Cryptic Nights 2027/28 Open Call

About the Opportunity

We are inviting Scottish based emerging artists to develop existing projects for Cryptic Nights 2027/28. 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, Cryptic Nights has supported 350+ artists, many of whom have gone on to have highly successful careers, including Lu Sisi, Anna Meredith, Rachel Maclean and SHHE.

Want to get a feel for what Cryptic Nights is all about? You can check out our archive here.

What We Offer

• Fee: £800 for solo artists and up to a max of £2000 for group
• Support: One mentoring session from the Cryptic team
• Development time: Up to two-day residency plus performance/presentation
• 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 who are currently 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

Selection Panel: Sonia Killmann, Musician and Composer; Daira Ronzini, artist; and Cathie Boyd from Cryptic.

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.

We are members of Keychange and have made a commitment to achieve gender parity across our programmes of work.

We will work with all applicants to ensure their access needs are met during the selection and presentation process and will ensure that access requirements are not a factor in our decision making. If you have any access requirements that you would like us to know about, please include these in your application.

There is an access budget to support the needs of D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent applicants or those with caring responsibilities. We will work with you to understand your specific needs and will be supportive in discussing these with you at any stage of the application and selection process. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

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 of up to £150 for access support in making your application.

Advice Sessions

Come meet the team and ask any questions!

• Wednesday 21 October, 12-1pm in person at the Cryptic Office, 5 Florence Street, Glasgow, G5 0YX
• Tuesday 3 November, 6-7pm Zoom online session

To reserve a 20-minute slot, please contact Lizzie Urquhart at crypticprojects@gmail.com or WhatsApp, text or phone (0)7836 358136 Monday-Thursday between 10am and 5pm.

How to Apply

• Complete the application form (written, video or audio)
• Complete the inclusion form (written, video or audio)

Apply here: https://www.cryptic.org.uk/cryptic-nights-2027-28-application-form/

To work on your application offline, you can download our application form here.

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.

Key Dates

• Advice sessions: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 12-1pm in person // Tuesday 3 November 2026, online
• Deadline: 12 noon, Thursday 19 November 2026
• Shortlisting Panel Meeting: Late November/Early December 2026
• Informal Meetings with shortlisted artists only: January 2027
• Confirmation of programmed artists: February 2027