Hidden Door 2027 Visual Art Open Call: Scotland-Based Artists, Up to £1,500 Project Budget
Hidden Door, Edinburgh's independent multidisciplinary arts festival, has opened its 2027 Visual Art call under the creative direction 'Afterlives of Use'. Scotland-based artists are invited to present or adapt existing visual artworks and works already in progress for an unusual temporary festival site in Edinburgh. Applications close Thursday 3 December 2026. The festival expects to run in early June 2027, but has not yet confirmed its exact dates or venue. Selected artists can propose an itemised budget of up to £1,500 per artwork or application, INCLUDING their own artistic fees, installation, equipment, travel and other costs. This is a budget ceiling, not an automatic £1,500 stipend and NOT funding for developing entirely new artworks from scratch.
Eligibility: geographical and experience conditions
Be based wholly or partly in Scotland, OR have graduated from a Scottish art school within the previous three years.
Have completed an art-related degree, OR demonstrate at least five years of sustained practice as a self-taught artist.
Current undergraduate students are ineligible, though postgraduate students may apply.
Individual artists and existing collaborations are accepted; collaborative budgets share the same £1,500 total ceiling.
International artists living completely outside Scotland without recent Scottish art-school graduation do not qualify automatically.
Theme and artwork scope
'Afterlives of Use' examines how neglected spaces, objects, materials, memories and images gain new meaning when reused or reimagined. Hidden Door has historically transformed former council depots, unused arches, old schools and industrial spaces into temporary art exhibitions. The organisers want actual existing or in-progress works with a persuasive plan for adapting them to unknown locations. They do not commission an unrelated brand-new work under this call. Painting, sculpture, photographic installation, video, digital projection, sound-crossing visual art and mixed media may be considered if the piece suits festival conditions.
Application package and AI condition
Provide a description of the proposed work, current progress, remaining tasks and connection to 'Afterlives of Use'.
Describe approximate physical dimensions, duration, technical needs, power and how the artwork can adapt to an unfamiliar site.
Submit an itemised budget including artist labour, preparation, transport, equipment, installation and removal.
Include up to eight reference images of the actual work; video/audio links may provide supporting evidence.
Provide a 50-word artist biography and 50-word project description for potential publicity.
For visual mockups or sketches of unfinished components, the organiser specifically says not to use generative AI imagery.
Any interest in an extra collaboration is entirely optional and separate fees would be negotiated later.
Fees, selection and dates
The official visual-art page does not announce a public application fee. This is not evidence that every participant receives £1,500 or that funding covers unlimited work. The published cap is £1,500 TOTAL, for both artist fees and all expenses, with the organiser warning most accepted proposals may receive less. Artists should use Scottish Artists' Union rates for labour calculations. The selection panel includes Hidden Door staff, practising artists and curators; it will assess creative relevance, quality, feasibility and budget. Notification is planned for 11 January 2027, site visits in January–February, installation around mid-May and take-down around mid-June, subject to venue confirmation.
Organiser background and rights
Hidden Door is a recognised community arts festival in Edinburgh known for activating previously unused urban structures with contemporary art, theatre, music and performance. It publishes past venues and its team and offers selected artists mentoring opportunities with Creative Edinburgh for three visual artists. Attendance and installation obligations become part of a later written artist agreement. Ask about permissions for use of images and filmed performances and any access requirements before signing, since displaying an artwork does not automatically transfer its copyright to the festival.
Official application and guidance
Hidden Door 2027: full official visual art application rules: https://hiddendoorarts.org/call-for-submissions/hidden-door-2027-visual-art-open-call/
Hidden Door 2027 calls across media: https://hiddendoorarts.org/call-for-submissions/
Verified 24 October 2026. Deadline Thursday 3 December 2026. The £1,500 cap includes all budget categories. Geographical eligibility is explicitly restricted.