Artist Open Call – Creative Wellbeing Workshops and Exhibition
Deadline for applications, Thursday 15th January 2026, 11.59pm
Two Queens is inviting applications from artists to design and run a participatory workshop for adults within our Creative Wellbeing programme.
Sessions will be aimed at local artists and creative people facing mental health challenges, and need to be accessible and suitable for people with a varied range of experience and confidence with creative processes.
We are seeking 4 Leicester/shire-based* artists to take part in this project. Participating artists will:
– Devise and deliver a hands-on creative activity aimed at adults, based on your own practice. The 3 hour workshop will take place on a Friday afternoon in Spring ’26 and delivery will be supported by Two Queens staff.
– Provide pre-existing artwork for a group exhibition alongside Creative Wellbeing participants, to take place 31st July – 15th August 2026. Included artworks will be selected through conversation with the Two Queens curatorial team.
Participating artists will receive a £500 fee for their involvement in the project on a self-employed/freelancer basis – this fee is based on an indicative 2 days of work including planning and delivery. Costs related to materials, travel and transport associated with the project will be covered outside of this fee. A budget to support the participation of those with access needs is also available.
How to Apply
Our preferred application method is to complete the short google form at:
https://forms.gle/NM2oBSqYc7fQ8QNT6
This form asks for some basic details about you and your practice, as well as early stage ideas for a workshop. The final workshop plan will be arrived at through discussion with the Two Queens team once participating artists are selected.
If you wish to make an application through an alternative format, for example video, voicenote, or in-person conversation, please contact us to discuss. Our preferred contact method is by email to development@2queens.com
Deadline for proposals is Thursday 15th January 2026, 11.59pm
For any questions relating to this opportunity please email Dan at development@2queens.com
*We consider Leicester/shire-based to mean primarily living and working within Leicester or Leicestershire, i.e. spending more than 50% of your time here.
This project is made possible by public funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Rolling Opportunity – Join our Critical Friends group
Two Queens is seeking new volunteer members for our Critical Friends Group, to help us evaluate and shape our public programmes.
We are seeking critical feedback from people who access our exhibitions and events, and in particular from those whose lived experiences have been historically under-represented in spaces like ours. Traditional evaluation methods like surveys don’t always capture the things we are doing well or that we could improve, so our aim is that receiving longer-term, in-depth feedback will help us to better improve how we meet the needs of our community.
Currently we are looking for critical friends who are either:
- Leicester-based young people aged 18-25
- Families with children aged 5-12
- Local practising artists from global majority backgrounds
- Local practising artists aged 65 plus
- Audience members who are d/Deaf or disabled
- Audience members with a Queer or Trans gender identity
As a critical friend, you will be invited to attend our exhibitions and events at a time that suits you, and have the opportunity to give feedback through a 1-2-1 conversation with Two Queens staff in person or over video chat. We anticipate these conversations will take around 30 minutes. There is no minimum commitment to take part in feedback sessions – you may want to attend some or all of the sessions you are invited to. We are unable to pay for your time, but we can reimburse travel costs within the Leicester area to and from Two Queens to allow participation.
This is a rolling opportunity with applications to join accepted at any time. To apply please complete the google form here, or contact us if you would like to make your application by alternative means: info@2queens.com