The University of Bristol Theatre Collection is seeking a freelance artist to co-create and deliver a series of creative workshops inspired by the John Fox and Sue Gill Archive with a local community group based at the Wellspring Settlement, Barton Hill, Bristol.
John Fox and Sue Gill were founding members of the radical theatre company Welfare State International and later Dead Good Guides. Their own collection - the John Fox and Sue Gill Archive (1968-present) - records the artists’ personal creative journeys through over 100 boxes of notebooks, research and development, photographs and recordings. The funding for the commission has been made available as part of a larger grant from The National Archives and their Archives Revealed grant programme.
We are looking for a socially engaged practitioner with experience working with collaboratively with communities, an interest in archives, and a practice connected to themes of nature, gardening, celebration, and ceremony. Strong communication skills and adaptability are essential.
The workshops will be held on Thursdays at the University of Bristol Barton Hill Micro-campus between February-April 2026 and cater for a local community of 10-12 individuals with mixed access needs. The community group meet on Thursdays so the successful artist will need to be available on this day of the week.
Applications open: Friday 19th December 2025
Applications close: Midnight, Sunday 11th January 2026
Artists fee: £4,800 based on 16 days across 2-3 months at £300.00 per day
For an informal conversation about the role and application process please contact athene.bain@bristol.ac.uk or becky.peters@bristol.ac.uk.
To read more, including artists roles/responsibilities and how to apply, please see:
Artist brief: Artist Call Out - Fox and Gill Archives Revealed (PDF, 67kB)
How to apply: Further details - Fox and Gill Archives Revealed (PDF, 87kB)