caravan assembly 2026: open call for submissions

caravan assembly

10 - 12 May 2026

caravan assembly is a curated gathering of performance makers and international programmers and producers. The ambition is to encourage dialogue, exchange, and collaboration. The assembly will take place over three days as part of Brighton Festival.

We are seeking proposals from professional, England-based theatre and performance artists and companies who are interested in joining the caravan assembly cohort from 2026 - 2028.

For assembly 2026 we have made a strategic shift in the offer to artists. We are now offering a two-year support programme, allowing us to work with the selected artists over a longer period of time to help them make the most of the opportunity.

The caravan assembly cohort will participate in the assembly 2026. They will then be supported with a programme of training and mentorship until March 2028.

Two ways to participate

Companies and artists will have the opportunity to participate in the assembly in one of two ways:

1. Public Performances

We are seeking small to mid-scale performances that take place in traditional or non- traditional spaces and environments. We are looking to encompass a range of formats such as indoor, outdoor, site-specific or concept-based works, along with a range of contemporary performance genres.

2. Pitch Sessions

We will be curating a series of short sessions to pitch ideas or projects to the assembly. For example, an artist’s pitch could be seeking co-commissioning, residencies, collaboration and exchange, or touring opportunities. Again, we are looking for ideas and projects from a range of formats and genres.

The offer to artists

The caravan assembly cohort will be supported by caravan and Farnham Maltings, in collaboration with Brighton Festival, from January 2026 to March 2028. The cohort will receive a bespoke professional development programme consisting of financial support, training and mentorship to help internationalise their practice.

Preparing for assembly

• Training - There will be three or four online group training sessions in the lead up to the assembly. These will be geared towards preparing you to make the most out of the three-day assembly work.
• Mentoring - All selected artists/companies will work with a mentor. There will be two to three mentoring sessions in the run up to the assembly. These will likely be virtual sessions, held at a time that suits both the artist/ company and mentor.

What will happen at assembly?

Cohort artists will present their performance or pitch to international delegates over the course of the assembly at Brighton Festival 2026.

The assembly is a programme of activities, of which presenting or pitching work is just one element. Other assembly activities across the three days include: talks, Q&A's, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

We know from previous events that opportunities to network with peers and international delegates are equally important and beneficial for artists. As such, we expect all selected artists to fully participate in the assembly and the professional development programme.

Post-assembly

• Financial support – Cohort artists will have access to a subvention fund to support a number of activities, including go and see trips, international conferences, festival visits, recces and match funding for international touring and residencies.
• Regular check-ins with the caravan team – We will arrange a check-in with the caravan team post assembly to create a bespoke professional development plan, followed by a check-in halfway through the support period, to assess progress.
• Training – Training sessions will continue post-assembly. These will focus on how to build upon connections made at the assembly, and on further developing the internationalisation of your work. There will be approximately two training sessions per year. Some sessions will be online and some will be in person.
• Mentoring – You will continue to work with your mentor post assembly, with a minimum of two sessions per year offered. These will likely be virtual sessions at a time that suits both the artist/ company and mentor
• Peer support – You will be connected with the rest of the assembly cohort, providing opportunities to connect and share learning with fellow artists.

Who should apply?

We are interested in hearing from artists and companies who can show their preparedness for international presentation and collaboration opportunities. We encourage applicants to demonstrate how participating in the 2026 assembly would contribute to the growth of their artistic practice and develop the internationalisation of their work.

We encourage applications from artists/companies who have not engaged with the assembly before. However, artists/companies who have previously applied are welcome to re-apply with different work or projects. Artists who have pitched ideas at previous assemblies are welcome to apply to perform the finished show at assembly 2026.

Farnham Maltings and Brighton Festival are seeking to support a diverse range of artists/companies and present a range of performance styles within the assembly. We are committed to ensuring we work with artists whose lived experience reflects the rich diversity of England and encourage applicants whose identities are currently underrepresented in the arts. Please note that applicants need to be based in England to apply, however, you and your work do not need to identify as English. We will also be inviting a select number of companies to take part in the assembly.

Find out more at our caravan assembly webinar

There will be a caravan assembly information webinar at 12pm on Monday 16 June where we will talk more about the application process and event. There will also be an opportunity to ask us your questions.

Download assembly submission guidelines

All information about applying for caravan assembly is contained on this webpage but if you prefer, you can download a word version of our submision guidelines.