Call out - Large-scale object mural: Celebrating 25 Years of Community Partnerships and the People of Leeds
Leeds Museums and Galleries are celebrating 25 years of working with communities across Leeds. The culmination of this celebration will be a major exhibition at Leeds City Museum in October 2026. Several smaller projects will compliment this exhibition, including a mural depicting 10 objects collected and added to Leeds Museums and Galleries’ collections through community acquisition. We are looking for an artist to show ‘personality’ behind the object. Objects could include a high top trainer from the hip hop community, a sketchbook from a whistleblower that fought prejudice and discrimination or a record composed by an award-winning trans artist. Some objects may have reference photographs to their owners, whilst some may require your imagination to develop an identity through historical awareness / research into the community the object represents.
The Mural is to be created on 6 pieces of 12mm thick plywood (200x122cm). This will be mounted onto existing walls. This wood is already purchased and not subtracted from the artist fee.
The work will need to be created onsite unless the artist has appropriate transport and a location to create the work before installing the work at Leeds City Museum. If the art medium is aerosol, such as spray paint, then the work will have to be completed outside due to health and safety regulations.
Days when the work will be completed can be organised by both the artist and the Leeds City Museum team. Work will need to be completed and installed by 21st September, therefore supporting the wider exhibition installation scheduled to open 1st October.
We have 10 community objects to be depicted as part of the mural, selected by the curatorial team and a panel of community partners.
The mural will be displayed alongside a lead image created by Pinc College students. Pinc College is an Independent Specialist College, offering an inspiring and impactful approach to education and pathways into employment for neurodivergent young people, aged 16-24 years, and are in location at Leeds City Museum. It is important that the artistic styles are complimentary, so we will be selecting an artist that can do this. The artist will be provided the lead image before creating their final design.
Project Description
We are looking to recruit an artist to create a large-scale mural. The mural will depict community selected objects that reflect a diverse representation of the people of Leeds across the timescale of Leeds Museums and Galleries’ collections that were either acquired through community collecting or showcase an important area of Leeds communities.
The mural can be illustrative, graphic, abstract or be created from a range of mediums. The design can include the objects themselves or demonstrate how they were used and are represented at the artist’s preference and style. We do have particular interest in showing the identity of the people behind the object and therefore at present favour a style that shows the person interacting with the object. This may require using reference materials from Leeds Museums and Galleries to support this, such as our photographic archives and knowledge of the object and its importance.
Please be aware, the selected objects to be represented in the mural will also be mounted on top / alongside the artwork, so please consider this within your design process. Objects will also vary in size, material and colour so this should be considered in how it will impact artwork.
The objects will be mounted in clear Perspex boxes.
Our intention is that Leeds Museums and Galleries photograph the final mural and collect these images. With a view to potentially using them in exhibitions and outreach activities, making them available for research and for use by other groups and organisations (subject to internal procedures).
How to apply
The deadline for return of responses is July 1st at 9am. The submitted tenders will be considered by a panel.
Please submit the following in your response:
• An outline of your creative approach to the project (in the form of pictures/designs/ explanation into how you would create appropriate content
• An outline of your logistical approach to the project (in the form of a project plan)
• Examples of relevant previous work. Please include 6 images of your work style. This can be large scale artwork / previous murals / sketches.
• Relevant work might include, but is not limited to, projects involving creating art pieces and / or large-scale artwork either internally or externally to a brief.
• Background information on yourself or your organisation and team – for example, if you have experience creating artwork for creative public spaces.
• Confirmation of your availability to undertake the work.
We do not expect a planned design at this point; this is your opportunity to share with us your artistic style and your ability to develop and deliver a concept.
You should demonstrate:
• That you can meet deadlines and work to a brief: For example, by telling us about previous projects where you have worked to a brief on time. This could be a brief for a BTEC/A Level or University project or a commercial brief
• Good communication
• Understanding and experience of developing relevant content: You could demonstrate this by telling us about a project you have worked on that involved painting physical structures, objects, featured people and movement or incorporated community engagement
Your response can be provided in any of the following formats:
• A written application of up to 1000 words
• A film of up to seven minutes in length
• An audio recording of up to seven minutes in length
We encourage you to send us imagery of your work to showcase your artistic style so that we can imagine how it would work in the exhibition space. We recommend at least 4 images, max 10 images in your application.
Please send an electronic version of your response via email to: sapphia.cunningham-tate@leeds.gov.uk with the subject Community Artist Mural
The responses will be scored on a combination of experience and quality.
The responses will be scored on a combination of experience and quality. We are committed to diversity and want to hear from practitioners that reflect the population of Leeds.
For questions about the project please contact sapphia.cunningham-tate@leeds.gov.uk
We are committed to diversity and want to hear from practitioners that reflect the population of Leeds.