Leeds Industrial Museum seeks an artist to work on a new commission for our forthcoming exhibition, Leeds to Innovation. This exhibition will tell the stories of some of the change-makers from the city across three hundred years of history. One of the people we would like to feature is Betty Beecroft, the founder of Kirkstall Forge. We would like to commission an artist to create a new 2D work responding to the only known image of her, and the legacy of her work.

Leeds Industrial Museum contains exhibits from 18th century to the present day and tells the history of manufacturing in Leeds, including textiles, clothing, printing and engineering.

The Galleries and collections tell the story of number of industries that have shaped the city we know and love today. Leeds Industrial Museum also has a working 1920’s cinema where a range of short films are shown. A unique place to discover the trades and manufacturing that built the city. Part of Leeds Museums & Galleries (LMG), Leeds Industrial Museum is funded by Leeds City Council and Arts Council England.

Leeds Industrial Museum seeks to appoint an artist to create a new work to go on display in the Leeds to Innovation exhibition, opening on 25 October 2019. This work will re-interpret Betty Beecroft’s life and create a focal point for her story in the exhibition space.

Leeds Industrial Museum will provide some background research on Betty Beecroft and Kirkstall Forge to support the artist, as well as access to the published copy of the original portrait of her.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Projects Curator and Curator of Industry to create a new work for display responding to her life. The new work should not exceed 1000mm x 660mm in size.

The project has a fixed fee £750, inc. travel expenses. Additional budget is available for materials, up to £100. Leeds Industrial Museum expects to loan the finished commission in for the duration of the exhibition, but not to own the finished work in the first instance.