Call for Proposals: Black Country Digital Firsts Program 2025 (United Kingdom)

Black Country Digital Firsts is a unique partnership between Creative Black Country and The Space that aims to build digital creative confidence, inspire excellence in the area, foster digital creativity, commission artists, and offer creative support via mentoring and advice sessions.

Funding Information

• Five successful applicants invited to submit developed proposals for formal commissions, with budgets of up to £10,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications must be from or led by creatives or artists living, working or studying in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton. You can apply as an individual or an artist-led organisation.
• They want to support a range of artists who represent the diverse perspectives and communities of the Black Country. They are open to applications from anyone aged 18+ and they particularly encourage applications from neurodiverse, D/deaf and disabled artists, and artists from all faiths and backgrounds.
• They welcome collaboration and understand applicants may be working in partnership with other individuals, groups or organisations, e.g. cultural venues or charities. Applications can include collaborators who are not based in the Black Country area.
• Current employees of Arts Council England, Black Country Together CIC (“Creative Black Country”) or The Space CIC are not eligible to apply and cannot be part of your project team.

Assessment Criteria

• The following assessment criteria will be used when selecting successful applications:
  • The originality and creative ambition of your idea
  • Your creative experience: e.g. writing, directing, performing, producing
  • The feasibility of bringing the idea to fruition within the time and budget available.

For more information, visit Creative Black Country.