Resources and Opportunities for Freelancers | Spring 2025 Roundup
Tue 11 March 2025Part of: Artist Support | Working for Yorkshire Dance as a Freelance Artist | Dance Partners | No Dress Code | Scratch Night
Are you a freelance artist in Yorkshire? Read on for a roundup of resources and current opportunities. The best way to stay up to date with all our artist opportunities is to subscribe to our bi-monthly Artist News.
Apply to Join our Artist Advisory Group for 2025-27
“The Artist Advisory group has been a valuable opportunity to grow my confidence in speaking with similar organisations about my experiences as a freelancer” – Zoe Katsilerou, Artist Advisory Group Member 2023-25
We are looking for four independent artists, based in Yorkshire or the North, to join our Artist Advisory Group. This is a paid position, each artist receives £100 per meeting or event.
We are looking for artists who have an interest in the wider dance sector beyond their own work and are passionate about developing the regional and national dance ecology.
Deadline: 10.00am, 12 May 2025
Apply to join our Artist Advisory Group
Apply for No Dress Code 2025
No Dress Code is our annual informal scratch night offering local artists the opportunity to test work-in-progress in front of a live audience. No Dress Code 2025 takes place at Yorkshire Dance on Friday 21 November in the evening. The event normally features 3 or 4 works-in-progress.
After the performances we display your questions and invite the audience to provide written feedback and share their insights. There are also plenty of opportunities to discuss your work in person with local artists and audiences throughout the evening.
Each dance artist selected to perform receives a fee of £135 and studio space during the week of No Dress Code (if required and available).
Deadline: 11.00am, 23 June 2025
Apply for an Artist Residency
We offer residency space in our building to dance artists who are researching and developing new work. This offer is open to artists who live and work in Yorkshire or have a strong commitment and connection to the Yorkshire region. You can apply for 1 or 2 weeks of studio residency time.
Discounted Studio Space for Artists
Standby studio space is available to book up to a week in advance. All our studios are fully air conditioned with mirrors and natural daylight. Our sound system has just been upgraded and two of our studios contain pianos.
Standby space costs £5.00 per hour and you can view and book available slots on our website.
Get inspired with pay what you can festivals at Yorkshire Dance
We run 3 biennial Encounters Festivals and next up is Collective Encounters, a festival of dance for LGBTQ+ folx and their allies.
Taking place in Leeds on 30- 31 May 2025, Collective Encounters presents bold, inspiring and unique dance performances, talks and workshops celebrating LGBTQ+ identities and allyship. All events are pay what you can.
View Collective Encounters Programme
Book 1-1 Artist Advisories
We offer free 1:1s offering creative and practical advice to dance artists based in and making work in Yorkshire. Whatever your career stage our Producers have a wealth of experience and can advise on a wide range of topics.
Work for Yorkshire Dance as a Freelance Artist
Each year we employ around 100 freelance artists on our regular community programmes across Leeds and Bradford. Each of our projects requires different specialisms. Most of our projects have a lead artist and an assistant artist. You can contact us at any time to let us know you are available for work. Read our Working with Freelancers Policy to learn more.
Use our Artist Co-Working Space
Our free Artist Co-Working Space is located on the first floor of our building. The space includes desks, plug sockets, free Wi-Fi, a dance library and access to the Yorkshire Dance kitchen for tea and coffee. No booking required.
Access Support for Artists at Yorkshire Dance
Yorkshire Dance aims to ensure our artist services are accessible and inclusive for all. We create a ‘braver space’, where you feel able to express yourself in a supportive and empowering way. You will be welcomed and treated with respect by Yorkshire Dance staff and we expect and encourage all our building users to do the same.
You can send us an access rider or we can help you create one.
Read more about Access Support
Other Resources for Freelancers
The Freelance Dancer: The Movement for Dance Workers offer resources including advice on pay rates, networking, wellbeing and finance.
SAIL (Sustainable Arts in Leeds) offer a free Introduction to Climate Change & Sustainability in the Creative and Cultural Sector
WYCreate offer Free Training Opportunities for Creative Freelancers in West Yorkshire
Disclaimer: All links correct at time of posting.
Image credit: Dani Bower