Open call: Visual Arts Commission - Oidhche nam Bàrd
Deadline for applications - 23 May 2026, 5pm
A unique visual arts commission from Glasgow Life
Oidhche nam Bàrd / Night of the Poets: Poetry in Art and Sound - is a landmark national celebration of Gaelic poetry taking place in Tramway, Glasgow, on 10 September 2026. It will weave together the Gaelic voices of the past and the words of our greatest living poets, brought to life through live performance, music, and visual projection.
Artists are invited to submit proposals for digital visual art work to be presented as part of this live performance.
We are seeking artists who are interested in exploring the relationship between poetry, sound and image, Gaelic archive and contemporary practice, memory, and identity within their visual arts practice.
It is within the scope for the final digital work to be included in a future exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art.
Proposals should clearly outline how the work engages with at least one of the following:
- A creative interpretation of a) archival material and b) contemporary responses relating to Gaelic art, poetry, language, or cultural identity, working within the appropriate rights or permissions for third party material.
- Newly created digital visual work that responds to the themes of Gaelic poetry, sound, and live performance.
Submissions are welcomed from artists working with image and film, digital and projection-based work, animation, photography, or painting and drawing (adapted for projection).
Submissions can be from an individual or a collective.
The selected artist(s) will work in collaboration with a curatorial panel to develop visual content within a Gaelic context. The work will form an integral part of the live event.
*For fuller info on the development process, and technical spec, scroll down to the text on a colour background (bottom of page)*
About you
Experience in working with projection or performance is desirable but not essential. The successful candidate will be supported by an AV Technician to realise the ambition of their work.
Fluent spoken and written Gaelic is desirable but not essential - translations of all materials will be provided.
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Fee - £3,000
(for development, production, and delivery of final visual content.)
Application Information
In one PDF, please include:
• Up to three examples of previous work (relevant to projection, moving image, or large-scale visual work where possible)
• Short artist biography of max 250 words inc links to website / social media links
• A statement of no more than 500 words outlining your interest in the project and its themes
• An exhibition proposal of no more than 500 words describing your visual approach and how it might respond to Gaelic poetry in a live, immersive context
How to Apply
Email your PDF to GL.LearningTeam@glasgowlife.org.uk no later than 5pm on 23 May
Use the email subject line:
Oidhche nam Bàrd – Visual Arts Submission (Your Name)
Dates / Process
Event: 10 September 2026
Venue: Tramway, Glasgow
Development Period: June - September 2026 (including collaboration and production phases)
The artist(s) will work with a production team to realise the work .
Presented by Glasgow Life, this commission sits within a long-established strand of work dedicated to supporting, developing, and promoting Gaelic arts and culture in Glasgow and beyond.
Process
The selected artist(s) will work in dialogue with a curatorial panel and wider creative team, including poets and musicians.
The collaboration will involve periodic check-ins and shared development, rather than continuous co-creation.
Artists will retain primary creative control over the visual work.
Input from the wider team will focus on the visuals’ alignment with the performance’s overall tone, pacing, and artistic concept.
The development period will run from June to September 2026, including:
● Initial concept development
● Collaborative discussions with the creative team
● Production and refinement of final visual contenty.
Technical Brief
The visual work will be presented across three projection surfaces within the performance space:
● One central 4:3 projection screen (14ft x 10.5ft), capable of both front and rear projection
● Two additional projection areas utilising the black painted proscenium walls in Tramway 1 (approx. 10m wide total span).
Available projection equipment includes:
● Panasonic PT-RZ660 (1.7–2.4:1 standard lenses, one DLE085 0.82–1.03:1)
● Panasonic PT-FRQ50 (fixed 1.46–2.93:1 lenses).
Proposals should be designed specifically for this multi-surface setup. Artists may choose to:
● Create a single composition spanning all three surfaces, or
● Develop complementary or discrete visual elements across the central screen and side walls.
Please note:
● All projection surfaces are flat and fixed
● Projection onto performers, 3D objects, floors, or alternative formats (e.g. monitors, overhead projectors) is not within scope
● Work should function cohesively across the duration of the performance.