Z OPEN 2025 – Call for Submissions

Deadline for entries: 28 September 2025

Exhibition: Sun 7th Dec 2025 – Sun 8 Mar 2026

Z OPEN 2025 is an open exhibition opportunity brought to you by the Bradford District Museums & Galleries’ Young Ambassadors ‘Generation Z’ cohort. It is aimed at young Bradford creatives aged between 16 – 25 years of age.
An open call for creatives aged 16-25 who have lived, worked or studied within the Bradford district. The BDMG Young Ambassadors cohort for 2025 are inviting submissions to an open call that is free to enter. Successful applicants will display their selected work or works in the main gallery space alongside other young creatives at Bradford Industrial Museum.

This is your chance to exhibit with Bradford District Museums and Galleries during Bradford’s City of Culture year. The exhibition at Bradford Industrial Museum will be running whilst the Turner Prize 2025 is being hosted at Cartwright Hall.

Bradford Industrial Museum is based in what used to be Moorside Mills in Eccleshill. It was originally built around 1875 as a small, worsted spinning mill. In 1974, Bradford Council created a unique museum, which now contains permanent displays of textile machinery, steam power, engineering innovations and motor vehicles.
Prize winner announcement launch event: Sunday 7 December 2025, 1 – 3pm.

Join us as this year’s winners are announced. Refreshments served. Free admission. All welcome.
Submit up to 3 works via Curator Space by 28 September 2025.

Prize Categories
16 – 18 years – £100
19 – 21 years – £200
22 – 25 years – £300
Public’s Choice – will be announced on Sunday 25 January, 1 – 3.30pm
A special event with the young ambassadors and FREE art engagement activity which will be open to all. The activity/demonstrations will be held be selected exhibitors in the exhibition.
Prizes awarded courtesy of Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums.
Funded by Arts Council England.
www.bradfordmuseums.org

This exhibition is open to anyone living, working or studying within the Bradford Metropolitan District. Work in any medium will be accepted, e.g. printmaking, drawing, photography, sculpture, the crafts, video etc. Artists may submit up to three works and must be 16 to 25 years of age.

Bradford District Museums and Galleries and the Young Ambassadors reserve the right to refuse works that we consider may cause offence.

All works will be submitted to a selection panel and entrants will be notified of its decision. The decision of the panel is final. Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the panel:
Young ambassadors: Kennedy Drake, Atiyya Mirza, Hoi Yan Chan (Hoi-yan/ Fatima), Katy Parkinson, Maraki Feleke, Red Shaw, Safa Munir.
Bradford 2025 Young Creative apprentice and illustrator: Isobel Booth
Invited Artist Printmaker Ruth Fettis
Chair: Friends of Bradford Arts Galleries and Museums Gavin Edwards

Work in any medium will be accepted, e.g. printmaking, drawing, photography, sculpture, the crafts, video.

Selected works should be delivered to:
Bradford Industrial Museum on Tuesday 2nd December 8.30am to 4.30pm.
All packing material to be removed by entrant.

Collection
Works to be collected Monday 9th & Tuesday 10th March 8.30am – 4.30pm.
Bradford Industrial Museum, Moorside Mills, Moorside Road Eccleshill, Bradford,
BD2 3HP T: 01274 435900

Use the ‘booking link’ below in order to submit your entries

Image credit: Karol Wyszynski, Photography