OPEN CALL: Castlefield Gallery Associates exhibition with guest selector curator Cindy Sissokho

About the Open Call

We are excited to invite Castlefield Gallery Associates to submit proposals for an exhibition that will form part of the gallery’s annual programme for 2025/26. To bring their project to fruition, the selected Associate(s) will access a cash budget of up to £2000, as well as curatorial guidance and technical support. We are looking for timely and ambitious proposals which enable those involved to significantly develop their practice and profile. Proposals can be for a solo or group exhibition/project and may include related activities such as talks, tours and workshops. Proposals will be selected by guest selector, Curator, Cultural Producer, Art Consultant & Writer Cindy Sissokho, and Castlefield Gallery’s Head of Programmes, Matthew Pendergast. Cindy Sissokho (b. France) is a curator, cultural producer, art consultant, and writer with a focus on anticolonial, social and political practices within the arts, and culture. Her curatorial work is nurtured by the urgency to broaden and disseminate knowledge and artistic production from systemically racialised and marginalised perspectives. She currently works as a Curator at the Wellcome Collection in London. She was the co-Curator of the French Pavilion by artist Julien Creuzet, with Céline Kopp for the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale in 2024. She previously worked as a Curator at the New Art Exchange and in the Exhibitions & Public Programmes team at Nottingham Contemporary. Applications must be submitted by an active member of Castlefield Gallery Associates. If you’re not an Associate yet, you can find out more about the scheme here. To learn more about eligibility and terms and conditions of application click here. Please note: not reading these terms and conditions means that you won’t be fully equipped to submit your proposal. We are committed to equitable practice and the promotion of equal opportunities in all aspects of our work. To read our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Equity statement, click here. The budget of £2,000 awarded to the artist is to cover the artist’s fee, and as applicable the production costs of artwork. Castlefield Gallery will provide a technician (c.9 days) and curatorial support to assist with producing and installing the work, arrange on-site signage and gallery interpretation. There will be space made available to work onsite at the venue if needed, some basic tools and equipment will be made available as well as some recyclable materials from previous exhibitions. The gallery technician will be able to access a range of gallery equipment for installation and exhibition purposes; however, the applicant needs to consider costs for any specialised equipment that the gallery does not already own or have access to. A list of AV equipment that the gallery has can be accessed here. The gallery will provide marketing & communications support for the exhibition, as well as support audience development activities and preview costs. Please note: if your project involves multiple individuals carefully consider how you will cover fees as well as production materials, transport and travel expenses (see Paying Artists and the Artist-led Manifesto).

What is Offered

cash budget of up to £2000, curatorial guidance, technical support (c.9 days), on-site signage and gallery interpretation, space to work onsite, basic tools and equipment, some recyclable materials, marketing & communications support, support audience development activities and preview costs.

Requirements

Applicants must be an active member of Castlefield Gallery Associates.

How to Apply

Please submit: A project proposal (500 words max), An artist statement (250 words max), Supporting material, eg. images (12 max, or 4 per artist for group projects), A breakdown of the proposed budget (£2,000). We also kindly request applicants complete an Equality Monitoring Form which is anonymised and can be completed here. Please provide all the information and images in a single pdf no more than 10MB in size, which can include hyperlinks to other images and materials*. Please send your proposal to associates@castlefieldgallery.co.uk by 5pm, Tuesday 2 September 2025. Make sure that your subject heading is clearly marked as “Proposal for Castlefield Gallery Associates exhibition”. Please note that we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. If you are already a Castlefield Gallery Associate, we’d like to remind you that a simple guide to writing an exhibition proposal can be found on the Associates Resource Page here. If you’re not an Associate yet, you can find out more about the scheme here. *Any time-based media (eg. videos, sound work…) should be no more than 20 minutes in duration. Further guidance and support available: Access : If you have any access requirements that could be a barrier to applying or taking part in the opportunity and you wish to explore access accommodations, please contact our Gallery and Volunteer Coordinator Kacey Stonnell at associates@castlefieldgallery.co.uk or on 0161 832 8034. Please note that our office hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm. Castlefield Gallery offices are closed on Mondays and not all staff work full-time. Please therefore allow up to 5 working days for a response from the team. Additional support surgeries: for any Castlefield Gallery Associate who would like guidance, feedback and support on their draft project proposal we will be hosting surgeries with Castlefield Gallery Head of Programmes, Matthew Pendergast. You can book a 30 minute one-to-one with Matthew on the following dates: Wednesday 6 August. Book a slot here Thursday 7 August. Book a slot here.