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.

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.