Freelance designers or an artist collective

People Dancing; Epsom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A performing arts organization is seeking freelance designers or an artist collective to design the set for a new production scheduled to premiere in March 2027. The role involves creating visually striking environments inspired by natural landscapes. Designers who thrive in collaborative processes are encouraged to apply for this creative opportunity, which offers a fee based on the scope of work. The application deadline is January 6, 2026.

Benefits

Fee for creative conversations

Paid position above equity minimum

Per diems and travel accommodation if required

Qualifications

• Experience in designing set for performances.
• Ability to create visually striking environments.
• Knowledge of minimalist aesthetics.

Responsibilities

• Design the set for a new production based on natural environments.
• Participate in creative conversations and collaborative processes.
• Engage with the audience experience through design.

Skills

Collaborative processes

Improvised practice

Creating welcoming spaces

Understanding audience experience

Job description

Freelance designers or an artist collective

Salary: This is paid position, above equity minimum, and to be agreed once the scope of the design work is agreed

Deadline: 06 January 2026

Interview Date: Monday 19th Jan, Wednesday 21st Jan or Friday 23rd Jan 2026

We are seeking freelance designers or an artist collective to design the set for our new production, due to premiere in March 2027.

We’re looking for creatives who thrive in collaborative processes and improvised practice, who create visually striking, accessible, welcoming spaces that are informed by the audience experience.

Our design ambition is to pursue a minimalist aesthetic that supports audiences to engage in multiple ways through moving, feeling, listening, lying down and watching. We hope to draw inspiration from natural environments in and around water, incorporating an organic, nature inspired colour palette to evoke the atmosphere and movement of these landscapes while avoiding literal representations of water.

Key Dates

Application deadline: Tuesday 6th January at 5pm.

Interviews: these will take place on Monday 19th Jan, Wednesday 21st Jan or Friday 23rd Jan. This is an initial meeting that will allow you to tell us more about your working practice.

From the interviews we will select 2-3 artists for a paid creative conversation's day.

Creative conversations day: One of the following days: 9, 11, 13, 23, 25 or 27 February (all day) This will be a chance to spend time creatively together looking at mood boards, initial ideas and discussing process. It’s a chance for you to understand more about our working practice and aesthetic and share how your design-process would respond to this. A fee of £300 will be offered to include preparation time (watching a video link, listening to audio description, looking at mood boards from R&D so far) as well as your time during the day.

Design, development and testing:

R&D on Water will continue throughout 2026.

Exact dates TBC, but it is anticipated we will work:

• 1 week between 6 – 17 April
• 17 – 28 August
• 1 week Between 12 – 24 October
• Creation will take place from 25 January 2027
• Production week: February 2027 TBC

We do not anticipate the designer will be required for the full development period and we have a degree of flexibility around dates.

Fee: This is paid position, above equity minimum, and to be agreed once the scope of the design work is agreed.

In addition, per diems, travel and accommodation will be provided should this be required for you to fulfil the obligations of this role.

Further information about how to apply is available via the link below.

LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street
Leicester, LE1 1RE
[e-mail]