, attention, or interaction.

Commissions

We are offering a range of artist commissions:

• Small commissions: £3,000

• Medium commissions: £6,000

• Larger commissions: up to £12,000

Applicants may apply for any of the above levels, with budgets expected to reflect the scale, ambition, and complexity of the proposed work.

All budgets must be fully inclusive and cover artist fees, materials, fabrication, transport, delivery, installation, staffing, and de-installation.

Working in the City

Selected artists will work closely with the City Designer, Creative Producer, and Production Manager to ensure proposals are conceptually strong, practically achievable, and appropriate for public realm presentation.

All proposals must demonstrate a clear understanding of working safely in public space, including audience interaction, crowd movement, accessibility, and site-specific risk considerations. Artists will be supported through production planning processes but are expected to bring well-developed, considered proposals.

We are particularly interested in artists who are willing to collaborate across disciplines and engage in dialogue with the wider creative team to refine how work sits within the broader festival ecology.

Sustainability & Materials

All artists must work in alignment with Tin Shed Theatre Co.’s environmental commitments and the principles of the Theatre Green Book.

Artists are responsible for the sourcing, purchasing, transport, installation, and removal of all materials within their allocated budget. Proposals should clearly consider sustainability, reusability, and environmental impact.

Artists should also account for any technical requirements, health and safety considerations, and additional infrastructure or equipment needed to deliver their work safely and effectively.

Support will be provided by the production and stage management teams where appropriate, particularly in relation to installation, build, and de-rig processes.

How to Apply

Submission Requirements

Applicants are asked to submit a single application including:

1. Proposal / Cover Letter (maximum 2 sides of A4)

Please include:

• Your artistic practice and background

• Your response to the Curious Spaces commission opportunity

• The commission level you are applying for (Small £3,000 / Medium £6,000 / Up to £12,000)

• Your initial ideas for working within Newport City Centre as a site for artistic intervention

• How your practice engages with public space, audience participation, and/or installation or performance in urban environments

• How you consider accessibility and inclusive engagement within your work

• Any relevant experience delivering work in similar contexts

We welcome applications in accessible and alternative formats where needed.

2. Examples of Work

Please include up to 3 examples of relevant work, which may include:

• Images of installations or performances

• Video or audio documentation

• Written project documentation or descriptions

• Press or reviews (if relevant)

Each example should include a brief description outlining your role in the work.

3. Links

Please include links to your website, portfolio, or online documentation (e.g. Vimeo, YouTube, SoundCloud, or equivalent platforms). Please ensure links are clearly labelled. Submission Process

Applications should be submitted by email to: apply@tinshedtheatrecompany.com

Please include “Curious Spaces Application” in the subject line.

If you have access requirements or would prefer to submit your application in a different format, please contact us in advance and we will be happy to support alternative approaches.

We encourage applications from artists who may not have previously worked in large-scale public realm contexts but have a strong artistic idea and a clear ambition to develop work in the city.

This is an invitation to reimagine Newport City Centre as a space of curiosity, encounter, and possibility.