ORIGIN8

Wed 17 Dec, 2025

Yesterday we officially launched ORIGIN8, our newly enhanced artist development programme. With support from the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund, ORIGIN8 strengthens our commitment to nurturing bold new creative work and supporting underrepresented artists across Knowsley, the Liverpool City Region and the wider North West.

ORIGIN8 builds on our existing programme, which was created to support artists at multiple stages of their careers by offering time, space and professional guidance in a nurturing and supportive environment. With this new investment, we’re able to deepen and expand that offer, ensuring more artists can access the resources, networks and opportunities they need to develop ambitious new work.

“Supporting local artists is vital to the creative life of our region. Artist development programmes nurture talent, build confidence and ensure that diverse voices are shaping the cultural stories we share. ORIGIN8 is about offering artists real time and space to grow, connecting them with resources and networks that can transform ideas into impactful work.” Lisa Allen, CEO and Creative Director

Rooted in Our Community

ORIGIN8 is embedded within Knowsley’s cultural strategy, prioritising the development of local creative talent, strengthening community-led cultural activity and widening access to creative opportunities across the borough. The programme responds directly to Arts Council England’s Priority Places agenda by removing barriers for underrepresented artists in Knowsley, while also contributing to Liverpool City Region’s cultural strategy by growing creative skills, celebrating local identity and supporting a resilient regional creative economy.

By embedding artist development within our community, we’re ensuring culture remains a driving force for community resilience, creative innovation and regional pride.

Supporting Artists and Strengthening the Creative Ecology

Alongside direct support for artists, the programme aims to build a reciprocal, long-term network of creatives who continue to share skills, knowledge and collaboration opportunities, strengthening the regional creative ecology.

Since 2022, we’ve supported over 1,000 creatives through free Research & Development space, workshops, networking events, panel discussions and funding surgeries. We’ve worked in partnership with organisations including Graeae, Shakespeare’s Globe and Not Too Tame, and ORIGIN8 builds on this track record by offering a clearer, more structured pathway for artistic development and progression.

The ORIGIN8 Artist Journey

ORIGIN8 supports artists through a structured yet flexible journey, offering tailored guidance, practical support and opportunities to share work at key stages of development.

GENER8 (Idea Generation)
Artists begin with mentoring meetings alongside our producing team, exploring early creative ideas while receiving guidance on production practicalities, relationship-building and future ambitions. These conversations help artists refine their concepts, consider audience and timelines, and shape the foundations of their projects.

INCUB8 (Space to Create)
Artists are offered in-kind Research & Development space Shakespeare North Playhouse. The programme offers flexible scheduling, allowing artists to work around existing commitments, including caring responsibilities.

CELEBR8 (Share Your Work)
Each artist is supported to share their R&D work with an invited audience. Feedback and audience responses are captured and shared, supporting reflection, evaluation and next-stage development.

A final meeting focuses on next steps, legacy building and celebrating achievements. Artists and companies formally become ORIGIN8 alumni, with opportunities to continue contributing to our creative community.

What’s Next?

ORIGIN8 opens pathways into further programming opportunities at Shakespeare North Playhouse.

ORIGIN8 alumni will be invited to present work-in-progress at SCRATCH, our quarterly scratch night dedicated to experimentation and discovery. Artists share a 15–20 minute extract of a piece in development with a public audience, showcasing ambitious new work across music, poetry, performance and storytelling.

Throughout the ORIGIN8 journey, artists will also benefit from masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, Arts Council England funding application surgeries, Q&As and networking events; strengthening skills, confidence and creative networks across the region.

ORIGIN8 reflects our ambition to act as a regional hub for inclusive and representative talent development, ensuring creative careers are accessible to all.

“Shakespeare North Playhouse does incredible work in the community, and we were blown away by its commitment to upskilling people in underserved communities for careers in creative industries. Amazon is passionate about creating opportunities for people in the North West and across the UK to have access to creative industry careers and we’re excited to support Shakespeare North Playhouse as it expands its programmes to have an even greater impact on the local community.” Paul Firth, Director, Global Music Industry, Amazon Music and Regional Creatives Fund Judge