Open call for submissions

We are accepting submissions for an ambitious, eye-catching and contemporary artwork to fill the glass front of the Festival Theatre. This artwork will provide a public statement of thanks to encompasses our gratitude towards the patrons, audiences and communities that have supported us so far through this uncertain time.

We are are looking for proposals which reflect the scale and prominence of the Festival Theatre in our capital city, with the aim that this piece becomes an attraction in itself, during the festive season, whilst we are unable to welcome our audiences safely back in to our buildings.

For this commission the artists will be required to present designs, deliver and install the artwork, working with and supported by representatives of Capital Theatres team.

Background and context

Capital Theatres presents world-class shows to entertain and inspire audiences of all ages.

We stage over 700 performances each year, at the Festival Theatre (1,900 seats), the King’s Theatre (1,300 seats) and The Studio (155 seats) in a broad and inclusive programme featuring the very best in drama, dance, musical theatre, live music, comedy and pantomime.

We support access to the arts for everyone and have an extensive learning and participation programme of talks, workshops and events to introduce and develop engagement and interest in the heritage of our buildings and all areas of live performance.

In March 2020, we closed our doors to the public in line with the Scottish Government Covid-19 protocols. Normally, our stages would be filled with the best of dance, opera, drama and musicals, our bars and café buzzing with excited theatregoers, and our buildings full of hard-working and passionate staff. Instead we at Capital Theatres have been refocusing our output into the new creative engagement programme: Raise the curtain.  Alongside this we have launched a fundraising campaign to counteract the loss of 90% of our income.

We are very grateful to have received funding from the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to sustain our organisation whilst our venues are closed. We have been blown away by the outpouring of positive public support that saw our public crowdfunder campaign more than double from our original ask fo £35,000 to a final total of over £88,000 With the current restrictions in place in Edinburgh, Capital Theatres is sadly, but understandably, unable to welcome our communities back into venues to offer a heartfelt thanks for all the support, messages and donations. The aim of this commission is to facilitate that thank you, positively signal our continued presence and to engage the wider city through the festive season.

Find out more information about the brief, budget, timescale and how to apply.