Submit your zine or book to be part of the Zine Library for our upcoming photography exhibition exploring class, community and the changing face of industry.

About the exhibition:

Many Hands is Sunny Bank Mills Gallery's first major group photography exhibition.

Created in collaboration with the Working Class Creatives, the show explores the role that industry plays in shaping community, identity and tradition.

The exhibition weaves together stories of working-class people from the 70s to present, through the lens of a selection of 10 UK based artists.

The work featured in the exhibition explores growing up, working, and living within communities who are shaped by shifts in industry, migration, and land.

How have working-class communities shaped the landscape around them?

What happens to our place, and belonging when deindustrialisation occurs, when people are forced to move, to find new work, to never, or no longer be part of a supportive community born within a workforce?

What are the collective conversations that need to happen? This space—once part of our industrial past—is a vital discussion point for this exhibition.

About Sunny Bank Mills:

Sunny Bank Mills is an inspirational cultural destination in the heart of the local community of Farsley, Leeds.

Founded in 1829, Sunny Bank Mills offers beautifully restored creative business spaces for both small and large organisations.

Sunny Bank Mills Gallery is the epicentre of our arts programme, spanning exhibitions, workshops, studio spaces and events.

Sunny Bank Mills Museum & Archive protects and promotes the history of the Mills and the community.

The Gallery, located in a 3,000 sq. ft. former cloth warehouse, has hosted diverse exhibitions and events for the past 10 years. Our annual Ones to Watch exhibition has supported over 350 emerging Yorkshire artists.

We are enhancing our Arts and Heritage Programmes, focusing on inclusion and accessibility. The Gallery also features a shop and tearoom, and runs an extensive workshop programme. The Mills has a large artist studio community.

More on Access at Sunny Bank Mills

What are we looking for? 

We are looking for zines and books to include on our zine library within the Gallery.  

If selected, your work be seen by hundreds of visitors throughout the course of the exhibition and may be featured on our social media with a reach of almost 30,000 followers.

Through this open call, we hope to hear from a range of voices, and strongly encourage emerging artists to apply.

Eligibility:

We will be accepting work that is for sale in limited or unlimited runs, one-off artists' books and books that are not for sale.

Please note - the work featured in the library will be handled by visitors on a daily basis, so please consider this when applying.

Applications are welcome from anyone based within the UK and Ireland.

Accepted formats:

• Photographic or illustrative zines or self published books
• Artists’ books
• Poetry or prose books / pamphlets
• Dummy / prototype books

Relevant themes

• Class
• Industry
• Work
• Family
• Community
• Togetherness
• Identity
• Migration
• Effects of industry on the landscape / environment
• Housing
• Friendship

Tips to strengthen your application:

• Attach clean, high-quality photos of the work you plan to exhibit and add names and approximate dimensions.
• Please include any other images that support your application or will help to create an impression of your practice as a whole.
• Clearly describe the work you are submitting, as well as discuss your practice in general.

Important dates and additional information:

The exhibition runs 12th July - 5th October 2025 at Sunny Bank Mills Gallery, Leeds.

Work will need to arrive to the Gallery w/c 7th July at the latest.

Work will remain in the library throughout the duration of the exhibition. If work is for sale, 1 copy will be a display copy to include on the library trolley until the exhibition ends.

Postage costs can be covered upon request, as we may request up to 5 zines/books if available.

Our standard rate of commission is 45% including VAT, so please consider this when pricing your work.

Please include the retail price on your application form.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Midnight on Sunday 22nd June.

Visit our website to find out more about the exhibition as new information is released.

When applying for this opportunity, we would really appreciate it if you could fill out our equal opportunities survey here.

If you have any questions or need support with your application, please contact us here on Curatorspace.

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