From light art commissions and funded fellowships to freelancing surgeries and youth roles, September brings a packed run of opportunities for creatives across the Fylde Coast. Here’s our round-up of open calls, commissions, training and funding for Fylde Coast creatives.
TRAINING
Cultural Leadership Skills Bootcamp
Blackpool and The Fylde College | University Centre, Blackpool
Cohort starts: Thursday 10 September – get in touch now for last minute places
The UK’s first government-funded Cultural Leadership Skills Bootcamp is back for its September cohort – a 10-week intensive for artists and creative businesses across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde. Sessions cover cultural governance, funding and strategy, collaborative leadership, and using data for decision-making, alongside a residential visit to consolidate learning and share best practice with peers. The bootcamp runs one morning a week at the University Centre. Free for unemployed and self-employed artists/creatives/employed artists pay a partial fee via their employer. Places for the January 2027 cohort are also now open for expressions of interest.
COMMISSION
Creative Producer – Blackpool Creates
Creative Blackpool | Based at the Grand Theatre offices, with flexible remote working
Application Deadline: Not stated – check the page
Creative Blackpool is looking for a visionary Creative Producer to bring Blackpool Creates to life – a major new festival showcasing the town’s creativity, delivered 26 June-4 July 2027. A freelance contract running October 2026 to July 2027, worth £24,000 (£300 per day) across 80 days, for someone who can collaborate with local artists, manage timelines seamlessly, and deliver a show-stopping festival that celebrates everything unique about Blackpool.
TRAINING
Exploring Values & Vision
The Old Electric | Blackpool
Application Deadline: 3 weeks before the session
Part of INCUBATE, The Old Electric’s professional development programme. This interactive workshop invites participants to step back from day-to-day practice and reconnect with the values and motivations shaping their work. Session: Thursday 24 September, 2–5pm.
COMMISSION
Strong Football Creative Commission
Claremont, Blackpool
Application Deadline: Extended to Sunday 6 September
Creative Blackpool and Strong Football CIC have commissioned a creative to explore belonging and community life through everyday moments around football. £5,000 fee.
COMMISSION
Revoe Creative Commission
Revoe, Blackpool
Application Deadline: Extended to Sunday 6 September
A £5,000 commission with community charity Revoelution to capture the lives, stories and memories of Revoe families amid the area’s regeneration plans.
COMMISSION
ILLUMINE 2
Light Up The North | Remote application; tours the North of England
Application Deadline: 5pm, Friday 11 September
A positive-action commission for Black and People of Colour (POC) UK artists to create a new touring light installation. £8,000 artist bursary plus £40,000-£70,000 production budget, mentoring, and showcase slots at up to six festivals.
OPEN CALL
MADE IT 2026
Short Supply x The Whitaker | Rawtenstall
Application Deadline: 11.55pm, Friday 11 September
An exhibition opportunity for recent graduates and emerging artists, with professional development support and industry connections thrown in.
TRAINING / NETWORKING
Lancashire Music Association On Tour
Backstage, Cleveleys & Bootleg Social, Blackpool
Dates: Mon 14 Sept (Cleveleys); Wed 16 Sept (Blackpool)
Lancashire Music Association takes music-sector know-how, encouragement and network-building on tour — find out about careers, connections and next steps into the industry.
RESIDENCY
AA2A Artist Residencies
Blackpool School of Arts & University of Lancashire
Application Deadline: Mon 14 Sept (B&FC); Wed 16 Sept (ULan)
Free access to specialist workshops, studios and facilities — ceramics, printmaking, photography, digital media, theatre and music production — for practicing artists with at least a year of professional experience. Roughly 100 hours’ commitment over the academic year.
TRAINING
Lightpool Lightlab
Blackpool (plus Barnsley and Wigan)
Application Deadline: 5pm, Monday 14 September
Skills development for artists new to light art, working towards festival- and gallery-standard commissions. A two-day Blackpool visit (27-28 October) covers masterclasses, budgeting and risk assessment; five artists go on to a £1,500 fee and mentoring to develop a design. £350 honorarium for all, accommodation covered.
NETWORKING EVENT
Creative Blackpool Network Breakfast
Blackpool & The Fylde College University Centre
Event: Thursday 17 September, 8.30-10.30am
A morning for Blackpool’s creative community to connect, hear about upcoming opportunities and share projects and ideas.
