Arts Council England
The national development agency for creativity and culture.
For Creatives
discover moreSparking possibility: whatever your goals, we're here to help.
To create outstanding events and performances, sometimes you need support. Whatever your background or experience, we’re here to help creatives in performing arts make the most inspiring work they can. This is at the heart of everything we do.
Offering Support
Every one of us is on a journey. Wherever you are on yours, we’ll do our best to help. Our wealth of experience, gained over more than 30 years, makes us a great sounding board and source of information on all aspects of creating live performance.
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Network
We’re here to help you make the connections you need and find your professional community.
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Creatives at work
See how we've helped others navigate the unique challenges of making theatre, dance, outdoor or site-specific performances.
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Opportunities
We provide sources of information on all aspects of creating live performance, including funding opportunities and jobs.
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Resources
We’ll give practical advice, moral support, and help you reach your potential.
Latest Resources
Discover articles, case studies and practical guides to support you in your creative work.
Culture Hive
A free online resource hub for cultural professionals that brings the collective intelligence of the sector together, by you, for you.
The freelance taskforce’s 5 guiding principles
The 5 Guiding Principles - a toolkit to help support the performing arts sector. Nearly half of our workforce are freelancers and the Freelance Taskforce (and Activate) think it imperative that - as the sector still suffers from the knock-on effects of the pandemic - organisations & freelancers collaborate to improve working practices.
Access Rider template for freelance creatives
A versatile tool for freelance creatives to articulate access needs, aimed at creating supportive work environments rooted in disability justice and intersectionality.
Arts Development Company
Access a variety of practical resources on topics like creating community projects, crowdfunding, setting up arts organisations, fundraising, managing budgets and more, all aimed at supporting cultural and creative development.
Artsadmin
Find curated resources for live art and contemporary performance, including funding bodies, venues, networks, and professional development opportunities, designed to support artists and their work.
Code of Care
A toolkit offering best practices for supporting freelance artists, fostering clear communication and mutual care between artists and venues, developed through conversations with underrepresented artists.
Green Riders for Outdoor Artists
A guide for outdoor artists to outline environmentally-friendly needs alongside technical riders, promoting sustainable practices in collaboration with festivals and venues.
Latest News for Creatives
Keep up to date with the latest jobs, training, funding and opportunities.
What were the ‘WOW’ moments of 2024 for Activate?
Activate’s Producing team have selected the most memorable and brilliant events from this year. As a lovely way to…
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Nature Calling Artist Residency
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE COUPLE OF WEEKS! Just under 30 artists from a diversity of artistic disciplines joined us to develop their…
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Frank Wurzinger, award winning theatre-maker, actor and modern clown, shares the joys of modern clown theatre
Activate has an ongoing commitment to supporting young people, making performing arts accessible and breaking down barriers. Recently, we created…
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Activate joins Without Walls Artistic Directorate
Activate will support the development and presentation of ambitious new outdoor work by artists based in the UK. Activate Performing…
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Relive two EXTRAORDINARY shows NOW!
Watch our NEW incredible film by Pageant Productions about the fantastic Worldbeaters and shows Fireflies (a world premiere) and Spark! that drew people…
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When Worldbeaters Rocked Weymouth!
What an incredible two days of shows by Worldbeaters for We Are Weymouth’s Dusk Til Dark. This free to attend event…
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