Without Walls invites artists to submit proposals for the Without Walls programme, premiering in 2026.
The Open Call is an opportunity for artists to submit ideas for ambitious and exciting new outdoor arts projects. Shows which are selected for the programme tour to our partner festivals, who are responsible for co-commissioning the work.
You can find out more about how the Open Call works via last years snapshot.
AUDIO INTRODUCTION
AUDIO SUMMARY
Without Walls supports the creation and touring new outdoor work by UK artists. The projects that we’re looking for are intended to represent the best that the UK outdoor arts sector has to offer and should have the potential to tour widely in the UK, Europe and beyond.
To be eligible for support your project must:
- Be a new piece of work.
- Be suitable for touring to outdoor arts festivals.
- Be available for touring between the beginning of May and the end of September 2026.
- Be made by artists based in the UK. We can support work made in association with international artists, but the lead partner for the project must be based in the UK.
Applicants should also consider the following when developing their proposals:
- Without Walls’ priority is to support the development of ambitious new outdoor work, not to support revivals of existing work.
- The creation period (October – May) is short and means it may have been beneficial for projects being proposed to have already undergone a degree of research and development, although this is not mandatory.
- We welcome shows that have already carried out some test performances before appearing on the Without Walls network. However, it is unlikely that we would support a project that has already toured to more than 3 or 4 festivals in the previous year(s). In this case, you may be eligible for touring only support.
Without Walls supports both experienced and emerging artists and the work that we support spans a broad range of artforms and subject matter. We are looking for shows that are innovative and ambitious and that challenge the idea of what outdoor arts can be.
Without Walls is a network of festivals. That means that the work that we support needs to be suitable for presenting in a variety of different locations and contexts, including high streets or squares in towns and cities, public parks, and green or rural sites.
Open call goes live: Thursday 15 May
Deadline for access support requests: Tuesday 10 June, 12pm (midday)
Online Q&A: Thursday 12 June, 11am – 12:30pm
Deadline for all submissions: Tuesday 8 July, 12pm (midday)
Final decisions: Late October 2025
First performances to take place early May 2026
You can register for the Online Q&A here.
We recommend you prepare your answers offline first before submitting your proposal. We’ve created a template which you can use to do this if needed.
Image credits:
Sonia Sabri Company, Mughal Miniatures © Simon Richardson
Joseph Toonga, Born to Protest © Harrison Dante
Stopgap Dance Theatre, Frock at Arts by the Sea Festival 2022 © HotShot Creative
Ghetto Fabulous, Family Catwalk Extravaganza © Adrienne Photography