Propose an exhibition

There are key principles that underpin our exhibitions.

These principles will also inform our public programme. Our public programme will complement and amplify our exhibitions and help us diversify our audiences even further.

The exhibition principles are:

• socially engaged
• enquiry-led programme
• curious and inspiring
• accessible
• connected
• courageous and bold
• sustainable
• compassionate.

Socially engaged

We are a socially engaged organisation that aims to create exhibitions that make a meaningful and positive difference in our world. Our exhibitions aim to critically address ethical and social issues and challenges on a local, national and global scale. 

We seek for our exhibitions to contribute to a more equitable and just future. Understanding that museums are not neutral, we are committed to ensuring that our exhibitions adhere to anti-racist and decolonising practices and challenge ableism and all forms of prejudice and discrimination. Our exhibitions will increase understanding between groups and communities and contribute towards making our University and the wider city of Leeds safer and more welcoming for everybody.

We seek for our exhibitions to stay relevant to our target audiences. Our exhibitions will tackle and raise awareness among the public on the issues that matter most to our audiences

Enquiry-led programme

As a university gallery service, we aim to support the creation or deepening of knowledge, as well as yielding new ways of thinking and understanding. We support enquiry-led programming that goes beyond the traditional understanding of academic research. Our exhibitions will be guided by powerful, deep and thought-provoking questions of social, philosophical or intellectual character rather than merely showcasing or disseminating information. Ultimately, we want to encourage people to think deeply and question the world around them. 

Curious and inspiring

We want to showcase and increase access to our collections through our exhibitions. We will use our collections to spark curiosity and inspiration among our audiences. We connect our collections with artists, communities, students and researchers. We believe that their shared experiences and stories would enrich our understanding of the collections and increase their relevance.

Accessible

We want to make sure our exhibitions (including design, installation and interpretation) are both physically and intellectually accessible as well as safe, welcoming and supportive to a wide and diverse range of people. We will cater for a wide range of learning styles. 

Connected

We will explore opportunities to co-programme and create greater cohesion across our galleries. Acknowledging our role within our wider university context, we will also seek to connect where relevant with other cultural producers at the University of Leeds, actively contributing to the University’s Cultural Engagement Strategy and to a richer and more coherent cultural offer on campus.

We aim to enrich the cultural lives of members of the local community and be an integral part of the local cultural ecology. We seek to expand our networks and build our profile both locally and nationally. We see working in partnership as a key element for our long-term sustainability. We are keen to collaborate in projects where we feel we can make a significant contribution. We will always ask ourselves: “why us and why here?”

Courageous and bold

We aim for our exhibitions programme to be courageous. We are willing to take risks and go beyond our own and the wider sector’s comfort zones. We are open to make space for challenging and difficult conversations to happen in a safe and supportive way.

We strive to be a centre of excellent curatorial practice and a leading university gallery service that champions innovation in form and content.

Sustainable

We prioritise environmental sustainability throughout our projects. We aim to reflect on the effects of climate change through our programme and consider the most environmentally friendly options in all aspects of the exhibition making process. This is in line with the University’s Sustainability Strategy and its plans to reach net zero emissions by 2030. 

Compassionate

We support, empower and upskill our staff, partners and collaborators to do their best, while cultivating a culture of equity, integrity, collaboration and compassion.