Wakefield Museums & Castles is now inviting artists working in all disciplines to submit proposals to develop a new installation for Display Case One in the Wakefield One Lower Atrium inspired by the story of the Wakefield Pageant, which took place in June 1933 in Thornes Park, Wakefield.

The grand pageant was organised to encourage business by the Chamber of Trade. In eleven sections, it celebrated Wakefield’s past and present and imagined the city’s future.

Schools and societies took part, each playing different roles from Wakefield’s proud history and helping to make the ambitious backdrops and lavish costumes.

Over the 10 performances, thousands of people turned out to enjoy the spectacle, which featured more than 2000 volunteer performers, spanned from the Ancient Romans to the Industrial Revolution, and depicted major historical events like the Battle of Wakefield.

The pageant was considered a huge success and raised funds for local hospitals and charities.

The project should involve the local community and be co-produced, ideally with young people from the Wakefield district. This could involve co-producing the artwork itself or working with the community on subsequent programming.

The successful artist will:

• Produce an engaging and visually exciting 3D-based installation that explores and celebrates the story of the Wakefield Pageant.
• Work with community participants from the Wakefield district, preferably young people.
• Use environmentally friendly, sustainable materials and methods wherever possible.
• Adhere to Wakefield Museums & Castles accessibility guidelines.

We are open to artists using a wide range of art forms and media who have experience working successfully with community groups.

We are keen to ensure the brief is not prescriptive and that the response from artists is imaginative and broad, drawing upon the strengths of the individual artists themselves and the interests of the community participants.

There is an available budget of up to £4000 (excluding VAT) for this project. 

This budget is inclusive of the artist’s time and expenses and all materials, with the exception of the printing of any interpretation graphics and marketing material, which will be organised and paid for by Wakefield Museums & Castles.

For further details or to receive the full brief, please get in touch through the Contact Curator tab.