Open Call: Paul O’Grady Commissions

New Works by LGBTQIA+ Artists for You Gotta Get a Gimmick: Paul O’Grady Story

Opportunity: 4 x Artist Commissions (£2,000 each)

Location: Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead, Wirral

Application Deadline: 24 July 2026 (5pm)

An open call launches today until 24 July for new works by LGBTQIA+ artists that will feature in the show, exploring Paul O’Grady’s extraordinary contribution to British culture, LGBTQIA+ history, animal welfare, children’s literacy, broadcasting and the performing arts.

Exhibition Overview
You Gotta Get a Gimmick: Paul O’Grady Story will offer the first glimpse into Paul’s extensive archive, contextualising him as an LGBTQIA+ icon, award-winning broadcaster, performer, author, campaigner, and passionate advocate for both people and animals. From championing LGBTQIA+ visibility and equality to encouraging children to read, supporting charitable causes and transforming attitudes towards rescue dogs, Paul gave a voice to those often unheard and became one of Britain’s most beloved cultural figures.

Alongside Paul’s personal belongings and archive, the exhibition will feature an oral history collection of LGBTQIA+ stories, a Reading Club in local libraries celebrating Paul’s children’s books and passion for literacy, projects exploring his lifelong commitment to animal welfare, and a heritage trail through Birkenhead Park, Oxton and the riverfront.

The Brief

Proposals should create an artistic response that celebrates and preserves Paul’s legacy, life and contribution to British cultural life. While rooted in his importance to LGBTQIA+ history, proposals may also explore his impact as a broadcaster, performer, author, campaigner for animal welfare, advocate for children and literacy, and champion of working-class voices.

The commissioned artwork will join the Williamson Art Gallery’s permanent collection, exploring Paul’s lasting impact on British culture, LGBTQIA+ representation, animal welfare, children’s creativity and reading, broadcasting, performance and community life.

We invite commissions that engage with the themes of the exhibition and the Wirral’s wider LGBTQIA+ heritage. Your proposal should address one of the following objectives:

• Celebrate & Preserve: Honour Paul’s life, legacy, and profound contribution to LGBTQIA+ history and activism.
  
• Be Inspired by Paul: Explore Paul’s lasting impact on British culture.
  
• Hidden Histories: Uncover and share the lesser-known LGBTQIA+ stories that shaped the Wirral’s rich heritage.
  
• Commemorate Progress: Mark the upcoming 60th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, celebrating the progress of LGBTQ+ rights while reflecting on the ongoing fight for equality.
  
• Beyond the Spotlight: Explore Paul’s enduring influence through his work with animals, children’s literature, broadcasting, performance, community engagement and charitable causes.

Selected artists will attend an archive meeting with Andre Portasio and Joan Marshrons to discuss key items on display.

Creative Notes from Andre Portasio, Creative Director: Paul’s appeal was deeply rooted in working-class culture, accessible, warm, and authentic. The exhibition aesthetic is theatrical, expressive, and inviting. To capture his spirit, commissions are encouraged to embrace his beautiful contradictions:

• Sophisticated yet grounded
• Theatrical yet intimate
• Nostalgic yet rebellious
• Glamorous yet deeply human

Scope of the Wider Project

Commissioned pieces will sit alongside a broader programme that includes:

• A curated digital archive of historical portraits, costumes, video, and audio.
• An oral histories collection.
• A Reading Club in local libraries featuring Paul’s children’s books.
• A heritage trail through Birkenhead Park, Oxton, and the riverfront.

Medium & Format

We are entirely open to the medium. We invite applications from visual artists, poets, drag performers, sound designers, performance artists, filmmakers, sculptors, or those working in combined, multi-disciplinary, or cross artforms.

Note: Artworks must be of an appropriate physical or digital size/format to be integrated into the exhibition collection for long-term display starting December 2026.

Eligibility & Tiers

There are four separate commission opportunities, each worth £2,000. Artists must be aged 18 and older.To ensure both national reach and deep local connection, the commissions are tiered by geography:

Budget & Financials

• Fee: £2,000 flat rate per commission.
• Inclusions: This fee is inclusive of commissioning, materials, travel, and all associated production costs.
• Payment Structure: 50% paid upfront to cover initial material and production costs; 50% paid upon final delivery and installation.

Key Dates & Timeline (2026)

• 24 July: Deadline for applications (5pm)
• 10 August: Successful artists selected and confirmed
• w/c 10 August: Commissioned artists will attend an archive briefing with Andre Portasio, and Joan Marshrons who will share key artifacts featured in the exhibition.
• 10 August – 2 November: Production and creation period
• 9 November: Final Paul O’Grady commissioned pieces installed at The Williamson Art Gallery
• 4 December: Exhibition opens to the public

How to Apply

Please submit your proposal by the end of the day on 24 July 2026. Applications can be submitted as word/PDF (up to 2 sides of A4) OR as a video/audio file (maximum 5 minutes long). 

Submissions must be sent to Jayne Compton via commissions@switchflicker.co.uk by 5pm on 24 July 2026.

Your application must include:

1. Project Proposal: A description of your proposed response to the brief, including a rough project timeline and an indicative cost breakdown.
2. Approach to Engagement: An explanation of how your proposal will make the exhibition and its heritage more accessible and thought-provoking, 
3. Portfolio: Links to your online portfolio, website, or social media channels that showcase relevant previous work.
4. CV Highlights: A summary of relevant experience, including previous exhibitions, commissions, awards, or other notable achievements.
5. Contact Details and Application Tier: Your name, address, contact information, and confirmation of which commission tier you are applying for.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be assessed on:

• Relevance: How strongly the idea responds to the brief and themes.
• Quality & Ambition: Confidence that the final work will deliver artistic excellence.
• Feasibility: Can the work realistically be delivered within the time frame and budget?
• Experience: Demonstration of the relevant skills, knowledge.

Commissioned by Switchflicker, Wirral Council and DuoVision. Creative Director: Andre Portasio. Creative Consultant: Joan Marshrons. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.