Open Call: Creative Contributions to the Chelsea History Festival 2026

About the event

The 2026 Chelsea History Festival runs from 1-4 October 2026 at all our venues in the Royal Hospital Road.  This year our theme is ‘World History’ and we are planning a varied and eclectic programme of talks, panel discussions, walking tours, workshops, performances, displays, exhibitions, installations and family programming on this theme.

We are inviting local creatives and producers living, working or studying within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to contribute to our programme.  The criteria are as follows:

• You live, work or study within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
• We welcome any art or creative form – performance, visual art, craft, dance, film, short form literature, music, discussion – the choice is yours!
• Events and performance must be a maximum of 45 minutes long.
• The project must be delivered by you at a Chelsea History Festival venue between 1-4 October 2026. Venues include: Soane Stable Yard at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the National Army Museum Atrium or conference room and Chelsea Physic Garden – outside in the garden or inside in the Gallery.  Technical support (eg set up, breakdown, AV) is available at each venue but must be agreed in advance.
• The project must fit with the World History Theme
• The project must appeal to at least one of the target audiences listed above. Applicants should highlight the audience and age group they have chosen in their application.
• The project will be promoted as part of the 2026 Chelsea History Festival and the creators/producers must be willing to take part in promotions and marketing to support the event
• The project must comply with the safeguarding and health and safety policies of the venue where it is staged.
• Two awards of up to £3000 will be awarded to cover the costs of the projects. No further funds will be made available.
• Artists/performers must be paid and the remuneration included in the application.
• Entries will be judged by a panel including the Director of Chelsea Heritage Quarter, The Mayor of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr Tom Bennet, and the renowned artist and photographer Alison Jackson. Decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

How to enter:

Draft a proposal of maximum 1000 words outlining your idea.  Your proposal should be a detailed description of the project including:

• The artform you will use
• The audience you will target
• The story your project will tell
• How and where you would display, produce or perform your project at the Chelsea History Festival
• A technical spec – the space dimensions you will need (see venues available above) and any technical support required – eg AV support, set up and break down
• A detailed budget
• Evidence that you live, work or study in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
• You can supplement your entry with up to six images
• Email your entry to: info@chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk by 2 May 2026

 

Additional information

You can read the full brief and find out more here