Bayeux Tapestry Commission for the Nicholson Institute Museum and Gallery

OUTSIDE is working in partnership with the Friends of the Nicholson Institute Museum and Gallery and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to deliver the British Museum National Programme for the Bayeux Tapestry in the Staffordshire Moorlands. 

Deadline: 28th September 2026 

Appoint artist: 2nd October 2026 

Commission fee: 1 x £4000, 2 x £1000 

Location: The Nicholson Institute Museum and Gallery, Leek 

Our exhibition, Bayeux Tapestry: Stories Through Stitch, will celebrate both the world-famous medieval embroidery and its unique connection to the Staffordshire Moorlands. In 1886, members of the Leek Embroidery Society created the only full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, a remarkable achievement involving 35 women from across the Moorlands. The completed work was displayed at the Nicholson Institute in Leek, and is now held at Reading Museum, establishing a significant local link to this internationally important cultural artefact. 

We are inviting proposals from artists to develop a creative response to Leek’s connection with the Bayeux Tapestry. The commissioned work should interpret this rich heritage in a way that is inspiring, accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. 

What we’re looking for:

We are seeking exciting, innovative projects, that explore Leek and the wider Moorlands unique role in the legacy of the Bayeux Tapestry. We seek work that helps people feel these histories, making it accessible and meaningful to all ages, including families, school groups, and visitors with varied access requirements. Projects should include an element of community participation and/or co-creation. 

We are open to all art forms, which may include visual art, site specific projections, performances, craft or textile pieces, etc. 

We are interested in creative responses that:  

• Engage families and visitors of all ages,   

• Collaborate with the local community and Friends steering group to produce the work 

• Celebrate the textile heritage of the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Leek Embroidery Society 

• Interpret and celebrate the stories of the women who produced the replica and/or the mill workers who made the materials 

• Vividly bring to life the materiality of the Bayeux, looking closely at the stiches, dyes and materials, making them accessible, inspiring and meaningful 

• Focus on sustainability and demonstrate responsible environmental thinking. 

 Eligibility:

Open to local, national, and international artists who create extraordinary work connected to heritage, environment, play and community. We encourage applications from artists who are under-represented in rural areas, including the global majority, disabled, excluded by gender or sexuality, from lower socio-economic backgrounds or intersections of the above. 

Budget:

We have a single commission to the value of £4k, and 2 smaller commissions of £1000 each. 

The commission fee will cover artist time, materials, fabrication, installation, travel, and associated public engagement activity 

We are happy for artists to collaborate and would also welcome artists who are interested in co-creation with communities. 

What to submit:

Applicants should complete this form – LEEK BAYEUX EXHIBITION APPLICATION FORM  – which asks for: 

• a proposal for the artwork/activity
• a cv or links to your existing work. If you would prefer, you can also apply by uploading video or audio formats (up to 5 minutes only)
• a budget

If you have any issues completing the form, please get in touch. Email hello@outsidearts.org 

Timeline:

Call out to artists: 14th August 2026 

Deadline for proposals: 28th September 2026 

Appoint artist: 2nd October 2026 

Approval of work plan: 12th October 2026 

Presentation of final work: 11th January 2027 

Selection procedure:

Applications will be assessed by the community volunteers who form the Friends of the Nicholson Institute, facilitated by the OUTSIDE team.  

Applications will be scored on the following criteria:  

• Ambition 

• Integrity 

• Legacy 

• Access  

• Sustainability 

We will consider: 

• Artist’s experience and quality of previous work 

• Appropriateness of the proposed work 

• Artist’s experience of co-creation with communities 

•  Artist’s connection to or interest in the Staffordshire Moorlands (desirable) 

Help applying

 For any questions, enquiries or support, please email hello@outsidearts.org  with the subject line ‘Leek Bayeux commission’ 

About OUTSIDE

OUTSIDE is a consortium led Creative People & Places Project for the Staffordshire Moorlands. Our purpose is to ensure more people are experiencing and inspired by arts and culture. OUTSIDE is working with residents from across the Staffordshire Moorlands to enrich lives through storytelling which celebrates local people, culture and places. To find out more please head to our website outsidearts.org