Day: 23 April 2025

Artists Wanted for ArtSlam!

Hey artists!

Appetite, ArtsKeele and Newcastle Business Improvement District (BID) are excited to announce ArtSlam 2025, a dynamic, live public event taking place in Newcastle-under-Lyme. And we are seeking talented artists to participate and showcase their creativity as part of this vibrant and fun evening!

Event details:

  • Date: Friday 27 June 2025
  • Location: Astley Place (formerly York Place), Newcastle-under-Lyme
  • Categories: Visual 2D Art, Ceramics, Spoken Word
There's a large open space with lots of people milling about. In the centre is a set of 3 tables in a U shape where 3 artists are working in clay while others look on. The artist facing us wearing a green beret is sculpting something around a thin stand, and their name tag reads Jasmine Simpson.

What to expect

ArtSlam 2025 will feature rounds where artists create their work live and compete for audience votes. Expect DJs, a bar and a night full of creativity and energy!

This is a paid opportunity for all participating artists. Plus it’s a fantastic platform to engage with the community, gain exposure, and celebrate the arts in a fun and competitive environment.

We’ll be using the exciting space of Astley Place, which is in the process of development by Capital & Centric. Expect a roof, flat floor and some walls, whilst not being a fully enclosed room.

3 people are standing on a raised platform in a large space atmospherically lit by uplights. They are casually dressed with beanies, caps, hoodies, and even one pair of loose black trousers with a pattern of 'lazy oaf' written in white. The chap at the front is speaking into a roving mic while looking at his phone.
The image shows a female figure on the left with long dark braids and wearing glasses. They are holding a pencil and are drawing onto a canvas on the right hand side of the image. The canvas is on a wooden easel.

How to apply

If you are a visual 2D artist, ceramicist, or spoken word performer interested in participating, please express your interest by email to askus@appetite.org.uk in one of the following formats:

In writing including:

  • Examples of your work
  • One paragraph on why you would love to be part of ArtSlam
  • One paragraph on your experience and practice so far
  • Your contact details

By voice note including:

  • Examples or descriptions of your work
  • Say why you would love to be part of ArtSlam
  • Tell us briefly about your experience and practice so far
  • Your contact details

How will we decide

If we have more artists interested in taking part than we are able to have along, Appetite, ArtsKeele, and Newcastle BID will shortlist based on the information provided. We’ll be thinking about:

  • Choosing a diverse range of artists
  • Making sure there will be variety in what the audience will be able to watch being made
  • Providing a quality offer in terms of work created

Deadline for applications is Monday 12 May.

We look forward to seeing your incredible talent and creativity at Art Slam 2025!

ArtSlam 2025 is a partnership event between Appetite, ArtsKeele and Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, in collaboration with Capital & Centric, and supported by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. It follows on from ArtSlam at Goods Yard in 2021, delivered by Appetite in collaboration with Capital & Centric and supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

All imagery is from the ArtSlam 2021 at Goods Yard, Stoke-on-Trent, with photography by Jenny Harper.

The Appetite logo in blue. Shows a circular design with a love heard shape inside. Appetite is written below the shape.
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Welcoming Appetite’s New Director

The Appetite logo in blue. Shows a circular design with a love heard shape inside. Appetite is written below the shape.
New Vic logo

New Appetite Director Appointed for Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places Programme

 The New Vic Theatre are pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Adams as the new Director of Appetite, the Arts Council England Creative People and Places programme for Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Led by the New Vic Theatre, Appetite works to increase engagement in the arts by supporting creative experiences shaped with and by local communities. Rachel will officially begin her role on 1 May.

Over the past year, Appetite has continued to grow its impact across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme through a wide range of community-led arts programmes. Highlights include large-scale events like The Big Feast festival, which brought thousands of people into city centre spaces to experience free, high-quality outdoor performances, and Newcastle Common, a space used by artists to test and develop work, show work and host activities in Newcastle Town Centre. Appetite has also deepened partnerships with local artists and organisations, supported new commissions, and continued to prioritise co-creation—ensuring local voices remain central to its work.

Rachel is white with blonde hair past the shoulders, and a friendly smile. Rachel is shown in a head and shoulders shot standing in front of some greenery, and wearing a navy-blue jacket with a bright red pop under the collar, and a grey Def Leppard band T-shirt.

Rachel Adams, Appetite’s New Director

Rachel Adams (she/they) has more than two decades’ experience as a Producer, Development Consultant & Fundraiser, specialising in Access, Participation and Outdoor Arts. Rachel has collaborated with a range of individual artists, organisations, local authorities and cross-sector groups to co-create site specific work with communities.

Rachel has worked with Extraordinary Bodies, Cirque Bijou, Gandini Juggling and One World Orchestra. In 2014, Rachel co-founded Wyldwood Arts, a not-for-profit specialising in socially engaged arts for communities across the Southwest. Prior to this, they held strategic development roles with a range of arts charities at times of pivotal organisational change involving the procurement and delivery of multi-million-pound projects such as The Station in Bristol for Creative Youth Network, Fixers UK for Public Service Broadcasting Trust and Envision’s Community Apprentice campaign.

Rachel has held Executive Director roles with DragonBird Theatre Company CIC, Saffron Records CIC, Maison Foo and Co-Director of Wye Valley River Festival CIC. Non-executive roles include Board Member for Hijinx Theatre Company, Travelling Light Theatre Company, Off the Record Bristol, Basement Studios and The Orchard Trust.

Rachel said: “I’m really pleased to be joining the Appetite team. I’m looking forward to getting to know the communities across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, and working together to enable artistic projects that reflect their ideas, voices and priorities.”

Appetite is part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, designed to engage more people in arts and culture in areas where involvement has historically been lower. In Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, Appetite is led by the New Vic Theatre and works closely with local communities, artists and partners to deliver projects that inspire creativity and connection.

The Appetite programme is funded through National Lottery by Arts Council England and is led by the New Vic Theatre in partnership with Partners in Creative Learning, 6Towns Radio, University of Staffordshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID), Go Kidsgrove and Keele University. Appetite also works closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Aspire Housing.

Appetite
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Rd,
Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Staffordshire ST5 0JG

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