A new community-curated exhibition led by teams from both archipelago and Leeds Industrial Museum.

The 'Luddite Riots' sparked a wave of protests across the country in 1812, protesting wage reductions and new machinery replacing jobs. Trade Unions were legalised just 12 years later, but how have they really changed since the 19th century?

Centred on the story of Luddites, as well as workers rights during the 1970s and 1980s, this new exhibition explores the ongoing tension of humanity vs machine.

Leeds Industrial Museum
Canal Rd, Armley, Leeds LS12 2QF

Open Tuesday - Sunday

An afternoon of activity to empower and equip artists to centralise collaboration; building the sustainable networks and partnerships that help realise their artistic ideas and the confidence to ensure these collaborations thrive. Featuring case study presentations of great collaborations, practical round table workshops, opportunities to build new collaborations and commissioned performances. 

Freelancers will go away with a toolkit resource pack to support them across the different stages of collaborative project development as well as the opportunity to book 1-1 post-workshop advice sessions with the archipelago team. 

The Carpenter Room at Sheffield Central Library, Sheffield, S1 1XZ

Friday 18th September 2026

Over the next year we’ll be working with four groups to share textile skills and create new works of art for exhibition at Leeds Industrial Museum. These works will be inspired by the ‘Craftivism’ movement of textile making inspired by activism and also the Luddite movement led by skilled textile makers in the North and Midlands of England.

We’re looking to meet people who would be interested in learning new skills and making something together!

An Awakening: The Threads of Luddism project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Over the next year we’ll be collecting stories inspired by our show Shirley: An Awakening and a new exhibition onsite at Leeds Industrial Museum. We want to hear stories related to people standing up for their rights as well as reckoning with changes happening in the world and their communities and the pockets of solidarity to be found.

These stories will form a growing creative audio exhibition and archive at Leeds Industrial Museum and online.

We’re looking to meet people with stories to tell and people who will help us collect those stories and learn new audio production skills in the process!

An Awakening: The Threads of Luddism project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund