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CuratorSpace | Project management tools for curators and artists

Art Commission - Summer 2027

Deadline: 25/09/2026

City: Beverley  |  Region: East Yorkshire  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  Beverley Art Gallery

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Beverley Art Gallery is inviting proposals for a 2027 Summer commission that transforms the gallery into an active, engaging environment—one that visitors don’t simply view, but explore and shape through their presence and participation.

We are seeking bold, colourful, visually striking artwork that treats the gallery as a space of encounter rather than observation.

Proposals might invite curiosity, movement, participation or social interaction, encouraging visitors to engage actively with the work, the space, one another or all three.

Artists are encouraged to interpret the brief in whatever way feels most appropriate to their practice; we are not seeking a prescribed type of artwork or approach.

We are, however, looking for proposals with a clear and compelling artistic concept, and a strong sense of how that concept will respond imaginatively to the gallery environment and the aims of the commission.

We are particularly interested in projects that gently disrupt the conventions of gallery-going: encouraging visitors to move, interact, experiment, play or collaborate rather than simply observing.

The strongest proposals will create opportunities for temporary communities to emerge, bringing strangers together through participation, creativity and shared exploration.

The commission is intended to appeal to families, young people and audiences who may not ordinarily visit an art gallery, while remaining firmly rooted in contemporary artistic practice.

We are especially interested in work that rewards curiosity, encourages repeat visits and has the potential to evolve through audience engagement.

Key Details

  •  Commission Fee: £10k with support in place for installation and programming

  • Exhibition Dates: 19th June – 28th August 2027

  • Venue: Beverley Art Gallery

  • Funding: Commission fee funded by Arts Council England through the Humber Museums Partnership


What We Offer

  • Technical & Installation Support: Assistance from the Curator and Gallery attendants to plan, install and display your work. The artist can either collaborate with the gallery team on curatorial decisions or allow the team to take full responsibility for final display, depending on preference.

  • Promotion: The gallery will organise a press preview, listings on its website, and social media marketing to promote the exhibition and participating artists.

  • Sales: This is a non-commercial exhibition. However, where appropriate, artists may choose to make work available for sale through the Gallery’s reception/retail offer. The Gallery will manage the sales and take a standard commission on sales.


What We Require

  • A Cohesive Exhibition Proposal: Artists should propose a cohesive body of new work suitable for the temporary exhibition space. A floor plan and further information about the gallery will be provided.

  • Learning and Engagement: Depending on the nature of the proposal, the selected artist may be invited to work with the Gallery’s Learning Team to develop an additional activity, workshop or engagement opportunity for families, young people or other audiences.

  • Exhibition Talk or Tour: The selected artist will be expected to deliver an exhibition talk or tour for the Friends of Beverley Art Gallery and the wider public.


Proposed Timetable

  •  Expression of Interest: Due by 25th September 2026

  • News of shortlist: By 9th October 2026

  • Opportunity for site visits: w/c 12th October 2026

  • News of final selection: by 23rd October 2026

  • Installation Dates: 14th-18th June 2027

  • Exhibition Dates: 19th June – 28th August 2027

Make a submission Contact the curator
Do I need to be based in East Yorkshire to apply?
No. However, artists should consider the practicalities of travelling to Beverley for any site visits, installation, the exhibition period and agreed engagement activity.
Can I apply if I have exhibited at Beverley Art Gallery before?
We aim to provide opportunities for a wide and diverse range of artists. For this reason, we will not consider applications from artists who have previously held a solo exhibition at Beverley Art Gallery or participated in a group exhibition at the Gallery as part of the same artist group or collective.

This does not apply to artists who have previously participated in Open Art exhibitions at the Gallery.
Does the exhibition need to include entirely new work?
The commission is intended to result in a new, cohesive project developed specifically for the Summer 2027 exhibition. Existing elements or works may form part of a proposal where they are integral to the overall project, but the proposal should clearly demonstrate how the work responds to the commission brief and the gallery environment.
What does the £10,000 commission fee cover?
The £10,000 commission fee is intended to cover all costs and fees associated with the development and delivery of the proposed project. Artists should consider all costs when preparing their proposal, including artist fees, materials, fabrication, transport, travel, accommodation, specialist production requirements, equipment hire and any costs associated with performance, live activity or other project elements.

