There’s an unusual initiative launched in today’s Metro by default vodka brand Smirnoff:

Smirnoff Original Nights is proud to present Night Vision – a groundbreaking new initiative to discover, support and celebrate aspiring nightlife promoters of all kinds, from live music to clubs via cabaret and arts-based nights.

Night Vision operates on two levels:

• A hub on Facebook for advice and information from our expert partners
• A bursary scheme; the chance to apply for funding towards your night

So if you’re a talented promoter or simply have an idea for a great night, go ahead; think big. Be original. Make it happen.

The bursary scheme is particularly appealing – four awards of up to £10,000 are available to anyone in Manchester who wants to set up ‘themed nights, concept clubs or pop-up parties in out-there places’. Judging the entries are two of the city’s biggest clubbing names – Unabombers and the Warehouse Project – plus Urbis and Northern Quarter-based arts mag Flux.

There are also 10 monthly awards of £2,000 available to anyone in the UK.

The deadline for Manchester Night Vision submissions is Friday 3 October, so if you’ve had an event idea at the back of your mind for a while, now’s the time to get it out. Visit the Facebook page for more information.