Project Overview
As part of a borough wide project commemorating the Weaver’s Uprising of 1826, we are seeking an artist working in any medium (such as visual arts, performance, digital, or interdisciplinary practice) to respond to a set of five existing painted panels depicting the Story of the Whiteheads, a local family of textile manufacturers. One of these panels shows the moment that local handloom weavers smashed the powerlooms in the Whitehead’s Upper Mill in 1826 and the panel is titled ‘the powerloom riots.’
The commissioned artist will be invited to re-frame this narrative, using the panels as a departure point, in order to re-tell the story of a ‘riot’ to one of a ‘Weaver’s Uprising’ resulting in an exhibition or another creative outcome, such as display of objects, a performance, or documentation of the creative research process. We would require the outcome to be presented for 6 months. If the outcome is performative, this could be followed up by documentation of the performance on display.
This project aims to explore how historical narratives are constructed, who is remembered, and how local stories of resistance and labour can be reimagined for contemporary audiences. We hope that this reinterpretation allows us to have an active role on how our communities might reflect on modern day issues, such as worker’s rights and peaceful protests, fitting in with The Whitaker’s tagline of ‘Explore the past, meet the present & create the future.’
Context
The Weaver’s Uprising of 1826 was a significant event in Lancashire’s industrial history, reflecting the struggles of working people during the Industrial Revolution. Tens of thousands of handloom weavers, each starving and angry at being ignored, protested against mechanisation and wage reductions over four days from the 24th-27th April.
Following a financial collapse after the December 1825 banking crisis, wages were low, unemployment was high, food prices were rising, and the workhouses were full. Handloom weavers and other local people made a desperate attempt to draw attention to their plight by destroying virtually all the powerlooms in the area.
Although the rising is sometimes referred to as the ‘powerloom riots’, it is important to acknowledge that the powerlooms were not the cause of the severe economic hardship in early 1826 and the people of Lancashire knew this; at this time the powerlooms were still inefficient and relatively small in number. The focussed and targeted destruction of the powerlooms was intended to send a symbolic message to those in power.
In addition, whilst the Riot Act was read on several occasions during the four days of the rising, the actions of protestors were largely orderly and non-violent, anything but what we now think of as a ‘riot’. Historical evidence indicates that at the time, and for many years afterwards, the April events were known as the ‘Lancashire Rising’.
In Rawtenstall, The Whitehead family’s Higher Mill was targeted. The story has been passed on through David Whitehead’s autobiography which uses terms such as ‘mob’ and ‘riot’ in addition to imagery framing the Whitehead’s story, such as these panels.
The Lancashire rising deserves to be remembered, both for the courage of the protestors to make a stand, but also to challenge historical narrative, questioning ownership and re-framing this story within its wider context.
Commission Opportunity
The commissioned artist will:
- Engage with the five existing panels and The Whitaker’s wider archive as source material.
- Research the history of the Weaver’s Uprising, drawing on archives, local knowledge, and historical accounts, with support from The Weaver’s Uprising Bi-centenary Committee.
- Attend appropriate events organised through the Weaver’s Uprising Bicentennial Committee and The Open University to aid with this research.
- Develop new work in any medium that re-frames, challenges, or expands the story told in the original panels and archives.
- Contribute to a public exhibition or creative output in Rawtenstall in June 2026.
- Carry out an artist’s talk during the exhibition/creative output period.
Project Timeline
- 20 September 2025 – Call for artists advertised
- 10th October 2025- Deadline for applications
- 17 October 2025 – Artist commissioned
- 30th October 2025– WUBC Study Day for artist to attend
- November 2025 – Project planning begins with curator/Weaver’s Uprising Bicentenary Committee
- December 2025 – May 2026 – Artist led research and development phase and making of new work
- June 2026 – Exhibition opens
Who Can Apply
We welcome applications from artists working in any discipline. We are especially interested in practices that are:
- Research-based and responsive to local history and community
- Able to interrogate existing narratives and re-present them in new ways
- Open to collaboration and dialogue
Budget & Support
- Artist commission fee and talk: £4000
- Production costs of artwork and display materials: £1500
- Travel and accommodation: £500
- Access to research materials, curatorial support from The Whitaker and the Weaver’s Uprising Bicentenary Committee, and engagement with local archives and communities will be provided.
Application Process
Please submit the following to gina@thewhitaker.org
- A statement of interest (max 500 words) outlining how you would approach the commission
- Up to 10 images/links to relevant work
- A short CV (2 pages max)
Deadline for applications: 10th October 2025
Selection: Artist appointed on 17th October 2025
This project is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund in conjunction with the Weaver’s Uprising Bicentenary Committee and The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery.
