Organizer Information

Derbyshire Makes is a large-scale creative programme based in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, dedicated to celebrating craft, creativity, heritage and collective making. Hosted by Derbyshire Makes and delivered by Local Creative Project Ltd, the programme uses participatory art, craft and public engagement to invite communities to explore and express shared visions of the future while celebrating Derbyshire’s rich industrial and textile history. Derbyshire Makes operates county-wide, with flagship festivals, community projects, artist commissions and collaborative workshops that bridge past, present and future creative practices rooted in place-based participation and community storytelling. Dare to Dream is one of the programme’s flagship participatory initiatives, inviting thousands of individuals, groups and creatives to contribute flags, banners and textile artworks that embody hope, aspiration and radical visions for a better future — connecting people, place and collective imagination through creative making. Over a three-year period, these contributions will be woven into a large-scale public artwork to be unveiled as a major installation in 2027.

Title & Description

Artist-Maker Call Out for Dare to Dream
Derbyshire Makes and Local Creative Project Ltd are seeking proposals from a skilled textile artist, public artist or artistic collective to lead and deliver a major final participatory installation for the Dare to Dream programme. This opportunity centres on transforming hundreds of community-created flags and banners — gathered through workshops, events and outreach activities — into a bold, interactive, landmark artwork to be presented at Masson Mills within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. The selected artist/collective will work collaboratively with local communities, workshop participants, programme partners and the project team between Spring 2026 and Summer 2027. The commissioned artwork must reflect the themes of making, sustainability, place, collective creativity and heritage, celebrating Derbyshire’s textile legacy while amplifying voices and visions for a hopeful future. The role emphasises community-led practice, experience in textile or banner-based work, and engagement with heritage or public settings. This open call is aimed at artists and collectives capable of delivering ambitious participatory artworks that connect aesthetics, process and local identity.

Categories

  • Public Art
  • Textile Art
  • Community & Participatory Art
  • Installation
  • Heritage Craft Practice
  • Socially Engaged Practice
  • Banner/Flag Making

Eligibility

Open to individual artists, designers, or artist collectives with relevant experience. While the call text does not restrict by nationality, the project’s participatory framework is focused on engagement within Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and applicants should demonstrate capacity to participate in local community-centric workshops and events. Emerging, mid-career, and established creatives can apply, but international applicants should clarify how they will engage with Derbyshire-based processes if selected.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Commission Fee: £10,000 paid to the artist/collective.
  • Materials Budget: Provided separately (details in full brief).
  • Opportunity to lead and realise a high-profile public installation at the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, a UNESCO-designated site.
  • Collaboration with a major participatory programme that engages communities county-wide and contributes to a landmark artwork to be unveiled in 2027.
  • Visibility through the Derbyshire Makes programme, associated events, festival activities (2026 Derbyshire Makes Festival), and local/regional press channels.

Application Fee

None  

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following:
  • A 500-word statement outlining their approach to the opportunity and how they would realise the installation within the context of Dare to Dream.
  • Portfolio examples (3–5 relevant works) demonstrating experience in textile, community-oriented or large-scale participatory projects.
  • CV (maximum two pages).
  • Completed monitoring form (provided via a linked form in the original brief).

How to Apply?

Submit application materials by email to: makes@derbyshiremakes.co.uk

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 20 February 2026
  • Commission Start: March/April 2026
  • Project Delivery Period: Spring 2026 – Summer 2027 (culminating in the 2027 installation).

Location

Masson Mills, Derbyshire, United Kingdom

Additional Details

  • Dare to Dream is a long-term creative participation programme connecting local makers, schools, businesses and communities to collectively imagine future possibilities through craft.
  • The commission involves integrating community-made flags, banners and textile pieces — making this project ideal for artists experienced in community engagement and collaborative process-driven work.
  • Application materials must clearly reflect experience working in public or participatory contexts, with heritage or place-based sensitivity.

Website Link: https://www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk/news/artist-maker-call-out-for-dare-to-dream