Brockley Max Opportunities

This call is now closed but we still need storytellers.

Refugee Storytellers: 15–20 minute sessions of folktales, your own writing or reading children’s stories from your country. Oral storytelling, spoken word, or acoustic music. No amplification. Apply here

The Open-Air Sitting Room - A Refugee-Led Arts Occupation for the 130th Anniversary of Hilly Fields

Saturday, 6th June 2026 | 12:00 – 18:00 on Hilly Fields, SE4

The Vision

In 1896, Octavia Hill described urban parks as the "open-air sitting rooms of the poor." She believed that "breathing space"—the right to nature and beauty—was a fundamental human right.

In 2026, as Lewisham stands as a Borough of Sanctuary, we are transforming Hilly Fields into a "Pilgrimage of Welcome." We are seeking artists from refugee and sanctuary-seeking backgrounds to create a series of interactive installations and performances that bridge Victorian social reform with the modern sanctuary movement.

Artistic Themes

Proposals should engage with one or more of the following:

Sanctuary & Breathing Space: What does it mean to find "safety" in a landscape?
Common Ground: The park as a shared home for both local history and global cultures.
Threads of Connection: Using textiles, nature, and words to link distant cities to Lewisham streets.
The Site: Hilly Fields, SE4

Hilly Fields is a hilltop park with panoramic views of London (Google map location https://tinyurl.com/26z7h62u ). Artists could consider the following site-specific areas:

Standalone trees in the Park.
The Grove (Trees and bushes) with seating
Vistas: Strategic points overlooking the London skyline
Pistachios Café Wall: A specific site for a temporary or permanent mural commission commemorating Octavia Hill.

Technical Specifications & Safety

Because the event is outdoors and family-oriented, all installations must meet these criteria:

Weather Resistance: Materials must withstand wind or light rain or the disintegration be part of the installation.
Public Safety: No sharp edges, trip hazards, or toxic materials. Installations must be securely tethered but cannot involve nails or screws into live trees (use soft ties/bungee/fabric).
Eco-Friendly: We strongly encourage the use of recycled, biodegradable, or sustainable and found materials.
Installation: Unless otherwise agreed (like the mural), artists are responsible for installing & removing their work on the day of the event.

In addition, we are looking for:

Workshop Leaders: Refugee artists to run children’s craft sessions where the results contribute directly to the installations (e.g., botanical sun-printing "Leaf Tags" or collaborative weaving). We particularly welcome applicants who will deliver an installation & a children’s workshop.
Refugee Storytellers: 15–20 minute sessions of folktales, your own writing or reading children’s stories from your country. Oral storytelling, spoken word, or acoustic music. No amplification. Apply here

Support & Fees

Artist Fees: depending on the scale of the workshop/performance.
Materials Budget: We provide a small budget for workshop supplies and installation materials.
Support: Festival volunteers will be on-site to help with setup and public engagement.

How to Apply

If you are an artist from a refugee or sanctuary-seeking background, we want to hear from you! Please send a brief note including:

A short description of your work or workshop idea.
A few photos or links to your previous projects.
Your bio and contact information.

Send your proposal to: moira@brockleymax.co.uk

Deadline for submissions: 30^th April 2026

This is a Lewisham Council funded project.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Call for Mural Artists – Brockley, Ladywell & Lewisham (Apply by 24 April)

Brockley Max is a much-loved, volunteer-led community arts festival celebrating the creativity, diversity and cultural richness of south-east London. As part of our 25th anniversary, we’re expanding our public art programme—building on a strong track record of mural commissions, including the Black Icons Project, Brockley Street Art Festival and last year’s murals on Loampit Vale.

This year, we’re commissioning three exceptional mural artists to create new public artworks across Lewisham, Brockley and Ladywell, helping to shape a lasting mural trail in the area.

Lewisham Town Centre – Molesworth Street

A large, high-visibility mural on Molesworth Street (visible from the road and passing trains), celebrating Lewisham’s food and music culture. Commissioned in partnership with Lewisham Shopping Centre.

Full brief & apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVBOgC4z7A0bSalBeXlHB-D7ugZz8RihW27jBgADQxdHrilw/viewform

Hilly Fields, Brockley – Pistachios Café

A subtle exterior mural at Pistachios Café in Hilly Fields, inspired by the theme of “Open Air Sitting Rooms” and the park’s 130-year history founded by Octavia Hill. The design will be chosen by Pistachios cafe, Friends of Hilly Fields, Brockleys Rock and Brockley Max.

Full brief & apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1rR7s9Ns1QIRWmxQPv31odkdMnB7wlvoybJH7_L6lztDkLQ/viewform

Ladywell – Playtower Gates

A mural for the gates of the historic Ladywell Playtower, celebrating its importance to the local community and future revival. The Ladywell Society has been instrumental in ensuring this important Grade II-listed building is not allowed to deteriorate completely, and has engaged the community in proactively maintaining the grounds of the site, showing locals’ commitment to the Playtower. The Ladywell Society has now agreed to fund a mural on the gates of the Ladywell Playtower site.

