Making Things Move
A Hands-On Robotics Workshop for Makers. What if your artwork could breathe, blink, or hesitate?
Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands
CVAN EM celebrates and supports visual arts and culture in the region, fostering an inclusive long-term future for the sector, emphasising equity and access for all arts workers.
Latest Activity
Updates, features, and insights from the visual arts community.
Better Together #17: From Survival to Strategy | Building Stronger, More Sustainable Arts Organisations
The session will include practical advice, common pitfalls and space for live questions around funding, income and sustainability.
Ode to the Midlands Commissioned Artists Announcement
CVAN EM and CVAN WM are proud to announce the artist and organisation partnerships for Ode to the Midlands (OttM), a major new cross-regional programme investing in artists, organisations, and audiences across the Midlands through digital contemporary art.
19 May 2026
Events & Exhibitions
Discover exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances events and creative activity across the region.
Mon to Sat – 10am-5pm Sun – 10am-4pm Bank Holidays – 10am-4pm
Chippy Tea A Seat at the Table
A legacy exhibition dedicated to the community-focused event, Chippy Tea. Chippy Tea is a recurring supper held at the Hub, bringing together people who identify as ‘outsiders’ to share personal stories around identity and belonging. Attendees are welcomed with a portion of chips (and a sauce of their choice) and invited into an informal, welcoming space for conversation, listening, and connection. Over time, Chippy Tea has become a moment of personal and cultural exchange, intergenerational conversation, and community care.
28 Mar 2026 - 05 Jul 2026
Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Mon to Sat – 10am-5pm Sun – 10am-4pm Bank Holidays – 10am-4pm
Raisa Kabir: I only dance, I wish we could sing
Raisa Kabir is an interdisciplinary artist and weaver based in London. Kabir utilises woven text and textiles, sound, video, and performance to materialise multiple concepts concerning the cultural politics of cloth. Kabir’s practice foregrounds excluded narratives and traces the histories of textile technologies originating in East, Central, and South Asia, which have directly influenced European centres of technology and weaving knowledge.
28 Mar 2026 - 05 Jul 2026
Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Mon to Sat – 10am-5pm Sun – 10am-4pm Bank Holidays – 10am-4pm
Sofía Barbé: These Friends of Ours
Expressive creatures tell a playful, other-worldly story in this sculptural series by Sofía Barbé. Working with mixed media, including discarded wood cuttings, wire, needle felting, and paint, Sofía creates tactile figures; characters defined by their distinctive poses and expressions. Alongside these are felted wall hangings that tell visual stories, with certain characters reappearing across the works.
28 Mar 2026 - 05 Jul 2026
Navigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Jobs & Opportunities
Funding opportunties, residencies, creative roles, commissions, open calls, and professional or creative development.
£30,024 - £32,597 (pay award pending)Urgent
Exhibitions Officer
Working predominantly at Lincoln Museum and Usher Art Gallery but not excluding the other sites within the portfolio of the Heritage Service including Lincoln Castle, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, the Exhibitions Officer (known internally as the Exhibitions and Interpretation Officer) will deliver an audience focused, exciting public programme of exhibitions and events to assist in driving visitor volume and deepening engagement with our venues and collections.
Deadline: 21 Jun 2026
Free - £5
Open Call for Biodiversity & Climate Art
Insecta Collective CIC welcomes artists at all stages of career to submit climate & biodiversity themed artwork for inclusion in their upcoming physical and digital exhibition and eco extravaganza. Most mediums will be considered, with some size restrictions and limits on film & video, (see website for full details). Small prizes will be awarded to three winners in each category (youth and adult). Alongside the open call, artists can choose to donate a print of their work to raise money for wildlife charities and exhibit eco zines. Additionally, an opportunity to utilise the workshop space within the gallery to make nature themed artwork alongside Insecta Collective during the 3 week exhibition, Mon - Thursday, 9am - 4:30pm. This would be a public facing role, co-creating participatory artwork & interacting with visitors. Email us for further details if this is something you are interest in.
Deadline: 26 Jun 2026
Free Studio Space
Studio Residency, BACKLIT, Nottingham 2026-27
OPEN CALL: Funded 9-Month Studio Space Residency at BACKLIT, Nottingham Are you an early-career creative struggling to grow your practice without a dedicated workspace? No Jobs in the Arts x BACKLIT, Nottingham is offering one small studio space entirely for free for 9 months to help you experiment and explore new ideas. Underrepresented artists and creatives living or working close to Nottingham city centre are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The studio space is located at BACKLIT, Alfred House Ashley Street Alfred House, Nottingham NG3 1JG England. How to apply, eligibility, and more information on our website: https://www.nojobsinthearts.co.uk/creative-opportunities/studio-residency-backlit/
Deadline: 29 Jun 2026
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