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Freelance opportunities: John Goodchild collection commissions - Wakefield Museums and Castles
Freelance opportunities: John Goodchild collection commissions
Friday, May 08, 2026Wakefield Council is looking to appoint freelance specialists to two commissions relating to the John Goodchild collection:
Cataloguing and Research of 3D Objects in the John Goodchild Collection
Wakefield Museums and Castles is keen to fully understand the scope of the 3D objects held in the Goodchild collection, so that they can ascertain whether any objects meet the museum’s established Collections Development Policy and can therefore be accessioned into the collection. To do this, the objects must be properly identified, catalogued and researched.
The maximum available budget for this commission is £7,000.
We welcome proposals from individuals or teams with appropriate experience of cataloguing and research.
Closing date for proposals: 12pm, Friday 29 May.
Download Cataloguing and Researching 3D objects commision brief
John Goodchild Historic Artworks Appraisal
Wakefield Council is seeking to appoint a freelance museum, gallery, art or conservation specialist to produce an appraisal including inventory, condition check, research, and advice on future display potential for a collection of historic artworks contained within the John Goodchild collection.
The maximum available budget for this commission is £7,000.
Closing date for proposals: 12pm, Friday 29 May.
John Goodchild collection
The John Goodchild Collection was bequeathed to Wakefield Council in 2017 from historian and collector John Goodchild. It comprises over 3,200 boxes of archival material alongside a substantial number of historic artworks and 3D objects.
Although West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) currently holds the collection on behalf of the council, the 3D material and artworks lie outside the core expertise and remit of archives. This part of the collection requires specialist input to identify, assess, and catalogue. The artworks, along with the rest of the collection, are currently stored at the West Yorkshire History Centre in Wakefield city centre.
Previous work has completed a basic box‑listing of archival materials, but no detailed catalogue exists for the c. 200 artworks and 3D objects.
Contact
For further information about this opportunity, please contact Tegwen Roberts on heritage@wakefield.gov.uk.