Elements of Nature is an exciting new arts project that brings together early-career artists, local communities, and the natural environment to explore creativity and sustainability through co-created artwork.

Inspired by 12 natural elements—such as Earth, Water, Light, Shadow, and Time—artists and community participants will collaborate through workshops, outdoor exploration, and creative experimentation. The resulting artworks will be exhibited at Left Bank Leeds in a public celebration in late September 2025.

🎨 Call for Artists: Elements of Nature – A Paid Co-Creation Opportunity

Hosted by: Left Bank Leeds CIC

Application Deadline: 1st August 2025

Project Duration: July – September 2025

Fee: £540 + mentorship, skill development, and a group exhibition opportunity

Location: Leeds, UK

🧩 The Opportunity

We are inviting five early-career artists to join Elements of Nature—a community arts project that explores the natural elements through co-creation, collaboration, and sustainability.

Each selected artist will develop and lead four free public workshops designed to both support their own artistic development and provide meaningful, creative engagement for local communities. These workshops will result in a co-created or collaboratively inspired piece of artwork for exhibition. We welcome artists working in all mediums and disciplines.

What the selected artists will receive:

• A fee of £540 for participation and delivery

• Mentorship and support in workshop planning, curation, and community engagement

• The opportunity to lead creative, inclusive workshops with local participants—including outdoor sessions in Burley Park or in the local urban environment

• A chance to co-create a new body of work inspired by one of the 12 elements of nature

• Participation in a curated group exhibition at Left Bank Leeds

• Recognition through Navigtr Badges and access to wider creative networks and employment pathways

🌿 Themes to Explore

The project is rooted in nature, community, and sustainability. Each artist will choose or be assigned one of the following natural elements as a creative starting point:

Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Thunder, Ice, Flower, Shadow, Light, Moon, Time, Force

You will be encouraged to interpret and explore these elements through your own practice while connecting them to local landscapes, community stories, and environmental themes.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who Should Apply?

We’re looking for:

• Early-career artists based in Leeds or nearby

• Artists with an active and evolving creative practice

• Practitioners in any discipline (visual art, sculpture, sound, performance, digital, mixed media, etc.)

• Creatives who are passionate about community engagement, collaboration, and environmental storytelling

• Artists who are open to mentoring and working in inclusive, accessible ways

• People with the confidence to lead public creative workshops (previous workshop experience is not required—we will support you!)

📬 How to Apply

Please complete this form to apply. You’ll be asked about your creative practice, interest in the project, and any ideas you have for community engagement.

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📎 If possible, include links or uploads of recent work and a short artist bio or CV

We actively encourage applications from artists from underrepresented backgrounds including global majority, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, D/deaf and disabled artists.

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