If you haven’t heard about it yet, Artists taking the lead is one of the largest commissioning funds launched in the UK - offering 12 commissions up to £500,000 each across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Games and change the cultural landscape of 2012 and beyond.

This project is open to any artist – of any art form, at any stage of their career. Don’t be scared by the size of the commission, if you have a great idea the Arts Council’s can help you deliver it. They are simply looking for the most brilliant ideas, that best suit the region, and fit with the project’s deliberately broad criteria.

The projects are being chosen by artists and arts producers – there is one member of the arts council on each panel and the rest (up to 7) are artists or producers.

The application process is really easy – you just need to describe your idea in 400 words and you can upload images, film or audio clips to support your idea if words just don’t quite do it. But you don’t have long – the application deadline is 29th May!

Click here for more information and to apply. In addition to this, the Arts Council’s have set up a blog / forum for artists to talk to us, ask questions, or look for people to work with – all via the a-n website
or Jotta website .

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