10th January - 29th March 2026
Ones to Watch returns to the Gallery for its thirteenth year in 2026, showcasing some of the most exciting emerging talent Yorkshire has to offer. The exhibition brings together work by artists from across disciplines, from painting to sculpture, film, photography, ceramics, design and more.
Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4. Closed on Mondays. FREE ENTRY
Zine Library open call now live!
Emerging zine artists – WE NEED YOU! We are looking for emerging artists to exhibit their zines and artists’ books in our newly established zine library, curated for each Gallery exhibition.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
We are looking for zines and books to include on our Zine Library trolley, which will be displayed alongside the artwork of this year’s selected Ones to Watch artists. Through this open call, we hope to hear from a range of voices.
If selected, your work be seen by thousands of visitors throughout the course of the exhibition and may be featured on our social media with a reach of 30,000+ followers.
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for this opportunity, you must be either:
• A current student on a creative degree, MA or foundation course in Yorkshire.
• A 2025 graduate from a creative degree, MA or foundation course in Yorkshire (including postgrad).
• A current student/or 2025 graduate from a creative degree outside of Yorkshire if you were originally born, from or reside in Yorkshire.
• In alternative arts education or any other form of creative based courses eg. self taught
We will be accepting work that is for sale in limited or unlimited runs, one-off artists’ books and books that are not for sale.
ACCEPTED FORMATS:
• Photographic or illustrative zines or self published books
• Artists’ books
• Poetry or prose books / pamphlets
• Dummy / prototype books
RELEVANT THEMES:
• Navigating the arts as an emerging creative
• Finding your creative voice
• Identity
• How you perceive the world
• How the world perceives you
• Self-discovery
• Stories about your experience as a student
• Time spent in education or learning
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Midnight on Friday 19th December 2025
EXHIBITION DATES: 10th January – 29th March 2026
If you need support with your application, please email [email protected] or message us on Curatorspace.
Please note – the general open call deadline for Ones to Watch 2026 has now passed, and work has been selected for the exhibition.
THE JUDGES
Aliyah Hussain
Aliyah Hussain is a visual artist based in Todmorden. Her practice explores the connection between ceramics and sound by creating large-scale interconnected sculptures that double up as instruments and feature in soundtracks made to accompany the work. Her work is inspired by feminist science fiction, speculative storytelling, and plant-thinking. Recent exhibitions include, Plant Dreaming, Leeds Art Gallery, (2025), Forbidden Territories – 100 years of surrealist landscapes, The Box, Plymouth and Hepworth Wakefield (2024-25) and She Was Waiting For Her Roots, Lowry, Salford (2024).
Since 2018 Aliyah has also collaborated with other artists to create soundtracks for worldbuilding projects including, exhibitions, VR animations, computer games, RPGs, and performance.
Cat Scott
Cat Scott MRSS is an established international contemporary artist based in Bradford, UK, who makes experimental, regenerative fluid sculptures, using light/sound/liquids/gases for the public realm, galleries, sculpture parks and light festivals. Her work explores climate themes, such as hydro-feminism, and the wonder of visible/invisible fluid systems in built/natural environments, mixed with womanhood, neurodiversity and identity.
Cat aims to create art to be experience in everyday spaces and is driven by cross-sector, collaborative projects with scientists, engineers, technologists, etc. She makes work for women/girls, neurodivergent/disabled groups, working class people, and the public, and enjoys giving back her extensive skills/experience by mentoring emerging contemporary artists in the North of England (eg: George Moody, Leeds, Yorkshire Sculpture Park Graduate Award 2024 winner).
Since 2014, Cat has secured 14+ commissions/residencies and £75,000+ in funding from institutions, public authorities and organisations, regionally, nationally and internationally – including but not limited to: the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (University of Leeds), Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, BD is LiT, Light Night Leeds, Light Up The North, Arts Council England, the Cultural Institute/Priestley Centre for Climate Futures (University of Leeds), Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a-n Artists’ Information Company, Changwon Sculpture Biennale (Korea), Asia Culture Center (Korea), Yorkshire Sculpture International, the British Council, the University of Leeds/Bath/Bradford and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Photo credit: Karol Wyszynski
Hayley Dixon
images
![Making plans for the weekend ahead? The Gallery is open with our current free exhibition Broken//Makeshift, the Gallery Shop is stocked and looking VERY festive, and there are over 20 independent businesses to visit and support at the Mills and around Farsley!
The Gallery, Shop & Tea Room are open 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Sunday. FREE ENTRY.
Visit the Leisure page on our website for more info & opening times for each business on site.
See you soon!
[Image 1 shows the Gallery shop space, a large airy former cloth warehouse, decorated for Christmas with a large tree adorned with lights and star ornaments, positioned next to cafe table. Image 2 shows the Gallery shop space at night with wooden tables, shelves filled with gifts, and a small decorated Christmas tree under warm lighting. Image 3 is a wide angle view of the Gallery shop from the rear corridor, with wooden tables displaying handmade goods and art supplies under warm lighting.]
#ShopLocal #ShopIndependent #DaysOutInLeeds #IndependentLeeds](https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)