The Gallery will provide technical and installation support as outlined in the opportunity.
Can I apply as a duo, collective or group?
Yes. We welcome proposals from individual artists, duos and collectives.

The £10,000 commission fee is for the proposed project as a whole and must cover all associated costs and fees, rather than being an individual fee for each member of a group. Group applications should clearly explain how the project will be developed and delivered collaboratively and, where relevant, how the commission fee will be allocated between participating artists.
What mediums can I work in?
We are open to proposals in any medium, provided the work is appropriate for the gallery and responds imaginatively to the commission brief.
Does my proposal have to be interactive?
The work does not have to involve direct participation, but the commission is particularly interested in projects that encourage visitors to engage actively with the work, the gallery environment or one another.

Proposals might involve movement, play, experimentation, conversation, collaboration, exploration or other forms of audience engagement. We are interested in a broad interpretation of participation and encourage artists to think imaginatively about what this could mean within their practice.
Can the work change or develop during the exhibition?
Yes. We are particularly interested in projects that evolve through audience engagement and reward repeat visits. Proposals can therefore incorporate elements that change, accumulate, respond to visitors or develop over the course of the exhibition.

Artists should explain in their proposal how any evolving or participatory elements would work in practice.
Will visitors be able to touch or physically interact with the artwork?
This will depend on the proposal. If physical interaction is an important part of the work, please explain how visitors will engage with it and what measures may be required to ensure the experience is safe, accessible and appropriate for the gallery environment.

The Gallery will work with the selected artist to consider practical and technical requirements. Please note that we do not have constant invigilation in the Gallery space.
Can I visit the gallery before submitting my proposal?
Shortlisted artists will have an opportunity for a site visit during the week commencing 12 October 2026. A floor plan and further information about the temporary exhibition space can also be provided.

If you have specific questions about the gallery or space before submitting your application, please contact Museums.TH@eastriding.gov.uk.
Will the Gallery provide help with installation?
Yes. The Curator and Gallery team will support the selected artist with planning, installation and display.

Artists can choose the level of collaboration they would like, from working closely with the Gallery team on curatorial and display decisions through to entrusting the final display to the Gallery.

Artists should identify any specialist equipment, technical expertise or installation requirements in their proposal.
Can my proposal include performance or live events?
Yes. Performance, live activity and other time-based approaches are welcome where they respond to the commission brief and are appropriate for the gallery environment.

If your proposal depends on scheduled performances, workshops or other activity taking place throughout the exhibition, please explain how this would work and how visitors could engage with the project outside those times.

Any costs associated with performance, live activity or scheduled events should be considered within the proposed project budget.
How should accessibility be considered?
Accessibility should be considered as part of the proposal, particularly where visitors are expected to move through, touch, listen to, contribute to or otherwise interact with the work.

The Gallery will work with the selected artist to consider how the project can be made as inclusive and accessible as possible.
What should I include in my proposal?
Your proposal should clearly communicate the idea, proposed artwork and how it responds to the commission brief and gallery environment.

Please explain how audiences might experience, interact with or contribute to the work, as well as providing relevant information about materials, scale, installation, technical requirements and audience engagement.

Artists should also provide examples of previous work that demonstrate their practice and ability to deliver the proposed project.
Can the proposal include sound, film or digital elements?
Yes. We welcome proposals using sound, film, digital media and other time-based or technology-led approaches, alongside more traditional or experimental media.

Artists should consider any specific technical requirements, equipment, power or connectivity within their proposal.
Are the exhibition dates fixed?
Yes. The exhibition will run from 19 June to 28 August 2027, with installation taking place from 14–18 June 2027.
Artists applying for the commission should ensure they are able to meet these dates.
Who will select the successful proposal?
Proposals will be assessed by a panel formed of the Gallery Curator along with members of the East Riding Museums team. They will be considered against the aims of the commission, including artistic quality, the strength and originality of the idea, how effectively the proposal responds to the gallery environment, and its potential to engage a broad range of visitors, as well as the feasibility of delivering the project within the available budget and timeframe.
Who should I contact if I have a question about the commission?
Please email Museums.TH@eastriding.gov.uk with any questions about the commission, the gallery space or the application process.

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