call out: creative commission
@theleapbd
creative commission: understanding community-led culture in bradford and keighley
The Leap is inviting applications from artists, filmmakers, illustrators and creative collectives for a £5,000 creative commission exploring community-led cultural leadership in Bradford and Keighley.
The commission forms part of Understanding Community-Led Culture in Bradford and Keighley, a participatory research project delivered with York St John University and independent researchers. We are looking for a compelling creative response that brings to life the experiences, motivations and perspectives of local cultural leaders, and helps communicate the project’s findings to both community and policy audiences.
We welcome proposals across a range of creative formats, including film, illustration, animation, audio, photography or multidisciplinary approaches, with a strong emphasis on community-centred and collaborative practice.
project overview
The Leap, in partnership with York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice and independent researcher Clare Danek, is undertaking a participatory research project exploring community-led cultural leadership across Bradford and Keighley.
The project will use peer-to-peer interviews, people’s assemblies, and reflective workshops to understand:
1. Motivations – Why do individuals step forward and take on a local cultural leadership role?
2. Barriers and Enablers – What support or conditions enable people to sustain their involvement?
3. Definitions of Leadership – How do communities define and express cultural leadership in their own terms?
The research findings are intended to inform policy, funding, and cultural strategy across Yorkshire and beyond. The Creative Commission will act as the emotional and creative heart of the project — bringing these findings to life through story, image, sound and or film.
Commission Value: £5,000
The deadline for submissions is Friday 9 January 2026, with delivery taking place between January and May 2026.
Interested applicants can download a copy of the brief here
If you have any questions or need more information about this commission, contact Akinwale Ogundipe at Akinwale@the-leap.org.uk
how to apply
Please submit the following to Andrea Dean at Info@the-leap.org.uk by close of business Friday 9th January 2026:
1. Proposal (max 2 pages or 5-minute video): outline your idea, medium, approach, and relevance to the brief. If you would prefer to submit your proposal using a different format, we can discuss this with you.
2. Examples of previous work: links or attachments to 1–3 relevant projects.
3. Short CV or artist bio.
4. Simple budget breakdown showing how the £5,000 will be allocated.