The new lottery backed initiative is aimed at giving artists the chance to make the switch into narrative pieces, inspired by the recent success of artists turned film-makers such as Steve McQueen, Gillian Wearing and Sam Taylor Wood.

Northern Film & Media has teamed up with Channel 4 to launch a new artist development programme, The Artists’ Cut.

The programme, backed by Arts Council England and the ERDF Competitiveness Programme will give artists the chance to take part in a series of developmental workshops in a bid to help them create two narrative pieces. Participants will take part in an intensive mentoring programme covering storytelling, cinematography, casting, directing, distribution and marketing strategies.

Script editor and former head of development at Film4 Kate Leys, Channel 4’s commissioning editor for arts Trbitha Jackson, and Newcastle based producer Samm Haillay, who co-produced Gillian Wearing’s Self Made, (Lisa Marie Russo produced) will be amongst the mentors on the programme.

The submission deadline is February 28.