Co-Curated Textile Workshop Series & Installation “Threads of Freedom”
Deadline: 15/06/2025City: Leeds | Country: United Kingdom | Emma Hayton
Paid opportunity
Lead Artist -Co-Curated Textile Workshop Series and Installation “Threads of Freedom” (working title) Location: Leeds | July 2025 – November 2025 We are seeking an experienced and socially engaged lead textile artist (or collective) to lead a series of community-based workshops in Leeds Central Library and selected Community Hubs and Libraries. A co-curated textile project, Threads of Freedom, invites people to creatively reflect on the evolving meanings of freedom since the end of the Second World War, through the lens of Make Do and Mend, sustainability, and collective memory. Communities will be inspired by Leeds Libraries resources, such as the Leodis photo archive and a poem specially commissioned for the project.
Lead Artist -Co-Curated Textile Workshop Series and Installation
“Threads of Freedom” (working title)
Location: Leeds | July 2025 – November 2025
Commissioned by Leeds Libraries
Overview
We are seeking an experienced and socially engaged Lead textile artist (or collective) to lead a series of community-based workshops in Leeds Central Library and selected Community Hubs and Libraries.
A co-curated textile project, Threads of Freedom, invites people to creatively reflect on the evolving meanings of freedom since the end of the Second World War, through the lens of Make Do and Mend, sustainability, and collective memory.
Communities will be inspired by Leeds Libraries' resources, such as the Leodis photo archive and a poem specially commissioned for the project.
The project will culminate in a large collaborative textile artwork for public exhibition, sited alongside the Leeds Tapestries at Leeds Central Library.
The new work will be designed as a companion piece to this artwork.
The Leeds Tapestries were devised by Kate Russell, a local community artist to create a rich tapestry of Leeds life, involving all different sectors of the city.
The 16 panels, sewn by dedicated volunteers, are themed with content including education, health, transport, industry etc.
See this Secret Library blog post for more information.
Project Theme:
“Threads of Freedom”
Beginning with the post-war spirit of resourcefulness and renewal, this project uses the idea of freedom—personal, political, cultural, and ecological—as a framework for creative exploration.
Participants will be encouraged to reflect on freedoms gained, restricted, or still being fought for since 1945, and how these are stitched into everyday lives of Leeds folk.
Central Themes Include:
• Make Do and Mend: Revisiting wartime creativity and resilience, and its relevance today.
• Sustainability: Working with repurposed, recycled, or locally sourced, natural materials to highlight environmental freedoms and responsibilities.
• Storytelling through Textiles: Using cloth, stitch, and embellishment to document stories and lived experiences of those connected to the city
• Freedom: Considering how freedom is expressed through identity, community, protest, migration, and care.
Aims
• To create a welcoming space in each library venue for shared making, conversation, and reflection.
• To highlight the connections between textile traditions and social histories using Leeds Library resources.
• To encourage sustainable creative practices by using donated, found, and reclaimed materials.
• To co-create a meaningful, lasting artwork with the Leeds community, increasing visitors to the First floor Art library and Tapestry exhibit space.
Artist Role:
The selected artist will:
- Take an artistic lead to design the workshops and deliver 16 inclusive, hands-on workshops, working closely with the Art Librarian using library resources
- Coordinate and guide the work of a supporting artist (s) who will deliver 10 workshops
- Be responsible for production of the final piece in the timescales agreed
- Facilitate co-creation and curation with participants
- Share skills in textile repair, patchwork, applique, embroidery, and other relevant techniques.
- Collaborate with the project team on public presentation and interpretation of the final work.
- Support project documentation and evaluation.
- Have a flexible approach and be available when possible for the community workshops which may mean working some evenings and weekend and travel across Leeds
Essential Experience and Qualities
-
Strong textile skills with a focus on sustainable or traditional methods.
-
Experience in teaching in community arts settings and participatory approaches.
-
Sensitivity to diverse lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.
-
Interest in social justice, environmental issues, or heritage work through textile art.
-
Be living/working or have close connections to the city to work with the groups to steer the work making it distinctive to the city.
Budget and Support
A fee of £3950 will be offered, inclusive of planning, and delivery. The artist will receive support from a project lead, and Library team and a £1000 budget is available for materials for the 26 workshops. There is a separate budget for the installation
To apply:
Please submit:
• A statement (max 500 words) outlining your interest, approach, and any relevant experience with delivering community based art projects, co-creation, sustainability,
• Portfolio images or links to past projects.
• A short CV (max 2 pages).
Application deadline:
15 June
Workshop delivery:
July / Aug /Sept / Oct
Celebration event:
November 2025
Please state your availability during these months.
Timeline
This timeline is an indication of the proposed schedule, it is subject to change and appointed artists will also be consulted to ensure the schedule is workable for all parties.
Dates
Brief Live
June 2025
Deadline for applications
15 June 2025
Potential interviews
W/C 23 June
Appoint successful artists
W/C 30 June
Please also see our other opportunity Support Artist - Co-Curated Textile Workshop Series and Installation “Threads of Freedom”
Essential Experience and Qualities .
Strong textile skills with a focus on sustainable or traditional methods.
Experience in teaching in community arts settings and participatory approaches.
Sensitivity to diverse lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Interest in social justice, environmental issues, or heritage work through textile art.
Be living/working or have close connections to the city to work with the groups to steer the work making it distinctive to the city.
As a public sector authority, value for money is paramount. We, therefore, welcome quotes which can demonstrate excellent value for money.
Please note that, under Leeds City Council’s procurement regulations, all tender assessments are weighted at 60% for value for money, so please consider this carefully when submitting your tender.
60% value for money.
30% ability to meet the brief, requirements and timescales.
10% ability to demonstrate the culture and ethos of Leeds City Council (please use examples of previous work).
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