Artist Commission
Thackray Museum of Medicine Closing date: Thu, 02 Apr 2026
- Full time
- Under £10K
- Apply now
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
We want an artist to create something whimsical, playful and interactive for children that will help unlock their imagination in exploring the history, folklore and magic of plants' healing powers. We are looking for artist-makers who work in three dimensions (sculpture, installation etc.). We want the art to be made of natural, sustainable, or recycled materials (ideally introducing no new plastic into the museum), but it must also be hardwearing and durable to handle five months of interactive play with children. We are working with a team of five Young Curators, aged 18-22, to define the themes, identity and content of the exhibition and our chosen artist will work with their input. Our Young curators are particularly interested in:
- Artworks with a strong sensory element, that young visitors can touch, interact with and change,
and/or which make use of sounds and smells.
- Elements that are whimsical, offbeat or unexpected, such as playing with scale.
- Vibrant colours combined with natural materials.
- Light used in a creative way.
- Artworks that utilise different levels and heights, creating different experiences for our young
visitors and adult visitors to explore together.
- Garden structures, such as greenhouses, sheds, and dens.
We are especially interested in hearing from artists based in Yorkshire and the North of England who have a flexible and collaborative working practice, and will be available to work with the group at our museum in Leeds.
Budget: £10,000 (inclusive of materials and VAT where applicable)
Useful Links
Job Overview
- Job Title: Artist Commission
- Salary: Under £10K
- Hours: Full time
- Artform: Museums
- Role: Creative
- Contract: Contract
- Closing date: Thu, 02 Apr 2026
- Location: UK-wide
How to Apply
To apply please send us:
- CV and bio
- Examples of relevant work with links/images
- A brief outline proposal with ideas/approach for commission. Consider including:
- Where you are based.
- Tell us about your current practice
- Tell us about what you want to explore with us and what you would create for this project.
- How do you best work?
- Do you have any specific access or support needs?
- Indicative budget breakdown
- Please state your day rate
If you would prefer, you can also apply by uploading video or audio formats (no more than 5 minutes).
- Contact name: Jack Gann
- Contact email: [email protected]
About Thackray Museum of Medicine
Thackray Museum of Medicine is the UK’s largest independent medical museum. We inspire people with the passion and purpose of medicine and healthcare of the past, present and future. Through play, creativity and experiences we celebrate our health heroes and inspire the next generation of big thinkers.