Organizer Information

Founded in 2020 by father-and-daughter artist team Robert and Saskia Singer, Narture CIC is a community food and arts social enterprise operating in Ayr, Scotland. Narture transforms vacant, derelict town center buildings into a regenerative creative ecosystem funded by its social enterprise sourdough bakery. Reinvesting income into creative apprenticeships, affordable studios, and public programming, Narture operates across five spaces—including KNEAD (bakery), SHAPE (event venue), MAKE (residency studio), CREATE (risograph & darkroom), and STUDIOS—built on the foundational belief that "everyone is an artist".

Narture Culture Collective Call for Creative Practitioners (2026–2027)

Title & Description

Narture Culture Collective 2026–2027: Call for Creative Practitioners

Narture CIC is inviting socially engaged creative practitioners to join its Culture Collective team in Ayr for a year-long, participatory community-led arts initiative. Funded by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the project is a process-led inquiry examining what Ayr needs to thrive creatively across themes of wellbeing, place, and community connection. Centered around The Auld Toy Shop—a newly reopened, former derelict toy shop in Ayr—and Narture's CREATE risograph print studio and darkroom, selected practitioners will co-design participatory workshops, creative conversations, interviews, and public events alongside local residents.

Categories

The call accepts practitioners across All Creative Disciplines, includingL

  • Visual Arts
  • Photography
  • Sculpture
  • Textiles
  • Mixed Media
  • Graphics/Design
  • Film
  • Performance
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Theatre
  • Dance
  • Illustration
  • Food Practice
  • and Interdisciplinary Work.

Eligibility

  • Age Requirement: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Professional Status: Applicants must be registered self-employed and hold Public Liability Insurance.
  • Background Check: Selected practitioners must be willing to complete a PVG/Enhanced Disclosure check through Narture CIC.
  • Geographic Scope: Applications are open to practitioners across Scotland (with travel support available where appropriate).
  • Core Skills: Demonstrated experience or strong interest in participatory, co-designed, and socially engaged creative practices.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Artist Fees: Paid in strict alignment with Scottish Artists Union (SAU) recommended rates at £296.80 per full day (£148.40 per half day), with longer engagements paid pro-rata according to experience.
  • Project Expenses: Dedicated, project-appropriate materials budget and travel support budget.
  • Institutional Support: Dedicated project coordination, onboarding induction, community outreach, and participant recruitment provided by Narture's arts team.
  • Professional Development: Bespoke Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training programme developed by professional educators.
  • Sustainable Mobility: Local access to an e-cargo bike for eco-friendly transport and moving workshop materials around Ayr.

Application Fee

The application process is 100% free to enter.

Application Requirements

  1. Submission Dossier: Proposal outlining your creative practice, experience in participatory/socially engaged work, and how your approach connects to Narture's key thematic pillars (Play, Place, Food, Learning, Hope, Care).
  2. Access & Diversity Focus: Projects engaging underrepresented communities or residents facing barriers to cultural participation (low-income households, isolated older adults, neurodivergent residents, young people outside mainstream education, carers, etc.) are strongly encouraged.

How to Apply

Review application guidelines and submit your application digitally. Applicants needing alternative formats or access support can contact the project coordinator directly.

Key Dates

  • Application Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM BST
  • Project Delivery Timeline: September 2026 – September 2027 (flexible start dates and varied project timescales available)

Location

Initial application processing takes place online. Project delivery, community workshops, and artistic engagements take place live in:

  • The Auld Toy Shop & CREATE Studio, Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Additional Details

Narture maintains a dedicated Access Budget to ensure an accessible application and working environment. Personal details provided during application are processed strictly for recruitment and interview purposes.

Website Link: Narture CIC Web Portal

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