Creative Micro-Commissions  - Hidden Depths

Lichfield Festival is commissioning 4 creatives to respond to Laura Page’s exhibition, Hidden Depths, and the associated community engagement program. Hidden Depths, is a photography project that captures portraits and stories of older people across the UK. The work highlights the rich and varied lives of older adults and seeks to challenge ageist stereotypes, which Laura Page identifies as reflecting systemic and casual prejudice and problematic age segregation. For this micro-commission we'd like artists to spend 3-4 days responding through their own creative practice based on the stimuli provided; what form the output takes is up to you, we simply want you to respond to the conversations and workshop outputs in your own way. Outputs will be shared as part of the Hidden Depths community exhibition in 2027.

Deadline: Sunday 11th October 2026 (Midnight) 

Artists Apppointed: Friday 16th October 2026 

Commission fee: £1000 per person (3-4 days)

Location: Lichfield & Surrounding Areas

What we’re looking for 

We are inviting proposals from artists to develop a creative response to the exhibition and the output of the associated community engagement program. We are open to all art forms, which may include music, writing, visual art, performances, craft or textile pieces, etc.  

We are interested in creative responses that:  

• Encourage intergenerational dialogue and connection.  

• Challenge age-related stereotypes.

What we offer  

Selected artists will have access to outputs from the community engagement program to date, which will include:  

• Portrait photography workshops exploring age, how we view ourselves vs how others see us, intergenerational connections. (examples below)

• Street-based “benchside stories” capturing informal conversations and 'what's beneath the surface' with local residents.  

• Craft activities at local Memory Café’s based on memory, aging, and perceptions of self.  

• Production of a short film documenting the engagement process. 

Eligibility  

Open to creatives from Lichfield and the surrounding areas.

Budget 

4 commissions to the value of £1000 each.  The commission fee will cover artist time (3-4 days), materials, fabrication, and travel. 

To Apply  

Please complete this form with the following:

• A one-page proposal outlining: 
  • Your interest in the commission;

• • Initial thoughts on how you might respond to the brief;

• • Any images of relevant previous work
• A CV or artist biography 

Please don't spend significant time pulling your proposal together; we simply want to get a sense of what you've done before, how you're creative, what interests you about this project, and how you might approach it.

If you would prefer, you can also apply by uploading video or audio formats (up to 5 minutes only) 

If you have any questions or have any issues completing the form, please email alex.clark-michalek@lichfieldfestival.org  

Timeline

Deadline for Applications: Sunday 11th October 2026 (Midnight)  

Artists appointed: Friday 16th October 2026

Presentation of final work: January 2027  

Launch Event: March 2027

Public Exhibition: July 2027