Artist Opportunity: Bright & Wild 2026 - Performing Arts Commission
Lyra’s Thursday Young Artists (ages 9-11) want to commission an experienced Lead Artist to create a new live performance for the 2026 Bright & Wild festival.
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The Commission includes:
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Lead Artist fee of £5365 (based on 30 days at £185 per day)
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A budget of £1,500 for materials and collaborators
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Free theatre, studio and hot desk space at Lyra
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Facilitator and Youth Arts Workers to support the sessions and collaborate with.
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A Festival Designer to collaborate with and bring the work to life.
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Producer support, creative mentoring and dramaturgical input.
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Opportunities to share the progress of your work with invited audiences and industry professionals.
Who can apply?
The Lead Artist can be from any live performance background including dance, parkour, music, circus, installation, theatre, storytelling, live art, moving image and more. Cross-disciplinary proposals from independent artists, collectives or companies are also welcome.​
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Project Timescale:
The successful Artist(s) will deliver weekly sessions with the Performing Arts group after school on Thursdays from October 2025 - June 2026. The final performances will be presented at the 2026 Bright & Wild festival in the w/c 8 June 2026. (See the Job Pack for a more detailed schedule)
How to Apply & Deadline:
Download the JOB PACK (2025/26 Bright & Wild Commission) for more information about the opportunity and how to apply.
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If you are happy that you meet the requirements of the role, please send us your Expression of Interest by Monday 1 September, 5pm.
Summary of the Application Process/Timeline:
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Deadline for Expression of Interest: Monday 1 September, 5pm 
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Shortlisted Candidates invited to prepare a Commission Proposal: Thursday 4 September 
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Deadline for Commission Proposals: Monday 15 September, 5pm 
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Shortlisted Candidates invited to run a practical 'pitch your idea' workshop: Friday 19 September 
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Practical Workshops: Thursday 25 September
If you have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Engagement Producer (anna@lyra.co.uk) for an informal conversation about your application.
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Programming​
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Lyra’s theatre is programmed by our teenage Young Curators – they make the choices and control the programming budget for Artspace. They programme professional shows for young audiences and their families living in the Greater Craigmillar community. They want the shows they programme to be “MOVING, EXCITING, FUNNY, INCLUSIVE, INTERACTIVE and REFLECTIVE of our COMMUNITY”. Lyra’s Young Curators enjoy a variety of different genres and styles with shows for different age groups that surprise and challenge them. The Young Curators have confirmed their programme and budget for 2025-26.
Sometimes we can present shows that come with their own funding - please bear in mind we don't charge for tickets at Lyra. Please contact Executive Producer James Preston (james@lyra.co.uk) with as much information as possible including a video link, technical specification, target age range.
Lyra makes and tours our own work by professional grown-ups for young audiences in communities of significant multiple deprivation. We also support Scottish artists and companies to produce, test and present work for young audiences at Artspace. Whilst we don’t directly commission work, we may be able to offer a combination of studio and/or theatre space, artistic, dramaturgical and producer advice. We aim to share our available resources and expertise for the benefit of our community and the wider children and young people’s arts sector. In return for Lyra’s support, we ask companies to connect with our audiences, previewing and/or premiering their work with our Young Artists and local community. Where Lyra’s Young Artists have been contributed to the development of a new work, we ask that they are appropriately credited – and, of course, they love being invited to a premiere!
Please be aware that Lyra runs its own busy engagement programme and the Young Artists already have a packed schedule. Artists and companies who would like to test ideas and/or run extra workshops with our participants will need to budget for additional staffing to recruit and organise new workshops and 'test/focus' groups. Lyra is always available to support this process and give guidance and advice. If you’d like to discuss a potential partnership, please contact Executive Producer James Preston (james@lyra.co.uk) in the first instance.
Volunteering
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As a small charity, we appreciate the kind support of volunteers.
Whether you are interested in supporting young people to attend a workshop or chaperoning a performance or volunteer your specialist skills, we would love to hear from you.
To register as a volunteer please email: lyra@lyra.co.uk