Open Call for Too Happy Commission – United Kingdom

Too Happy Studios commissioning model is focused on production, mentorship, collaboration, and more effective integration of the visual arts and traditional screen industries. The artist will be based within their studio in Glasgow and will have a network of support for the duration of the commission including mentorship from Rachel Maclean and her extended studio team as well as production support from the award-winning producers at Forest of Black. The completed film will premiere at Glasgow Short Film Festival 2025.

After the initial premiere of the finished film, they will continue to work with the artist to develop an international film festival strategy and marketing plan. This commission is an exciting opportunity for an early career artist to benefit from the facilities and support of an experienced moving image artist.

Funding Information

• The selected artist will receive a fee of £7,560 (36 days at SAU rates) and a production budget of £10,000 to fund the creation of a 15-minute single-screen moving image work. If the artist is based outside of Glasgow, an accommodation and travel budget will be provided. There is a separate budget covering costs associated with the exhibition of the finished work, including access costs.
• In addition to funding, they are offering mentorship and technical support from Rachel Maclean and her extended studio team. The selected artist will also be working with an independent producer who will support the project from pre-production to completion. Glasgow Short Film Festival will offer help to develop a festival campaign and marketing plan beyond the premiere.

Duration

• The commission will run from April 2024 – April 2025 with mutually agreed milestones and set deliverables.

What they’re looking for?

• They are seeking early-career artists based in Scotland who are ready to push the boundaries of moving image art. They want to see project proposals that are innovative, ambitious, and original, and that utilise technology in new ways. They encourage submissions that are inventive, thought-provoking, and that challenge the boundaries of traditional moving image art.
• They are looking for an artist who has an existing video practice or can show evidence of an ability to adapt their practice to video.
• The proposed work should be a brand new, single-screen film, approximately 15 minutes in length and conceived with a cinema screening in mind. The artist should be living in Scotland and be willing to base themselves in Glasgow for come of the commission. The artist should be open to participating in a short ‘making-of’ documentary, as well as a moderated Q&A at the premiere of the film.
• They recognise there are significant barriers to working in the visual arts sector and that these challenges are experienced more acutely by those facing marginalisation and systemic injustice. This includes people with protected characteristics across age, disability, gender, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation alongside those with chronic illness, neurodiversity, parental/caring responsibilities, experience of the immigration system and people from working-class backgrounds. They encourage applications from artists from all backgrounds.
• They acknowledge that the term ‘early career’ can be vague, but they are looking for someone who:
  • Is in the early stages of their creative development.
  • Has a focused direction but are still developing their artistic voice.
  • Has yet to receive substantial recognition within their field.
  • Has yet to receive substantial funding.
  • Is not currently enrolled in any higher or further education.
• Age is not a determining factor.
• If somebody meets the following criteria, they are likely to be ineligible:
  • They have extensive international touring experience with their own work.
  • They have long-term commercial representation such as gallery representation or an agent.
  • They have more than one major commission with national or international coverage and profile.

For more information, visit Too Happy Studios.