Two £10,000 Commissions for Bold New Voices in Contemporary Art
This year, in anticipation of York Minster’s 1,400th anniversary in 2027, a landmark opportunity has emerged for artists to become part of its evolving story. In collaboration with Aesthetica Magazine, the York Minster Talent Award launches with the aim of supporting two new commissions that bring fresh creative voices into one of Europe’s most iconic and historically rich buildings.
This award represents a powerful intersection between heritage and contemporary practice. It is a call to artists to interpret the Minster’s legacy through the themes that make it universal: renewal, transformation and reflection. These commissions are an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing narrative of a space that has stood as a centre of culture, craftsmanship and community for over a millennium.
The York Minster Talent Award offers two £10,000 grants to artists working across different disciplines:
- A Sound Commission, inviting an artist to create an immersive audio experience that resonates within the Minster’s vast, atmospheric spaces.
- A Contemporary Art Commission, open to visual and interdisciplinary artists working in sculpture, installation, moving image, digital media, performance, photography and beyond.
These new commissions will be exhibited for nine months inside York Minster, offering a rare and prestigious platform for public engagement. This is an invitation to respond to one of the UK’s most significant architectural and cultural landmarks in a way that bridges the past and present — and opens a conversation about where we go next. The Talent Award commissions build on a legacy of transformative projections and immersive art experiences at York Minster, following landmark installations such as Colour & Light (2025), Phoenix (2024), Platinum & Light (2022) and The People We Love (2020).
“It’s an honour to be working with York Minster as they mark 1400 years of history and faith,” says Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica. “This anniversary is a moment to reflect on the Minster’s incredible legacy, but also a way to look ahead and invite new voices to interpret that story in meaningful and contemporary ways. We’re especially interested in how artists can explore themes of water and baptism — powerful symbols of renewal and transformation. These concepts offer rich ground for creative exploration across all disciplines.”
This project is underpinned by Aesthetica’s longstanding commitment to championing new talent. For nearly two decades, the Aesthetica Art Prize has been a platform for discovery, spotlighting some of the most exciting artists working today. Alumni include Larry Achiampong, known for his digital worlds and virtual reality works; Maryam Tafakory, whose moving image practice blends poetry, politics and form; Ayo Akingbade, whose films have screened at Tate and MoMA; Liz West, known for her vibrant, immersive light installations and Steve Messam, whose bold, site-specific inflatable sculptures have reimagined landscapes across the UK and beyond.
The Prize has always sought to connect emerging voices with wider audiences, offering a launchpad that recognises experimentation, risk-taking and innovation. The York Minster Talent Award extends this mission, providing financial support, curatorial guidance and international exposure for the selected artists. “We’re looking for bold, innovative artists with fresh perspectives,” Federico adds. “Those who can connect the past with the present in ways that resonate with York Minster’s historic anniversary. We believe in the power of art to create dialogue, to illuminate history and to imagine the future. This is an extraordinary platform, and we can’t wait to see what artists will bring to it.”
What You’ll Receive:
- £10,000 commission to realise your concept
- Full production and curatorial support
- A 10-month exhibition or installation at York Minster
- Featured coverage in Aesthetica Magazine, with an international readership
- Promotion across press and digital media platforms
This opportunity is open to artists at any stage of their career, from recent graduates to established practitioners looking to engage with new audiences and contexts. It is not a religious commission – rather, it is a creative challenge to engage with ideas that are deeply human: the act of beginning again, the rituals that shape our identities, and the connection between memory and imagination.
How to Apply:
- Applicants are asked to submit a proposal of up to 500 words, including:
- A clear concept that responds to the themes of renewal, transformation and York Minster’s legacy
- Description of medium, materials or methods
- Up to 5 supporting images or video links from previous work
- A CV or short biography (PDF or Word)
Apply: Click here to submit your proposal »
Deadline: 9 June 2025
Artists will be selected by a panel of leading curators, cultural figures and Aesthetica’s editorial team. Successful proposals will be those that are ambitious in vision, sensitive to site, and able to spark conversation within and beyond the gallery space.
The York Minster Talent Award is more than a commission; it’s an opportunity to be part of a legacy – to engage with a space that has witnessed centuries of change and to help shape its voice for the future. In a time when the world is grappling with what it means to begin again, this award asks: What do we carry forward? What do we leave behind? And how can art guide the way?
Let your work be part of that answer.
Images: Colour & Light, Platinum & Light and Phoenix at York Minster.