TRAINING
ACE Funding Support Surgery
The Old Electric | Blackpool
Event: Thursday 17 September, 10am-4.30pm
Part of INCUBATE. Book a speed-dating style slot with an Arts Council England Relationship Manager to talk through your funding ideas – DYCP or Project Grants.
FUNDING
Crowdfund Lancashire – Autumn 2026
Lancashire-wide
Application Deadline: Thursday 17 September
Match-funding for crowdfunding campaigns: individuals up to £1,500, organisations up to £15,000, parish/town councils and BIDs up to £5,000, with one-to-one support from the council’s Community Funding Team.
TRAINING
R+D process for ‘Birds Don’t Run. They Fly’
The Old Electric | Blackpool
Application Deadline: 3 weeks before the session (10 September)
Part of INCUBATE. A chance to be an active collaborator on a new piece of theatre in development. Session: Thursday 1 October, 10am-4pm.
TRAINING
BFI Film Academy North West
Aunty Social | Blackpool
Application Deadline: Open now
13 places for 16-19 year olds to make a short film from start to finish over roughly 4-5 months, with industry mentors, on-location shoots in November, and a celebration screening at HOME Manchester.
TRAINING
Freelancing 101
The Old Electric | Blackpool
Application Deadline: 3 weeks before the session (24 September)
Part of INCUBATE. How to identify your marketable skills, price your work, find and retain clients, and build systems for sustainable growth. Session: Thursday 15 October, 2-5pm.
OPPORTUNITY
Youth Advisory Board
Blackpool Grand Theatre | Blackpool
Application Deadline: Friday 25 September
The Grand is recruiting for its first Youth Advisory Board, for young people aged 13-18 who want a say in what happens at the theatre. Members will work alongside Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team, taking part in shared decision-making and shaping the venue’s programming, audience development and creative learning on and off stage.
TRAINING / DEVELOPMENT
Arvon Screenwriting Programme
Residential course at The Hurst, Shropshire (April 2027)
Application Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 30 September
A free two-year talent development programme for screenwriters from working-class backgrounds, supported by Prime Video Pathway. Covers travel costs and a small additional fund.
FUNDING
Music Creators Growth Fund
Arts Council England | UK-wide (applications open nationally)
Application Deadline: Round One opens 1 October, closes 29 October 2026
A new Arts Council England fund offering artists, bands, composers, DJs, groups, producers and songwriters grants of £10,000–£20,000 to grow their careers – covering everything from recording and touring to international showcasing and business development. Open to music creators with at least three years’ active practice, £5,000+ music-related income in a recent financial year, and evidence of professional achievement (releases, touring, press, airplay, awards). Requires at least 25% cash match funding from other sources.
TALK
In Conversation with Shane Meadows
The Old Electric | Blackpool
Event: Friday 2 October, 6.30-8pm
Part of INCUBATE. An exclusive interview exploring how place-rooted stories can resonate both locally and beyond.
OPEN CALL
The Whitaker Open
The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery | Rawtenstall
Submission Deadline: Sunday 4 October
Open to artists living, working or studying in the North West at any career stage. Awards up to £1,000 (paid commission or artwork purchase), art materials, and a People’s Choice Award. £5 entry per artwork, max three.
TRAINING
An Introduction to Working with People in Probation
Online
Event: Thursday 8 October, 10-11am
Part of INCUBATE. An introduction to Tipp’s participatory arts programme working with people in the probation system.
OPEN CALL / PRIZE
The Book Edit Writers’ Prize
Submissions online, UK-wide
Deadline: Open now
For unpublished, unagented UK novelists from backgrounds under-represented in publishing. Winners read at a live agent showcase and are published in an online anthology.
PRIZE
Elizabeth Buccleuch Prize
Arvon | Submissions online
Deadline: Friday 16 October
£2,000 prize supporting uncommissioned first-time writers working on a biography.
FELLOWSHIP
Churchill Fellowship
UK-wide | Funds overseas learning travel
Deadline: Midday, Tuesday 20 October
Funds UK citizens to travel and learn from international best practice, then bring that learning back to their community or field. New this round: a Civic and Democratic Engagement strand.
ONGOING
Art Shelter Tram Stop
Creative Blackpool | Bus/tram stops across Blackpool
Deadline: Rolling – check site for current call
A year-round public platform showcasing Blackpool artists’ work on street furniture across the town.
