The Platform
“I have never felt so encouraged and welcome as an artist’ – Bradley Taylor - Platform Artist
Hay Festival is inviting submissions for the second edition of The Platform, an exciting opportunity for young creatives to showcase and share their work at Hay Festival 2025.
The Platform aims to help promote, support and develop outstanding young creative artists who are at the start of their careers, giving them the opportunity to share their work at Hay Festival.
We are inviting submissions from creatives between the ages of 21-28 who are establishing their practice across a diverse number of art forms including, performance (theatre, dance, street), poetry, digital art, film, audio, music, visual art and literature.
In the first edition of The Platform in 2024 artists Bradley Taylor, Emma Rogerson, Sabine Wilson-Patrick, Paul Koloman Kaiba, Samuel Mansell, Grace Waga Glevey, Martha Bird, Tayla Kenyon Harry Clayton-Lucey and Elliot Waloschek shared poetry, theatre, live art and spoken word art forms with Hay Festival audiences.
“There was so much support for and trust in my idea, which pushed me to be bolder with my creative decisions…the confidence in me/my work allowed me to engage in developing new skills, which is incredibly useful for my practice going forward” – Emma Rogerson
“We could honestly not have felt more supported. The attention to detail was amazing, from being collected from the station, to being reassured that we were completely welcome in the Green Room, we felt looked after respected and celebrated the whole time” – Harry Clayton-Lucey
“The Platform has given me a sense of legitimacy as a young artist” – Sabine Wilson-Patrick
“Being able to spend such a concentrated amount of time with other emerging artists was really informative and taught me a lot and definitely gave me more confidence within my own practice” – Martha Bird
The Platform will take place at Hay Festival on 28 May (the Festival dates are 22 May – 1 June) and operate across the Festival site both indoors and outdoors. The Creative Hub will host indoor events where artists will have a 20/30 minute space to share their work with audiences. Work can also be shared in other locations across the festival site, for example in gardens, meeting places and in The Canteen, a large marquee with street food traders, where they could potentially be longer in length or displayed over an extended period of time if practical.
What are you looking for?
Ultimately the submissions we receive will govern what we do! We are prepared to be flexible with the project in order to accommodate your ideas. The unique gathering of the cultural industries that takes place at Hay Festival will enable the selected artists to not only share their work, but also meet other young and established creatives and develop their career.
Our hope is that The Platform will provide an exciting creative development opportunity and enable all of the participants to go on to achieve their personal artistic ambitions. We are passionate about ideas and want to hear yours!
Your proposal could include anything from poetry to performance. It could be something you have already worked on and previously presented, a section of a larger piece of work or something you want to show for the first time. It could be very simple or quite complex. The context is perhaps the biggest factor to take into consideration, remember that we are based in a field and there are some restrictions on what we can do.
Space and time are limited, we won’t be able to accommodate large casts, complex lighting or huge sets for example. The pieces will all be part of a much larger festival programme, so any extreme noise and disruption will also have to be carefully thought about. If your proposal is an indoor performance the number of participants/performers should not exceed 3 per event, unless they are within daily travelling distance of Hay as we have limited budgets for travel and accommodation. Unfortunately digital projection can be difficult because of light levels, but if you have ideas for projection please still apply!
Abiding by all Hay Festival policies, particularly health and safety, will be mandatory as will an understanding of any age restrictive content. If you want to show something in the Creative Hub then please note the technical specifications below.
Creative Hub specifications
- Approx 20 mins per event - depending on the proposals we receive the time allocation may be able to be extended – but please think in 20 minutes / 20 minute extract
- Size of venue - 10 x 15m – with a hard carpeted floor.
- Performance size available – the space is flat and can be used flexibly, with audiences in rows, in the round or standing
- Power and PA are available
- 2 x 75” large screens available
- The space doesn't offer blackout unfortunately
All Platform events in the Creative Hub will be free but ticketed for audiences
Events in other festival spaces
Work for other spaces on the Festival site will have to take into account audiences, health and safety regulations, timing of other events, location and weather conditions! If your piece is an artwork you/we will have to consider how and where it will be displayed and kept safe from the public (if that is necessary). Power is available in some parts of the festival site but access is limited.
What support will I get?
The aim of The Platform is to help elevate and develop outstanding creative artists at the start of their careers. This is a new initiative for Hay Festival and your participation will be crucial in helping us understand, reflect and respond to the project and how we can continue to support and develop young creatives.
We are able to pay return travel to Hay on Wye for up to 3 people per application, 2 nights accommodation on a glamping site for up to 3 people (if required), meals whilst at the festival for up to 3 people for 1 day and a single event fee of £350.00. Participants must make their own travel arrangements but costs for travel will be reimbursed as set out in the T & C’s below. The Festival site is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Guide dogs are permitted.
All artists will be supported by the Hay Festival’s admin, production and technical teams.
How to Apply
We invite submissions from all creatives between the ages of 21-28 working across diverse art forms, including performance (theatre, dance, outdoor), poetry, digital art, audio, spoken word, sculpture and literature.
The application form asks for the following:
- A short outline of your proposed project (no more than 500 words).
- A CV/biography - including any professional experience (no more than one side of A4) – please attach to the online application or send with the large print form if applying that way.
