Mafwa Theatre is seeking an artist to develop a new site-responsive public artwork for Sheepscar Beck in Mabgate, Leeds, in partnership with Leeds City Council’s Flood Alleviation Team and supported by MAAP.

Public Art & Community Co-Creation Opportunity

Mafwa Theatre, in partnership with Leeds City Council Flood Alleviation Team, is seeking an artist with an established track record of creating engaging public artworks, with a commitment to site-responsive, community-led work that addresses issues of climate resilience, water management, place and the shared ownership of a public setting.

Location: Roscoe Street / Sheepscar Beck, Mabgate, Leeds

Background: Sheepscar Beck

Sheepscar Beck is a significant stretch within the city’s critical flood alleviation infrastructure for the management of localised flooding.

It is a canalised channel between Benson Street and Mabgate and forms part of an extensive green and blue corridor that connects the furthest reaches of Leeds (Otley) with the River Aire.

Leeds City Council has undertaken extensive refurbishment works along this route to improve flood risk protection.

With climate change and increasingly precarious weather conditions, the risk of flooding is increasing and greater resilience is now needed to prevent flooding and raise awareness with local communities.

Recent improvement works have included the creation of a new public area with seating, offering a destination and viewpoint into the culverted Beck.

From this location, Sheepscar Beck’s subterranean brick structure and graffitied walls are revealed as both an understated yet impressive feat of engineering, continuing to protect the area from flooding while also forming part of a wider ecological system that connects the city through water.

This artist commission is part of a commitment by Leeds City Council’s Flood Alleviation Team to open up dialogue around climate change, ecology and place-making, with the full engagement of local residents, businesses, young creatives and visitors.

About Mafwa Theatre

Mafwa Theatre is a community arts organisation using arts and nature to bring refugee, asylum seeker and settled communities together in Lincoln Green, Leeds, since 2018.

We run regular drama, arts and gardening groups throughout the year and host an annual Refugee Week celebration each June. In 2023, we worked with Leeds City Council to transform a disused playground into Roxby Community Garden, Leeds’ first Garden of Sanctuary.

The Commission

Mafwa Theatre will commission an artist to create a piece of interpretive public art, using metal panels integrated into the fencing on the boundary of the new public realm at Sheepscar Beck.

The artwork will be co-created with community members and local businesses through a series of workshops.

MAAP will continue to support the commission, with Sue Ball leading as agent, enabling good practice and effective communication between the delivery organisation and client.

The finished work should be eye-catching from a distance and while on the move, while also rewarding closer inspection through visual detail.

By encouraging people to pause and look more closely, the artwork should draw attention to the engineered structures of the culverted Beck and support a greater understanding of its role in preventing flooding.

The artwork will be designed for long-term outdoor installation and will have an anticipated lifespan of approximately 15 years.

Community Workshops

To develop the final design for the artwork, the commission will include the design and delivery of four community workshops with local residents and/or businesses.

These workshops will enable participants to share ideas and experiences connected to the site, learn creative skills, contribute meaningfully to the design process and feel a sense of ownership over the finished work.

A budget is available to support workshop materials, technical support and associated participant resources. Mafwa Theatre will support the artist with participant recruitment and workshop logistics.

Budget

Artist fee: £4,550 (covering design development, workshop delivery and project liaison)
Production budget: £15,000 (covering fabrication, materials, manufacture and installation of the final artwork)

Timeline

July – September 2026: Delivery of four community workshops
September – November 2026: Design development period
January 2027: Fabrication and installation
March 2027: Public launch and celebration event
 

Working with Partners & Approvals

The project is delivered by Mafwa Theatre in partnership with Leeds City Council.

The final artwork will be developed collaboratively and will be subject to approval by Leeds City Council’s Principal Designer to ensure public safety, durability and suitability for long-term installation within public infrastructure.

The artist will work alongside Mafwa Theatre, Leeds City Council and an appointed fabricator to develop and realise the final artwork.

Artist Requirements

We are looking for an artist with experience creating engaging public artworks that respond to place and involve local communities.

The selected artist will have a portfolio that demonstrates experience in:

• Public art and site-responsive work
• Co-creation and community-led creative processes
• Designing artwork suitable for fabrication and long-term outdoor installation
• Working with fabricators and production partners
• Gathering stories, ideas or visual inspiration through engagement with communities
• We are particularly interested in artists whose practice connects with themes explored in this project, including climate change, biodiversity, place-making and heritage.

Artists must also hold:

• Public Liability Insurance: £10 million
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: £5 million

 
Shortlisting & Next Stage

Three artists will be shortlisted and invited to develop a detailed proposal.

A £200 fee will be paid to each shortlisted artist

Artists will be invited to a site visit on 28th April

Further site information will be shared at this stage

Application deadline: Monday, 13 April 2026 at 9 am.