Fostering artistic growth and collaboration across disciplines
The Hidden Door Artist Development Programme is an exciting new initiative designed for artists and creatives across all disciplines, including visual art, dance, theatre, music and film.
The programme focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, and creating opportunities to get together and form new connections. Throughout this programme, participants will engage in a series of events, workshops, and networking opportunities tailored to inspire creativity and build lasting professional connections.
It is open to emerging and mid-career creatives who are eager to collaborate, explore new ways of working, and access career-enhancing resources.
You’ll receive roughly one newsletter per month with the latest news, events and opportunities.
We’re now inviting applications from emerging and early-career artists for a bold, physical group exhibition taking place this September at The Paper Factory in Edinburgh.
This is an independent project run in collaboration with Visual Arts Scotland. The event is separate from our main Hidden Door Festival and focuses on providing a platform for ambitious early-career artists whose practices embrace scale, materiality, and experimentation.
Apply by 5pm on 28th July 2025
Our Artist Development Programme includes an opportunity for members to have creative reviews published here on our website. This provides valuable experience in publishing written reviews and work, offering a platform for the authors whilst also sharing creative work taking place across Scotland.
Thursday 24th July 6pm-8.30pm
The Paper Factory, 1 Turnhouse Road EH12 8NP
Get creative with us at Hidden Door’s next interactive workshop, where we’ll explore the power of mark making and how it can spark collaboration. Led by our Visual Arts Curator, Jill Boualaxai, this relaxed, hands-on session invites you to experiment with shape, texture, and gesture, building visual language together. You’ll also get a unique behind-the-scenes look at how this process helped shape the visual arts programme for this year’s festival. It’s a great opportunity to discover how artists work collectively, ask questions during the Q&A, and connect with others in a fun and supportive environment.
FREE event, but booking required.
Tue, 5 Aug 2025 10am – 12 noon
Duncan Place, Leith EH6
Creative Edinburgh’s Creative Circles are a monthly meetup of creative conversations, socialising and community updates. We’ve partnered with them for a two-part series on fundraising.
The August edition of Creative Circles turns its focus to the art of fundraising. We’ll be joined by fundraising consultant Alice Samtoy, who will share practical advice on how to align your ideas with the priorities of different funders, how to communicate your value, and what makes an application stand out. Whether you’re new to funding or looking to refine your approach, this session will offer real-world insight and tips you can put into practice. This is Part One of a special two-part series delivered in collaboration with Hidden Door’s Artist Development team. Part Two, which will be hosted by Hidden Door, will take a deeper dive into application writing and how to frame your creative ideas effectively for funders.
FREE event but booking required.
During Hidden Door 2025 we hosted practical workshops and discussions exploring the impact of rejection when working as an artist and how to turn that into something positive. Delivered by Creative Electric, these sessions looked at the importance of rest and recovery, how to receive feedback as part of a rejection and use it constructively in your future work as well as knowing when to say goodbye to an idea.
We held special sessions for disabled and ND artists, artists from the LGBTQIA+ community and emerging artists of all ages. Throughout the workshop participants worked together to develop a sculptural work that explored shame, which was then exhibited as part of festival.
Artist Andrew J Brooks welcomed us to The Paper Factory to discuss TOLL, his large-scale artwork marking the first year of Covid-19 deaths in the UK. Created in solitude through 52 performances, TOLL consists of 145,652 hand-drawn marks—one for each life lost. Brooks shared insights into the work’s creation, its evolution over five years, and its significance today.
Members joined Chris Scott for a Photography Masterclass and Q&A designed to help capture stunning images of artwork and take professional headshots, all from home. Attendees learned how to create a simple DIY setup, use affordable lighting techniques, and make work stand out in applications.
January saw our first Artist Development event: an engaging artist talk with Shae Myles, a Glasgow-based visual artist and co-founder of Jiggle n Juice. Shae’s work explores themes of intimacy, secrets, play, and shared habits, while Jiggle n Juice bridges the gap between emerging artists and professional practice with creativity and critical dialogue.
Professional Development Resources – Access practical workshops on topics such as writing artist statements, applying for funding, and photographing/ filming your work professionally. Each session is designed to demystify the administrative side of a creative career, giving you tools to succeed.
Expert-Led Conversations and Mentorship – Engage with leading artists, curators, and industry professionals through panel discussions and mentoring opportunities. Gain insights into their processes, career journeys, and what they look for when collaborating with other creatives.
Tailored Networking Opportunities – Build connections with other artists, curators, and creative professionals within Scotland’s vibrant cultural landscape. Through social events, group workshops, and collaborative challenges, you’ll become part of a supportive and inspiring creative community.
Access to Exclusive Resources – Participants will receive monthly newsletters featuring curated opportunities, career development tools, and insights into Scotland’s arts & culture scene. These newsletters will help you stay informed and inspired throughout the programme and beyond.
This programme is perfect for creatives looking to:
Whatever your creative field, the Hidden Door Artists Development Programme offers a dynamic and enriching experience that can help take your creative career to the next level.