SICK! (Manchester, UK) is seeking two Finnish or Finland-based artists in the Oulu region and one Manchester-based artist to develop and present new participatory artworks as part of the International Time Travel project—a cross-border collaboration supported by the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland and Oulu2026.

These new works will be presented at SICK! Festival 2026 in Manchester and as part of the Oulu2026, European Capital of Culture programme.

About the project 

International Time Travel (ITT) connects the past, present and future of Oulu and Manchester, two post-industrial cities whose stories have been shaped by migration, social change, and resilience. Working closely with communities in both cities, the selected artists will develop participatory artworks that explore themes of sustainability, migration, and/or industry, culminating in public presentations in Manchester (May 2026) and Oulu (Summer 2026). ITT connects directly to the Travel Agency” concept developed for Oulu2026 by ILME, a creative collective known for immersive, participatory experiences rooted in Oulu’s cultural and environmental context. 

About the Open Call 

Themes & artistic focus

Artists should respond to the overarching framework of International Time Travel and at least one of the following themes:

• Sustainability: ecological responsibility, climate grief, green justice
• Migration: sanctuary, diaspora, displacement, identity
• Industry: working-class legacy, labour futures, economic transformation

Proposals should reflect socially engaged and/or participatory practices. Artists may work in any art form—such as performance, digital media, sound, or public realm—but the work must be designed to resonate with the public and actively involve them in its development and/or presentation. SICK! Festival would also encourage proposals to describe any specific communities their proposed project would seek to engage.

Structure and design 

The project design and schedule will be developed with the commissioned party, incorporating the following areas:

• Residencies – It is expected that SICK! will host fully supported onsite residencies to support the development of each work, within the city of Manchester (UK) where they are based, and in Oulu (Finland), supported by our collaborators ILME and the Oulu 2026 team.

• Presentations – Artists will ensure participation is central to their projects and the work remains relevant across both cities. To allow the artists to connect the final presentation to its contexts, physical sites (where relevant) will be defined during the residency periods. The final work will be presented at SICK! Festival (May 2026) and as part of the Oulu2026 programme (schedule TBC – Summer 2026).

• International Digital Exchange Programme – Artists selected for the project will participate in an international digital exchange, supported by SICK!’s Historical and Community Consultant, Dr Matthew Stallard, and the NOW Fellows—a multidisciplinary cohort working with SICK! to explore pressing social and cultural issues through creative, community-focused research.

This collaborative framework provides artists with opportunities to engage in on-the-ground research, share practice and insight with fellow commissioned artists from the UK and Finland, and shape the thematic direction of the overall International Time Travel project.

Key milestones

• 1 June 2025 – Call opens
• 4 July 2025 (12 noon, UK time) – Online information session (In English)
• 25 July 2025 (5pm, UK time) – Application deadline
• August 2025 – Interviews & appointment
• September 2025 – Project start date
• May 2026 –SICK! Festival 2026 presentation
• Summer 2026 (TBC) – Oulu, European Capital of Culture 2026 presentation

Artist fee structure 

To ensure fairness across both the Finnish and UK contexts, all artists will receive the same total fee, calculated using ILME’s standard artist rate of €3,224 per month + 32% on costs. Fees are based on the equivalent of 10 weeks (2.5 months) of engagement, inclusive of the research, development, residency and presentation period.

Finnish Artists (x2)

• Total fee per artist: €10,639, which includes:
  • €8,060 paid directly to the artist
  • €2,579 paid by the project to cover statutory employer costs, following Finnish employment regulations (e.g. pension, social insurance).

UK Artist (x1)

• Total fee: €10,639
  • Paid directly as a freelance fee
  • The artist is responsible for their own tax, pension, and insurance arrangements
  • Estimated UK equivalent: approx. £9,100 GBP (based on €1 = £0.855)

This structure ensures all artists are equally valued and compensated, with adjustments made to suit different employment systems.

Additional Resources & Support

In addition to the artist fee all commissioned artists will receive the following support: 

• International travel– Accommodation, per diems, and travel costs for international activity in the partner city will be covered. 
• Production budget – Each project will receive a dedicated production budget of £1,500–£3,000 GBP, depending on the proposal.
• Creative producing – Ongoing support from producers in both cities for logistics, planning, and local facilitation.

As well as, mentoring, bespoke access support (as needed), marketing and communications. 

This support is designed to enable artists to focus on deep engagement, collaborative making, and public presentation, ensuring that work is grounded, supported, and impactful across both Oulu and Manchester.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from:

• Finnish and Finland based artists in the Oulu region and Manchester based artists with socially engaged, community-led, or activist practices
• Artists with a connection to Oulu or Manchester. NB: Due to SICK!’s ongoing commitment to North Manchester, we particularly encourage proposals from artists based in, or with a strong connection to, the north of the city
• Artists interested in exploring themes of sustainability, migration, and/or industry
• Practitioners experienced in participatory approaches, working closely with communities over time
• Artists eager to collaborate internationally and co-create across diverse cultural and social contexts

How to Apply

Please submit no more than 2 A4 pages including the following:

• An outline of your work, including a description of your artistic practice, key themes you have explored, and how these relate to or prepare you for this project.
• Your interest in the project, specifically your response to the themes of International Time Travel, and sustainability, migration, and/or industry. Please include any initial ideas and details of communities you hope to engage with.

We also accept applications in video format (maximum length: 8 minutes), addressing the points above. Applications should be made in English.

Deadline: 25 July 2025, 5pm (UK time)
Submit to: info@sickfestival.com

For those interested in hearing more about the project, there will be an information session held in English on the 4th of July 2025 at 12pm (UK time) via Zoom. Please email info@sickfestival.com for more information. 

SICK! Festival is a long-term development partner of the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland.