Milton Keynes Arts Centre specialises in developing projects involving local, national and international artists working with, and in response to briefs determined by, marginalised or disadvantaged communities across the city. These projects are designed to address, through creativity, the local and global issues affecting people’s lives: from climate change to poverty, loneliness and social mobility; and through this to support social cohesion, wellbeing, environmental responsibility and skills development.

Our projects vary in scale and duration but we prioritise those that have the potential to make a meaningful and long-term positive impact on people’s lives, which lead to the production of high-quality artwork, and involve partnership working – including with other artists in MK.

The research and development of our projects should by visible to all our users, with opportunities for a wide number of people to support or participate in the projects both in person and online, via the organisation’s website or through related social media platforms.

Please note, Milton Keynes Arts Centre is NOT a grant-giving organisation and we are unable to support one-off events or workshops. Most of our projects are delivered on budgets of between £10,000 - £50,000 and we fundraise to meet these costs. It is rare for us to accept unsolicited proposals and we may be compelled to turn down even the best proposals if we do not have the capacity or feel that we will be unable to secure the funds necessary to deliver them. If we are interested in your proposal, a minimum lead-in period of 12 months should be expected.

Milton Keynes Arts Centre is committed to paying artists fairly. We particularly welcome proposals from artists who are underrepresented in the cultural sector and who reflect the diversity of communities in Milton Keynes. Any artists we work with must be able to evidence both experience of working with community groups and of high-quality outputs. They will also be expected to provide their own Public Liability Insurance, evidence of a recent DBS check, proof of their employment status and right to work in the UK.

Discover some of our previous projects.

If you wish to submit a proposal to Milton Keynes Arts Centre for a project please send a CV, a link to your website or images of your work, and a proposal to hello@miltonkeynesartscentre.org

In your proposal, please outline the following:

• Who are the people you propose working with in developing the project?

• What need is the project intended to address?

• How will your project address this need?

• What experience will you bring to the project?

• What do you anticipate will be the legacy of the project?

• Why do you need Milton Keynes Arts Centre’s support?