CuratorSpace | Project management tools for curators and artists
CuratorSpace | Project management tools for curators and artists

Making Space

Deadline: 08/03/2026

City: Leeds  |  Region: West Yorkshire  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  Rosanna Martin

Paid opportunity

Report this?

Making Space – Open Call for University of Leeds students to exhibit at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery

We are pleased to launch a new open call for all current University of Leeds students across all courses.

For the first time, we are inviting submissions for Making Space, a student group art exhibition at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery on campus, running from 30 June 2026 to 29 August 2026.

There is no set theme for this exhibition at the submission stage. Students are encouraged to submit artistic work that reflects their individual practice, interests and approaches.

The selection panel aims to create an inclusive showcase that reflects the breadth of ideas, perspectives and creative voices across the student community.

A wide range of media will be considered, including painting, sculpture, sound, film, photography, textiles and drawing. Artists selected to take part will each receive a £150 artist fee.

Selected artists are expected to deliver their work to The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery on 15 June 2026, either in person or via a representative.

Works must be collected from The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery following the exhibition on 3 or 4 September 2026. Unfortunately, we do not have storage space, and any works not collected by this date may be disposed of.

All selected artists will be required to sign an artist agreement prior to the exhibition.

The curators reserve the right, at their discretion, to withdraw or not display works for reasons including, but not limited to, suitability for exhibition, conservation or health and safety considerations, or condition on arrival.

Submission guidelines

  • You may submit up to five individual works.
  • Diptychs, triptychs and similar multi-part works count as one submission if photographed together.
  • All image files must be submitted as JPEGs, up to 4MB each.
  • Please photograph your work against a plain background and crop images to minimise surrounding space where possible.


Key dates

  • Deadline for submissions: Sunday 8 March 2026, midnight (GMT)
  • Notification of outcome: w/c 23 March 2026 (via CuratorSpace)
  • Delivery of work: 15 June 2026 to The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
  • Exclusive launch: Monday 29 June 2026, Parkinson Building, Leeds
  • Collection of work:  3-4 September 2026 from The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery


What you get

  • £150 artist fee paid to artists selected to take part in the exhibition
  • The opportunity to exhibit work in a professional gallery setting
  • Professional photography of exhibited work
  • An invitation for you and your guests to attend the exclusive launch


Please read the FAQ section thoroughly before submitting. This includes guidance on photographing your work to a good standard.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the curators. All communication will be managed through CuratorSpace, so please ensure you check your account regularly for updates.

Making Space is co-curated by Ellie Boyce, Lucy Cameron, Zofia Gmurek and Rosanna Martin, with curatorial guidance from Courtney Spencer, in partnership with the University of Leeds Cultural Collections & Galleries.

IMAGES
1. Installing Ceangail by Caitlin O'Doherty 
2. Installation shot of Seeing Stars at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery 
3. Installation shot of Seeing Stars at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery 
4. Exclusive launch of Contested Bodies at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery 

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
The open call is open to all students currently enrolled at the University of Leeds, at any level of study and across all courses. Please use your University of Leeds email address when submitting to confirm your student status.
Do I need to be studying an art-related course?
No. Students from all courses and disciplines are welcome and encouraged to submit.
What type of works can I submit?
We welcome a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, film, sound, photography, textiles, and more.
How many works can I submit?
You may submit up to five works. Diptychs, triptychs, etc. should be submitted as one work if photographed together.
Are there size or weight restrictions for submitted works?
There are no strict size limits, but very large, heavy, or complex installation works may not be possible to display. If selected, the curators will discuss display requirements with you.
When is the submission deadline?
Sunday 8 March 2026 at midnight (GMT).
When will I find out if my work is selected?
You will be notified w/c 23 March 2026 via CuratorSpace.
When do I need to deliver my work?
Selected works must be delivered on 15 June 2026 to The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building.
Will there be a private viewing or opening event?
Yes, there will be an exclusive launch taking place on Monday 29 2026 June at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building.
How long will the exhibition run for?
The exhibition will run 30 June - 29 August 2026.
What should I include in my artist bio?
Please write up to 150 words about yourself and your practice. You might include how long you have been making art, your main interests or inspirations, or anything else that helps us introduce you and your work in exhibition materials. Please ensure this is written in the third person as the curators may use this as the basis for text used in the exhibition and also to promote the exhibition.
Are there any costs involved in taking part?
There are no submission or participation fees. Artists are responsible for any costs associated with making, framing and transporting their work.
Is there an artist fee?
Yes. Artists selected for inclusion in the exhibition will be paid £150.
Will my work be insured while on display?
Yes, selected works will be covered by The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery for the duration of the exhibition. Artists will be asked to provide an insurance valuation for their work, and guidance can be provided if needed.
How should I photograph my work?
Set up:
- Don’t worry about not having a professional camera, a phone can work just as well!
- Choose a plain wall/background to photograph against (as close to what it would look like in a gallery setting)

Angles:
- Shoot directly in front of or above your piece - use the grid function as a guide
- Keep your arms still using either a tripod or something to lean on like a table

Lighting:
- Aim for diffused natural lighting (on a cloudy day) rather than direct sunlight
- Try a few different places and compare to see which has minimal shadows or reflections

Sculpture, textiles, installations:
- Photograph your work as it would be displayed in the gallery e.g. on a plinth, on the floor
- Ensure the entire piece can be seen in the image

Editing:
- Crop the image to remove as much of the background as you can
- If large amounts of editing are having to be done to increase brightness etc., consider retaking the images with different lighting
- Phone editing tools can be easily used for this

File size and type:
- Please save and upload your images as JPEG files up to 4MB each
- Ensure they are of the highest quality possible to show off your work as this is what the selection panel will be basing their decision on!

You must have an account to make a submission using CuratorSpace. It's free and only takes a few moments. Once registered you'll be able to keep track of all of your submissions and get updates on upcoming opportunities.

Register

Already have an account? You'll need to log in to make a submission to this opportunity.

Login

You must have an account to send a message to the curator of this opportunity. Registering only takes a few moments. Once registered you'll be able to keep track of all of your submissions and get updates on upcoming opportunities.

Register

Already have an account? You must log in to send this curator a message.

Login

Other opportunities
Contemporary | Call For Artists
Have you ever wondered if your art is good enough? ** OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS // SMALL ACTS //
Art and written open call submissions on the theme of SMALL ACTS for Issue 68 of Haus-a-rest The Weight of Waiting
THIS IS A CALL FOR ART FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE PERSONALLY, OR THROUGH A WOMAN CLOSE TO THEM, ...
More opportunities