The Liverpool City Region Civic Data Cooperative (CDC) is putting out an exciting call to local artists who live and work in the Liverpool City Region and are passionate about community engagement, data storytelling, and participatory art.
They are seeking up to 8 local artists to co-produce a series of commissioned artworks that will creatively represent important data about the region, culminating in a showcase at the inaugural Festival of Data from 5-7 February 2026.
This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with data analysts, work with local schoolchildren, and help the city region understand how civic data is used to make decisions.
The Commission: Data, Collaboration, and Creativity
This commission is central to the Festival of Data and its goal of harnessing creative and imaginative ideas from within our communities. It is anticipated that the project will run for 6-8 weeks, from late November/early December 2025 through February 2026.
Each commissioned artist will be asked to:
- Collaborate with CDC data analysts to select a compelling dataset about the Liverpool City Region.
- Design and deliver a participatory workshop with local children (aged 10-12), exploring and presenting the selected data through an art activity.
- Produce an artwork based on the workshop outcomes and the chosen data story.
- Present the in-progress or completed work at the Festival of Data in a public, family-friendly exhibition.
Artists are expected to commit up to 8 days across the project period, including preparation and festival delivery time. Details on artist fees and a separate materials budget will be provided upon shortlisting.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome applications from creatives working in any medium—including painting, sculpture, digital art, film, performance, sound, and more.
The essential criteria for applicants are:
- You must be an artist living and working in the Liverpool City Region.
- You should have an interest in community engagement, data storytelling, or participatory practice.
The festival itself is a showcase of the ambitious 5-year work of the CDC, and the final programme will be dynamic and interactive, spanning performing arts, visual arts, digital media, literature, innovation, and science. The commissions will play a vital role in building our data commons and bringing residents into the conversation about civic data use.
How to Apply
To be considered for this unique opportunity, please submit the following materials to hello@louisegarforth.com by the deadline:
- A short proposal (max 2 pages) outlining your interest, initial ideas for a data-driven artwork, and relevant experience.
- A portfolio or examples of previous work.
- A brief CV or artist bio.
The deadline for submissions is 17th October 2025. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the inaugural Festival of Data and help turn complex data into captivating art.
