Commissioning brief

We seek to commission original works of art that respond to research conducted as part of the MultiLX project, Strategies to Strengthen European Linguistic Capital in a Globalised World. The project explores communication in multilingual and minoritised language contexts across Europe.

The form of the commissioned work is open. Proposals may include, for example, theatre, dance, music, song, visual art, large-scale installation, sculpture, digital storytelling, virtual reality, street art, graphic art, prose fiction, poetry, puppetry, film, video, social media, animation, or video gaming. Final creative outputs must be submitted by Friday, 16 October 2026.

Commissioned artists will work closely with MultiLX researchers to engage with and understand the project’s findings. The artistic brief is to create a work that communicates key research insights in an accessible and compelling way for diverse audiences.

Artists will be expected to present or perform their commissioned work at a minimum of three MultiLX dissemination and impact events, at which key findings will be shared with targeted audiences. Scheduled events include:

• 6 November 2026 – Lucerne, Switzerland
• 4 December 2026 – Glasgow, Scotland
• 21 January 2027 – Online
• March 2027 – United States
• 14 April 2027 – Berlin, Germany
• 11 June 2027 – Târgu Mureș, Romania
• 3–4 December 2027 – Oslo, Norway

Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for these events will be covered.

The commission forms part of a collaborative process involving several meetings with the research team between commissioning and completion. Researchers will observe and document the creative process, including through interviews and reflective activities, as artists work in partnership with the team. To support meaningful collaboration, applicants should be based in the UK.

Applications

We welcome proposals from creative practitioners using the link at the bottom of this page. Applicants are encouraged to explain the nature of their creative practice, including evidence of previous work where possible. The main part of the proposal should detail the creative work you propose to carry out and explain how it will engage with MultiLX research. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of experts in creative practice and sociolinguistic research.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 1 April 2026 22:00 BST. We expect to interview shortlisted candidates on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

Please note that we are unable to provide individual feedback on applications.

Fees and expenses

The fee for production of the creative output is up to £9,500, inclusive of VAT. This fee includes any costs and materials involved in the production of the creative output. Artists can bid for up to £9,500 as a maximum amount, providing a brief breakdown and justification of costs. Additional expenses for required travel and accommodation to attend MultiLX dissemination and impact events will be paid at the standard rate.

Essential and desirable criteria

Essential:

• Ability to independently produce high-quality creative outputs.
• Experience of engaging with diverse audiences.
• Experience of collaborating effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to offer unique and original perspectives.
• Ability to deliver creative projects to tight timescales.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in an academic research context and/or collaborating with academic researchers.
• Experience of working in relation to one or more of the following themes:
  • Language and migration; The impact of digitalisation; Multilingualism in education and/or society; Endangered languages in Europe; Language policy.