Full brief & apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1rR7s9Ns1QIRWmxQPv31odkdMnB7wlvoybJH7_L6lztDkLQ/viewform

Key Info

Deadline to apply: 24 April
Start date: Early May (for Molesworth Street)
Artists with lived experience of sanctuary seeking are especially encouraged to apply

This Job has now closed -Volunteer Co-ordinator

Deadline: midday on 6th February 2026

The Brockley Max festival needs someone to recruit, train and organise its volunteers. Max Media Arts (the non-profit organisation that manages the Brockley Max festival) is looking to recruit a Volunteer Coordinator for this key post. This is a paid role suitable for someone with comparable experience managing volunteers.

Brockley Max is an exciting and inspiring nine-day community arts festival hold in venues throughout Brockley, Crofton Park, Honor Oak and Ladywell. Now in its 25th year, the festival provides an opportunity for the local creative community to display their talents, and for the wider community to participate in a wide range of arts activities.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Brockley Max, so the Volunteer Coordinator is an essential role.

30 days between mid February and mid June. Note the co-ordinator will be required to work every day of the festival 29th May to the 6th June. Fee: £160 per day on a freelance basis.

To apply for this role, please submit a Monitoring Form, a CV that includes your past relevant work and project experience and a cover letter (maximum 1 side of A4) to rosie@brockleymax.co.uk by 6th February 2026. Informal interviews will be conducted on the 12th February 2026.

Please include:

Details of previous employment and relevant work experience. Each previous employment should include a short description of your role alongside dates of employment and reason for leaving.
What interests you about the post and working for Brockley Max?
Information on how your skills, abilities, and experience match the key points in the job description and person specification.
Your contact details
Details of two referees. (We will only contact the referees if you are offered the job).

Volunteer Co-ordinator Job Description and Person Specification

Monitoring Form (please download and complete this form, and attach to your email).

Background about Brockley Max

Brockley Max is organised by Max Media Arts, a not-for-profit community interest company committed to creating arts projects in the community. The festival involves and engages residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds through family-friendly activities, exhibitions, workshops and events, making it a beacon of civic pride and neighbourliness.

Around 5,000 people came to last year’s Brockley Max festival, reflecting the area’s passion for the arts, one that is community focused, enriching lives and producing shared values. Events and exhibitions are held at more than 40 local venues in Brockley, Crofton Park, Ladywell and Honor Oak throughout the nine days of the Brockley Max.

The festival’s main events are the Opening Night, a legendary evening of entertainment by leading local bands. This takes place in the heart of Brockley, near Brockley station on the first Friday of the festival. On the last day of Brockley Max we put on an ‘Max in the Park’ family day in Hilly Fields park with children’s workshops, plus a day-long programme of music, art and performance for all the Family. Over the 9 days, 80 events are held

Please contact rosie@brockleymax.co.uk if you'd like to discuss the role.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

This job has closed - Creative Producer/Community Outreach Lead

Deadline 8th January 2026

Brockley Max is an inspiring nine-day community arts festival held in venues throughout Brockley, Crofton Park, Honor Oak and Ladywell in the borough of Lewisham. The festival allows local creatives to showcase their talents, and for the community to enjoy a wide range of arts activities and entertainment.

The Brockley Max festival will mark its quarter century in 2026 with a fantastic range of events celebrating the vibrant arts scene here in SE London. As with all such community events, the festival programme relies on dedicated team members to ensure its continued success and impact. Brockley Max has grown from a handful of events to one encompassing more than 80 events each year. Due to this expansion there are now opportunities for skilled individuals to contribute their talents and make a lasting difference.

We are recruiting a Creative Producer/Community Outreach Lead to curate exciting line ups of artists and performers that include better representation of global majority, female and under 25-year-old performers based in and around our borough. These artists will perform at our two flagship events (Brockley Max’s Opening Night and Max In The Park day festival).

The scope of this role will include:

Developing the performer line-ups for Opening Night and Max In The Park
Promotion of the festival to diverse audiences across Lewisham
Increasing global majority participation in the wider festival, including event organisers and volunteers

The post involves 30 days work between February and mid-June 2026. Note the person will be required to work on both Friday 29 May and Saturday 7 June as well as some days in between.

Fee: £150 per day on a freelance basis.

We particularly welcome applications from Global Majority applicants who have existing music and arts connections and networks in Lewisham.

To apply for this role, please submit a CV that includes your past relevant work and project experience and a cover letter (maximum 750 words), and a Monitoring Form to moira@brockleymax.co.uk by 8 January 2026. If invited to interview you’ll be asked to write a brief outline of where and how you’d outreach to our target audiences in Lewisham. Informal interviews will be conducted on 14 January 2026.

Please include:

Details of recent previous employment and relevant work experience. Each previous employment should include a short description of your role alongside dates of employment and reason for leaving.
What interests you about the post and working for Brockley Max?
Information on how your skills, abilities, and experience match the key points in the job description and person specification.
Your contact details of two referees. (We will only contact the referees if you are offered the job).

This post is made possible by the Brockley and Ladywell Wards NCIL support from Lewisham Council.