Applications open for ENO/RNCM Creative Incubator Programme

English National Opera and the Royal Northern College of Music are looking for North West-based artists and collectives to join our new Creative Incubator Programme.

Designed for artists who want to explore new ideas, develop their practice and experiment with different approaches to performance, storytelling and collaboration, the programme offers time, space and support to take creative risks in a supportive environment.

A scene from Angel’s Bone by composer, Du Yun and librettist, Royce Vavrek at Aviva Studios, Manchester. An English National Opera, Factory International, and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra collaboration. © Tristram Kenton

Whether you work in music, theatre, film, visual art, design, movement, socially engaged practice, or another discipline, the Creative Incubator is an opportunity to connect with new ways of making work and new creative collaborators.

You do not need previous experience of making opera. We are interested in your artistic practice, your curiosity and your willingness to explore.

Through mentoring, workshops, R&D opportunities and access to artists and practitioners from ENO and RNCM, you’ll be supported to discover how opera, music theatre and interdisciplinary performance might connect with your work.

Selected artists will receive paid development time, mentorship, rehearsal space, R&D opportunities and industry support.

If you’re looking for space to experiment, develop new ideas and expand your practice, we’d love to hear from you.

Please see our recruitment pack for full details of the opportunity.

Access: We are committed to making this opportunity accessible to as many artists as possible. If you require this recruitment pack in an alternative format or adjustments to support you during the application process, please email [email protected].

We’re also committed to supporting artists throughout the delivery of the programme. Reasonable access requirements will be accommodated throughout and we can provide guidance, equipment or adjustments to enable full participation.

Application deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 8 July 2026

Feedback: Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we are only able to provide individual feedback to candidates who progress to the second stage.

23 June 2026