Supported Artists Programme

Applications OPEN – Deptford X Supported 2025

Open Call for early career Black and People of Colour artists

This year’s festival starts on Friday 11 July & ends on Sunday 27 July 2025

We’re delighted to invite early career Black and People of Colour artists to apply for 4 new project commissions to be part of the 2025 Deptford X festival.

  • The Supported programme is in response to underrepresentation in the arts, and so applications are open to early career artists living in or working within the London Borough of Lewisham or around its borders.
  • By early career we mean an artist, regardless of age, who is within the first 7 years of commencing their practice, whether from completion of formal or non-accredited learning programmes, or completely self-taught. This also include artists who may have had a significant break from their practice and within the first 7 years of recommencing.
  • Apply using the linked form or submit your application in a format that is most suitable to your needs (video, audio, etc).
  • A panel of artists and art workers will select the 4 projects to commission.
  • Selected projects will receive a fee of £1000, a production budget of up to £800 and curatorial support to produce their work for this year’s Deptford X festival.
  • All applicants will be invited to attend free artist development workshops.

We are open to a diverse range of projects from installations, public realm works, films, performances, happenings, workshops, interventions, and other kinds of art projects to contribute to our 18-day festival.

To apply:

  1. Read the guidance on this page.
  2. Download and fill in this application form (Word) – DX Support Application form 2025 V2.
  3. Download the the budget template (Excel) if needed – Supported budget template.
  4. Upload the application form, with artist’s CV, images and budget to our application portal link here.

Deadline for applications:  midnight, Sunday 13 April 2025

 

Selection Process:

A selection panel will review applications considering the concept, quality and cost of each project before selecting a short list of finalists. Finalists will be invited to Deptford X (either in person or via Zoom, depending on what is possible) for an interview by the panel, following which the 4 Deptford X Supported projects will be chosen.

Criteria:

  • Supported programme is only open to early career Black and People of Colour artists who live or work within the London borough of Lewisham or around its borders.
  • We welcome well-conceived and thought-out projects, both in terms of concept and of the production and installation process.
  • Application must have a clear budget / spending plan.
  • We reserve the right to decline any project that we deem discriminatory, offensive or contrary to our values.
  • We define values as principles of behaviour and/or judgements of what is important.
  • Our organisational values are:  learning, care, respect, openness and equality.

Accommodations and access needs support:

  • We can support you with your application if you have access needs or require specific accommodations, email us admin@deptfordx.org to let us know what support you may need.
  • If you require the application in another format, please get in touch with us at admin@deptfordx.org to let us know so we can address this.
  • Deptford X has an access budget to support artists with access needs to participate in the festival.