We are looking to commission 6 artists with lived experience to produce graphic, illustrative or painted artworks, bringing the Black History Research Group’s research to life.
If this is of interest, we would love to hear from you!
Who are the Black History Research Group?
The BHRG are a team of local researchers working to record the rich and varied Black histories of the Hertfordshire area. Current BHRG research topics include (among other things):
- Black soldiers in Roman St Albans (Verulamium)
- Black abolitionists in Hertfordshire
- 20th century NHS workers
- St Albans industries that profited from enslaved labour
The above image shows St Albans Museums BHRG members on a recent visit to the V&A, South Kensington.
The Commission
- Original graphic, illustrative or painted artworks by 6 artists with lived experience responding to, and bringing to life, the group’s research.
- Artworks will be reproduced in the BHRG Zine, on sale from Oct 2025.
- Original artworks will be displayed in an exhibition at St Albans Museum + Gallery (1 Oct — 2 Nov 2025). Previous artists showcased here include Henry Moore, Rana Begum, Barbara Hepworth and Anna Rey.
Artist fee: £250 per artist
We will also be seeking a graphic designer for the zine and our commercial team would like to hear from any local (Herts, Beds, Bucks, London based) suppliers of shop products with African diaspora heritage. Examples of products include (but are not limited to) jewellery, gifting, stationery etc.
Timeline:
- 10 Jan—28 Feb: open for submissions.
- Mar 2025: 6 artists selected by BHRG Chair and a representative of St Albans Museums with input from BHRG members.
- Mar / April : artists appointed.
- 28 April week: BHRG research shared with artists.
- 1 May—27 Jun: artists respond to the research with their graphic, illustrative or painted artwork/s.
- 30 Jun-11 Jul: any revisions agreed to submitted artworks.
- By 11 Jul final artworks produced.
- 1 Oct 2025 Zine published.
- 1 Oct-2 Nov exhibition at St Albans Museum + Gallery.
How to apply?
- Please email an expression of interest clearly stating why you would be a good fit for the project and including examples of recent work to laura.lennard@stalbans.gov.uk by 5pm 28 Feb 2025
- Please note that any proposals submitted later than the deadline date and time will not be considered.
- Any questions? Please email laura.lennard@stalbans.gov.uk to ask a question or arrange a phone call.
St Albans Museums’ Responsibilities
St Albans Museums will work with external parties including BHRG members, Consultant, Artists and Graphic Designer to produce a BHRG Zine and accompanying temporary Assembly Room exhibition: 1 Oct – 2 Nov 2025.
St Albans Museums will seek to work primarily with partners who have lived experience and are representative of the Black histories we are seeking to research and share.
Lived experience is described as: “Personal knowledge about the world gained through direct, first-hand involvement in everyday events rather than through representations constructed by other people.”
St Albans Museums recognises that many people who provide content drawing on their lived experiences often do so at a high emotional cost. For this project St Albans Museums will arrange an appropriate fee for any person who is bringing their lived experience when contributing articles, artworks, design work or when consulting.
St Albans Museums also proposes a conversation around wellbeing measures with all appointed artists in April 2025 so that we can plan these into our ways of working and the project timeline from the beginning.
Curatorial decision-making, project management and budget management rests with the museum.