3rd October – 24th December 2026
In the darkest months of the year, this exhibition is an explosion of light. Soft Light will showcase paintings, photography and installations that masterfully capture sunshine, moonlight and artificial light alongside contemporary craft from UK-based artists and makers.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Closed on Mondays. FREE ENTRY.
ZINE LIBRARY OPEN CALL
We are looking for artists to apply to exhibit their zines in our newly established zine library, curated alongside each Gallery exhibition.
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:
This open call is open at any artist based in the UK & Ireland, who is able to deliver or post their zine to the Gallery in Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ.
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.
Please note – the work featured in the library will be handled by visitors on a daily basis, so please consider this when applying.
Relevant themes
- Light
- Darkness
- Winter
- Contemplation
- Shadows
Tips to strengthen your application:
- Attach clean, high-quality photos of the work you plan to exhibit and add names and approximate dimensions.
- Please include any other images that support your application or will help to create an impression of your practice as a whole.
- Clearly describe the work you are submitting, as well as discuss your practice in general.
Important dates and additional information:
The exhibition runs 3rd October – 24th December 2026.
Work will need to arrive at the Gallery ahead of the launch of Soft Light (between 21st & 30th September).
Books/zines will remain in the library throughout the duration of the exhibition.
Applications close at midnight on Sunday 20th September.
![What was it really like to start work at Sunny Bank Mills?
As part of our partnership with the Heritage Network's Digital Heroes programme, volunteers explored oral history recordings from former mill workers and transformed their memories into new digital content inspired by everyday life in the mill.
Our first guest blog, written by Digital Heroes volunteer Laura Barnes, imagines a young apprentice's first day at Sunny Bank Mills. From learning the trade and fetching tea for the loom workers to navigating workplace characters, rules and routines, the story brings to life the experiences of generations of textile workers.
It's a wonderful example of this year's Heritage Open Days theme, Everyday Histories, celebrating the ordinary people and everyday moments that have shaped our communities.
Read the blog via our LINK IN BIO.
With thanks to Laura Barnes and the Heritage Network Digital Heroes for helping us share these memories with new audiences.
[Image: White enamel mug resting on a worn wooden workbench bathed in sunlight inside a workshop.]
#HeritageOpenDays #EverydayHistories #SunnyBankMills #HeritageNetwork #DigitalHeroes #OralHistory #TextileHistory #WestYorkshireHeritage #CommunityHistory](https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)