The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre’s Big Splash, Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival, returns on Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 July 2025. This dynamic celebration of creativity and culture transforms Newport’s streets into a vibrant outdoor stage, featuring live music, street theatre, dance performances, workshops, crafts, and family-friendly activities - all free of charge.
As part of this year’s festival, The Riverfront Theatre are offering a unique opportunity to support the development of a brand-new Welsh language, outdoor arts street theatre piece. With £3,000 funding available, an artist or company will be commissioned to create an engaging, family-friendly outdoor theatre experience which will debut at Big Splash 2025.
The selected piece should celebrate Welsh language, be between 15-20 minutes long and be suitable for all ages. It can be a static or roaming performance. The successful artist or company must be available to perform up to three times on both festival days (19 and 20 July). In addition to the financial support, The Riverfront will provide rehearsal space in-kind to assist with the development of the piece.
Big Splash
Who can apply and how?
The opportunity is open to anyone 18 years of age or older, speaks Welsh or is keen to build their confidence & use Welsh in their work and is an artist or freelance worker in the creative sector, with experience of or an ambition to work within the outdoor arts sector.
Interested applicants should submit a short description of themselves and/or their company, their creative idea and why they believe their work would be successful in an outdoor arts festival environment. The deadline for applications is Sunday 30th March 2025. Please send applications via email to artsdevelopment@newportlive.co.uk.
Big Splash 2025 promises to be a weekend of unforgettable performances and community spirit. This is a fantastic opportunity for Welsh-speaking artists to showcase their talent, celebrate the Welsh language, and bring an exciting new experience to audiences in Newport.
