Cryptic Nights 2026 Open Call
Laurie O’Dowd at Cryptic Nights, May 2025 – Photo by Iona Wheeler
📅 Deadline: 9:00am Monday 13 October 2025
About the Opportunity
We are inviting Scottish based emerging artists to develop existing projects for Cryptic Nights 2026/27. If your work combines original sound or music with performance, installation, screen-based art or technology – we would like to hear from you.
Since 2009, in partnership with Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), Cryptic Nights has supported over 330 artists, many of whom have gone on to have highly successful careers, including Lu Sisi, Anna Meredith, Rachel Maclean and Yann Seznec.
Want to get a feel for what Cryptic Nights is all about? You can check out our archive here.
What We Offer
💵 Fee: £750 per project
🎯 Support: Two mentoring sessions from the Cryptic team
🛠 Development time: Up to three-day technical residency at CCA before your event
📸 Documentation: Professional photography of your work and video documentation
📢 Marketing & PR: Campaign support from Cryptic
🛏 Travel & accommodation: For artists based outside Scotland’s Central Belt
🗣 Audience insights: Feedback pack after your event
🎟 Free tickets: To other Cryptic Nights events
Who Can Apply
✅ Emerging artists based in Scotland (at any stage of life).
An emerging artist may be at the start of their career, changing direction in their practice, or starting to explore new ways of working.
✅ Projects using original sound or music.
✅ Artists who are not in full time education (no formal education experience required).
✅ Works that use technology in new and creative ways.
We are not looking for
❌ Traditional theatre, literature, music, comedy, circus or dance.
❌ New work – this is for developing an existing work only.
We’re particularly keen to support applications from artists underrepresented in the sector, including:
- Black, Asian or ethnically diverse artists
- D/deaf or disabled artists
- Women and gender expansive artists
- LGBTQIA+ artists
- Artists with caring responsibilities
- Working class or low-income background artists
Access
Cryptic is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility.
We want to make sure that our Call Outs are accessible to as many people as possible. We are committed to remove barriers to participation.
If you have any access requirements that you would like us to know about, please include these in your application. We will ensure that access requirements are not a factor in our decision making.
Application
We understand that the application process can present different challenges.
As alternatives to the online application form, we will accept:
- Video or audio applications (submitted through our online application form or via email);
- Word document form (to be filled and returned to us by post or email).
This information and the application form is also available in Easy Read, Screen reader accessible PDFs, Large print etc.
In addition, we can offer:
- An extension for application deadlines, if you need access support.
- An agreed contribution for your access support.
Advice Sessions
💬 Come meet the team and ask any questions!
📍 Monday 15 September, 18:00–19:00. Zoom Online Session
💻 Thursday 25 September, 12:00 – 13:00. In person at CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
📧 RSVP to crypticprojects@gmail.com stating which session you would like to attend.
How to Apply
📝 Complete the application form (✏️Written, 🎥Video or 🎶Audio)
📋 Complete the Inclusion Form (Written, Video or Audio)
The information in the Inclusion Form is vital for us to understand how we might improve our Call Out process and programmes of work. This information is anonymised and is not shared with the shortlisting panel or used in the selection process.
➡️ Apply here: [Link]
To work on your application offline, you can download our application form here: [Link]
Please note: late applications will not be accepted (unless you have requested an extension).
We are a small team and can only offer feedback to shortlisted artists.
Selection Panel: Indigo Korres, Director, SQIFF; Alex Smoke, Musician and Composer and Claire Moran, Executive Producer, Cryptic.
Key Dates
- 💬Advice sessions: Monday 15 September, 18:00–19:00 online and
Thursday 25 September, 12:00 – 13:00 In person at CCA. - 🕛Deadline: 9:00am, Monday 13 October 2025
- 📬 Shortlisting Panel Meeting: Early November 2025
- 🎥Informal Meetings with shortlisted artists only: Late November/Early December 2025
- ✅Confirmation of programmed artists: Mid December 2025
Questions?
If you have any questions we’re happy to help.
Please contact Blair Wallace, Project Coordinator:
Email crypticprojects@gmail.com; or Phone: 0141 354 0544 (Mon–Fri, 10am–5pm)
