May Newsletter – Deptford X Online

20 May 2020

Deptford X Presents two new paid opportunities for 12 artists. Deadline for applications: 10th June 2020.


In these precarious times, Deptford X are delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding from Arts Council England’s Emergency Response Fund. This has allowed us to stabilise the organisation and create a remote programme, Deptford X Online.

A festival like Deptford X is special because it exists in a specific time and place. For 10 days each year the festival brings the creation and experience of art to all corners of Deptford, Lewisham. In 2019, we estimate that around 10,000 people came to Deptford X festival to see almost 100 projects in as many locations. Nearly 400 artists took part, and for the first time we staged a public procession with 300 local residents showcasing their creativity and culture. Covid 19 has put a stop to everything that makes a festival like Deptford X possible. However, at the heart of our festival is people and their boundless creativity. We therefore decided that the most important thing we could offer right now was not a digital recreation of the festival – because that wouldn’t be Deptford X – but an online programme that continues the core aspects of our work: supporting artists and nurturing creative practice and thought.

Deptford X Online will act as an incubator for the next Deptford X festival. The conversations, relationships, research, ideas and work forged during this time will offer a reflection on both the failures and possibilities laid bare by the global Covid 19 pandemic. Through this we can learn how to be together again in a future Deptford X festival.

As part of our new online programme we are excited to announce two open calls for paid artist opportunities; Artists on the Phone and How to be together again – Residencies at Home, as well as calls for participants in two further discussion-based programmes; Support Network and The Future is a Collective Project which we will announce soon.

We also still have live our label design competition in partnership with our festival sponsors Gospel Green, who are committed to continuing to support our artistic community through this opportunity. This competition is open to anyone and everyone, but you must be over 18 to apply. Deadline: 31st May 2020.