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CALL OUT: Artists for TAMASHA TALES ARMENIA

Tamasha Tales is a series which aims to celebrate global storytelling and cultural intersectionality through multi-disciplinary artistic collaboration. 

Folk tales, myths and fairy tales bridge the gap between our childhood and adulthood and for that reason they continue to resonate and endure generation after generation. Ultimately, these stories reflect upon and teach us about the human condition which transcends all other differences. Adapted, revised and transformed in each telling, they remain accessible through our rich oral, visual and written histories.  

Tamasha Tales is an opportunity for a broad range of artists to interpret a Global South folk tale, whilst responding to current socio-political contexts.  

For 2026 we are thrilled to be producing a newly commissioned piece in partnership with the Armenian Centre for Contemporary Experimental Art (NPAK) as part of the British Council’s Connections Through Culture Programme. 

We are delighted to be working with Silva Chobanyan, our Armenian artist being hosted by NPAK. 

Silva Chobanyan

Drawing on her roots in theatre and performance, Silvana Chobanyan creates immersive installation art that transforms personal and collective memories into tangible experiences.Her work delves into themes of memory, personal experience, and women’s stories, using found objects—metal, wood—integrated with fabric and yarn to weave evocative, tactile spaces. Her practice is at once poetic and direct—intimate in its exploration of personal memory yet unflinching in its social resonance. 

Based in Yerevan, Chobanyan has exhibited her work from Tbilisi to Paris and Berlin, bridging cultural dialogues through art and remaining committed to community engagement and the evolution of contemporary art in Armenia and beyond. 

The call-out is to find a UK-based artist of Armenian heritage to join Silva in co-creating a Tamasha Tale. 

Who should apply: 

We’re looking for artists with Armenian heritage who are UK residents. 

They will be reaching a mid-career point (between 5-10 years of experience) with an established body of work. We want to hear from artists with a curiosity to explore a shift or extension in their artistic focus as they approach this point in their creative practice.  

We are interested in hearing from artists who currently work in any of the following disciplines:  

  • Sound Artist 
  • Visual artist 
  • Multi-media artist 
  • Writer  
  • Director 
  • Performer 

 

What you’ll get out of this role  

  • to co-create a piece of work which will sit within a larger series of work 
  • a fee of £1,200 (excl travel and expenses)  
  • to further develop and shape your understanding of global storytelling 
  • access to other Tamasha creative practice initiatives 
  • free access to Tamasha’s spaces including a meeting room, hot-desking space and a podcast studio subject to booking and availability 
  • peer and industry networking at Tamasha events 

How to apply  

To apply please complete   

Applicants must be resident in the UK.  

The Tale will have a bespoke schedule created for delivery between April – June 2026, to be agreed between the co-creators, Tamasha and NPAK.   

We positively encourage applications from ethnically diverse backgrounds/those who identify as being part of the Global Majority due to the nature of this series of work.  

If you have any questions concerning your application or if there is any way we can make the process more accessible to you, please email bella@tamasha.org.uk 

Application deadline:  

  • Sunday 14 December (23:59 UK time) 

Shortlisting will take place:  

  • Monday 15 December (10am – 12pm UK Time / 2pm – 4pm Armenia Time over zoom)   

Interviews will be held on:  

  • Between 17 – 19 December 

About NPAK 

 

The Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art NPAK is a pioneering non-governmental organization based in Yerevan.  

 

Established in 1992 by Edward and Sonya Balassanians, it has grown from hosting a single group exhibition annually to becoming a hub for contemporary and avant-garde art, offering over 30 exhibitions each year.  

 

NPAK is a unique space and is dedicated to fostering the uninhibited expression of Armenian artists. Its activities include three key festivals: the Annual Festival of Alternative Art, the Annual Festival of Installation Art, and the One Square Meter Performing Arts Festival.  

 

NPAK also hosts a permanent exhibition, “Armenia-Diaspora,” along with exhibitions, educational programs, plays, concerts, workshops, and film screenings. The center’s mission is to support Armenian contemporary artists, counteract art commercialization, and promote international artistic collaboration.