Cathedral wants artists to mark 1,400th birthday

The commissions will be part of year-long celebrations at the minster

A cathedral is to award two artists £10,000 each to create works for its 1,400th anniversary celebrations.

York Minster said the Talent Award would be open to artists working in various disciplines and "at any stage of their career".

Candidates are being asked to propose large-scale installations that interpret the minster's legacy through the themes of "renewal and transformation".

The winning entries are set to go on show for 10 months to mark the anniversary in 2027.

Immersive art shows in recent years have included the Phoenix exhibition, which marked 40 years since a devastating fire at the minster, and Colour and Light, which explored wildlife in York.

A spokesperson for the minster said: "The Talent Awards are open to anyone anywhere in the world and are an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing narrative of a space that has stood as a centre of culture, craft, and community for nearly 1,400 years."

A display during February's wildlife-themed Colour and Light show

Cherie Federico, who runs the annual Aesthetica short film festival in York, is working with the minster on the awards.

"We're especially interested in how artists can explore themes of water and baptism – powerful symbols of renewal and transformation," she said.

The Very Rev Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, added: "No visitor to the minster leaves without a sense of the artistry that generations have poured into this place.

"These exciting artistic commissions offer a chance to rediscover, reassess and reassert our mission today through the lens of contemporary art."

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