The Old Red Bus Station is summoning local Leeds creatives to participate in an in-house exhibition opportunity, exploring how society uses humour as a coping mechanism and laughs in the face of adversity. Selected work will be exhibited at The Old Red Bus Station in an ambitious celebration of creativity.

About us:

The Old Red Bus Station is one of Leeds most loved grass roots venues, with a DIY ethic, vegan canteen, bar, exhibition space and underground club / event space. ORBS has been giving Leeds raw, cutting edge music for over five years and continues to support local and new talent. 

The Brief:

"This IS a Laughing Matter '' is a Leeds based creative project that aims to reflect on and subvert the current living crisis and events of the last two years in a humorous, surreal or nonsensical way.

Humans have used humour to ease hardship right throughout history. It functions as a complex mechanism for coping with anxiety and fear, motivating group cohesion, critique of perpetrators and a way of fighting back and taking control. There are many ways we as a society find solidarity through laughter…

Think of the last time you used humour as a coping mechanism for example.

What we are looking for…

We want you to explore the ways in which we as a society (or you personally) use humour to alleviate stress in times of despair, and laugh in the face of adversity. You may interpet this however you see fit...

All creative mediums are welcome (painting, collage, illustration, light art, music, projection, textiles, sculpture, etc..) with live performance and moving image work encouraged.

We would love to see new work catered specifically to this brief but if any previous/existing work fits the topic please feel free to submit that…

Struggling for ideas? Here are some things to get you started….Surrealism, Absurdism, Dadaism, Readymade, David Shrigley, Chris (the Simpsons artist), Maurizio Cattelan, Banksy, Satire, Parody, Mockumentary, Laurel and Hardy, Reeves and Mortimer, Spitting Image, Political Cartooning, Meme Culture, Gallows/Dark Humour, Humourists, Slapstick.

Deadline for Submission: November 1st 2022

How to submit your work: 

Digital Work: Send us a JPEG minimum of 300dpi.

Sculpture/3D work: Send us 3 high quality photos of your piece.

Painting/Collage Work: Send us a high quality photo or a digital version of your design as a JPEG minimum of 300dpi (The original piece will be exhibited)

Video Work: Send us a link to your video on any video player i.e Youtube, Vimeo

If your submission is successful we will contact you to discuss getting your work exhibited at the venue.

We look forward to seeing your creativity and how you interpret the brief (:

Any queries please email beth@theoldredbusstation.com

Thank you, ORBS x