Open Call for Creatives
“Woven into the days of stress
The golden threads of thankfulness”
– ‘Shalford, 1921’ by A.F. Foreman
Between wandering and wondering lies opportunity. Share how you navigate what keeps you well.
Deadline: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 11:59 pm (GMT).
Inspired by A.F. Freeman’s 1921 poem titled ‘Shalford, 1921’, discovered in a Shalford Women’s Institute scrapbook at the Surrey History Centre, we invite artists, writers, and filmmakers to reflect on what keeps you well.
What We Are Looking For
We welcome creative responses in visual or written form. The call out is open to creatives of all ages and experience levels. There are four categories to enter with a chance to win up to £750:
- Over 18s – Visual
- Over 18s – Written
- Under 18s - Visual
- Under 18s - Written
Full open call briefs available on Monday 8th December 2026.
Alongside three community partners, The Halow Project, Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum, and Surrey Youth Groups, we’ll dive into SHC’s rich archive to uncover how communities have stayed well through food, exercise, coming together for shared activities, taking notice of the world around them, nature, creativity, connection, and more.
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Send something you’ve created to someone you appreciate today. When it’s not your birthday but just an ordinary day, it feels even more special to receive something unexpected that someone has made just for you.
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hello@itsnotyourbirthdaybut.com
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