Winter 2025 Commission: Call for Artists
We are looking for an emerging artist to create a new piece inspired by Christmas to be displayed in the Kingsland Road lawns from November 2025.
We are looking for creative proposals drawing inspiration from Christmas trees, illumination and decorations, both historic and contemporary and are particularly interested in works linking to our Collections.
Artists can visit the Museum of the Home's galleries and are encouraged to browse through our Christmas collections online. We are open to hearing from a range of disciplines, including sculptors, designers, AV, multimedia and installation artists.
The commission will have a lasting impact in the form of archival material, redisplay and legacy within the Museum’s future programme.
Left: Christmas Decoration, 2009, Object number 57/2010 ; Centre: 'Lametta for Decorating Christmas Trees' cardboard box, c.1930-1940, Object number 75/2010 ; Right: Silver Pine' aluminium Christmas tree, c.1960-70. Object number 35/1997
Background
Every November, the Museum’s Rooms Through Time are dressed for the Winter Past display exploring how seasonal festivals, cultural and personal traditions shape the ways we spend time at home during winter. The display is the result of many years of original research using diaries, prints, painting, oral histories and community engagement to authentically represent experiences of winter across different London homes from 1630 all the way to the future.
The display has become one of the Museum’s most popular projects and expanded to a wider Winter Season of events and activations across our spaces. Playful decorations such as a Christmas tree adorned with miniature furniture, inflatables and neon lights can be found across the Museum, while the front lawns, windows and roof garden have seen contemporary artwork illuminating the building and celebrating Winter - from Chila Burman’s Laxmi and Shiv Ji to Jessica Hung Han Yun’s Winter Melon.
Key information
- An information session will take place online on 7 April 2025, 6.30-8pm. To receive a link please contact exhibitions@museumofthehome.org.uk.
- The successful artist will receive a fee of £3,000 and a budget of up to £12,000 [subject to funding] to cover production and install.
- You can find out about our Christmas and Winter-related collections here.
- You can explore our previous Winter Past exhibition here.
- Deadline for submissions: 27 April 2025, 11.59pm
What are we looking for?
- A new, impactful artwork that responds/links to the Museum's collections and Winter Season, and the theme of Christmas.
- An artwork that is feasible within the suggested budget.
- To support an emerging artist further their practice.
- The artist needs to be based in the UK and be available to deliver to the project timeline.
NB Due to the listed status of the building, we can not accept proposals for works directly attached directly onto the façade.
Project timeline
- 7 April: Info session (online) at 6.30pm
- 27 April: Deadline for submissions
- 8 May: Successful artist notified
- 9–15: May Artist to supply final information for additional funding
- 4 July: Final production and install budget confirmed
- July-31 October: Production
- 10 November: Install
Various baubles, c. 1960s