Open Call for disabled or neurodivergent early-career creatives, practicing within the Midlands region, for a creative residency along the railway line, between Buxton and Stockport.

About Opportunity:

Comissions for two creatives to take part in a self-led creative rail residency, between Buxton and Stockport railway stations.

Inspired by their journey, the creatives will design four creative activities suitable for printing. These activities will celebrate the unique characteristics of the area along their chosen route. Examples of creative activities could include a drawing prompt, word search, and spot the difference – any creative activity that we can print.

No Jobs in the Arts will transform activities into a Creative Journeys Leaflet. Leaflets will be available online and in print, at stations and venues along the line. The aim of the Creative Journeys Leaflets is to invite members of the public to share in the creative’s experience and find inspiration as they travel by rail in Spring 2026.

Creatives will receive support from No Jobs in the Arts throughout the project. Creatives will receive an all inclusive fee of £750 (~3 days), and free rail passes for their journey. The residency can fit around your time commitments. Artists should arrange their own insurance to cover any possible accident, loss or damage during the project.

Creatives will need to to complete their rail journey, and design their four activities, by Friday 19th December. The full fee of £750 will be paid on completion of the commission, when all four activities have been sent to No Jobs in the Arts. 

Eligibility:

• You don’t need to have any prior experience of working on public art projects or taking part in a residency.
• This opportunity is open to disabled and/or neurodivergent early-career creatives currently living, working, or studying in the Midlands. This open call follows the social model of disability. You do not need a diagnosis, blue badge, or receive disability benefits to apply. Learn more about the social model here: https://www.shapearts.org.uk/news/social-model-of-disability

How to apply:

Submit the following three things using the form below:

1. A brief description of your creative practice (no more than 50 words)
2. A short proposal for your rail residency — include any locations you’d stop at along the Buxton – Stockport line (no more than 100 words)
3. Basic contact information, and one relevant link (e.g. to a website, portfolio or Instagram)
   
   Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the week following the deadline.

Deadline for submissions:

11pm, 31st October 2025

How is this project funded?

In partnership with High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, Avanti West Coast, and Northern Trains.

Any questions about this opportunity?

Send any questions to us at nojobsinthearts@hotmail.com or on Instagram, @nojobsintheart. We accept submissions in alternative formats to encourage applicants who have access needs or require reasonable adjustments; please get in touch if you wish to submit using an alternative format, for example a spoken word or video submission.