- Please write a statement outlining your creative ambitions and goals as an artist. (no more than 150 words).
- Please supply links to a website, YouTube, social media, publications, Soundcloud or photographs related to your work.
Only digital applications are accepted either via the digital application form, the Word doc version or by a video/audio application that addresses the same questions (if you wish to apply via this method this guide has some good practical advice). Word doc applications and video/audio links should be sent to platform@hayfestival.org - if sending a video/audio link please ensure the media is easily accessible.
Applications delivered by post and late applications will not be considered.
Deadline for submissions is 12.00pm Thu 3rd April 2025.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- You must be resident, but don’t have to have be born in, the UK.
- You must be aged between 21-28 on the date of your submission.
- You must submit your proposal no later than 12.00pm (GMT) 2 April 2025 via the methods prescribed.
- All proposals must be an original work of the applicant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. Hay Festival accepts no liability if applicants ignore these rules and applicants agree to fully indemnify Hay Festival against any claims by any third party arising from a breach of these rules.
- All applicants agree to take part in project publicity and evaluation.
- Hay Festival reserves the right to cancel or alter the scheme at any stage if deemed necessary, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on www.hayfestival.org/theplatform
- Hay Festival, as data controller, is responsible for handling personal data provided to Hay Festival, in accordance with data protection law. Hay Festival has a legitimate interest in using the personal data for journalistic, artistic and literary purposes and in the public interest and in using the personal data for the performance of the contract with Hay Festival. For more information visit:
https://www.hayfestival.org/legal - By applying for the scheme, entrants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the scheme and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
- Hay Festival reserves the right to disqualify any proposal which breaches any of these terms and conditions or which may bring Hay Festival into disrepute,
- These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
FAQs
After reading the FAQs, if you have any questions or require additional information, please contact: platform@hayfestival.org
How will my application be assessed?
The assessment panel will include members of the Hay Festival Wales content and production team who have many years experience in producing and creating performances (studio, main house, outdoor and site specific), film, audio, visual and installation art and festival events. We will also invite other artists to comment on specific artform applications.
We will be looking for innovation, passion, and a clear focus in terms of your ambitions and aspiration as an artist – but this isn’t an essay, it's just about telling us what excites you!
The assessment will focus on bringing together a diverse and representative group of artists in terms of artforms, location and languages, and any lived experience noted in the application.
We may ask applicants to attend a video call with members of the selection panel, which will give you an opportunity to further explain your proposal. We will give applicants good notice if invited for a follow-up conversation.
How many pieces of work are you looking for?
We envisage between 6-10 pieces, but it will very much depend on the complexity of the proposals we receive.
Can I submit more than one idea?
Yes, but each proposal will require a separate application form. We will only select one idea per applicant.
Is there a production budget?
No. Unfortunately we don’t have the funds to support with personal production costs. We will provide production and technical support at the festival and can provide power, PA and 75” screens in the Creative Hub. You will be responsible for bringing any other materials you require with you. Vehicles won’t be able to drive to the venue, so any materials will have to be carried or via a trolley on site. If your event is complex we may have to undertake a risk assessment. Anything that is venue based will require a detailed running order with technical cues if required.
If your submission is successful we will talk to you in more detail about your production/technical requirements.
How will my travel be reimbursed?
We will reimburse out of pocket expenses standard class, return journey to the Festival from within the UK.
This includes:
- Standard Return Rail Fare
- Coach or Bus Return Fares
- Car/Van Mileage @ 45p per mile
Expenses could be a combination of the above i.e. a train and bus ticket. We can purchase tickets in advance for you, otherwise please retain a receipt, or complete a form for mileage and your travel costs will be reimbursed when you arrive at the Festival.
Where will I be staying?
Participants will be allocated accommodation in in Hay-on-Wye or the surrounding area, depending on availability. Unfortunately, accommodation can be scarce during the Festival period and we are unable to guarantee en-suite rooms. We will pay for 3 people involved in the event for up to two nights.
How does the catering arrangements work? I have food allergies and/or dietary requirements, can you cater for me?
You will receive your meals on the Festival site – these will be on the evening of 27 May and breakfast, lunch and dinner on 28 May. There will be provision for those with food allergies and/or dietary requirements. Coffee, tea and other drinks will be available throughout the day. Please note you will have to pay for any other food or drink purchased outside of our catering or Green Room facilities.
When will I know if my application has been successful?
We will contact all applicants the week beginning 14 April 2024.
If I am unsuccessful, will I receive feedback?
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we may receive, we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. However, with your permission as outlined in the application form GDPR Consent section, we may contact you again to mention further opportunities.
I have a disability or an illness that might make it difficult to take part, can you help?
We are available to discuss any concerns and requirements you may have. The Festival site is fully accessible for wheelchair users, we have a designated Quiet Space and Guide Dogs are permitted. Please contact us to discuss accessibility. We will invite all successful artists to complete an Access form in advance.
And lastly …..this initiative is about supporting young emerging artists. We love ideas at Hay Festival and we want to hear yours. Unfortunately we are limited in the amount of events we can take, so if you aren’t successful this time please don’t be downhearted, there will be other opportunities. In the meantime thank you for your work and thank you for applying!
