The new building is named after painter Sir Terry Frost who transformed arts school teaching in Leeds in the 1950s. I produced  an arts strategy for Alumno's new building which included multiple artists commissions including Forged In The Muddy Beck, which is Amelia Frances Wood's first major commission and is a five part ceramic sculpture that relates to the lost Sheepscar Beck river that runs behind the Terry Frost Building and the historic legacy of Burmantofts pottery which operated near this site from 1859 to 1957.

Drawing inspiration from the hidden currents of the city, the sculptures capture the essence of the Sheepscar Beck which meanders through Leeds, resonating with the echoes of its waters that have long since disappeared from view. It's not only the river's course that finds expression within these works; the rich heritage of Burmantofts pottery also emerges. The signature vessel silhouettes that once adorned Burmantofts creations intertwine with these ceramic forms. These sculptures serve as both a celebration of the past and a bridge to the present.

“It is exciting to see my sculpture come to life and enliven the rain garden. I was inspired by the history of the river and what stories the beck holds, using the clay to reflect on the way water distorts and manipulates objects over time. I have taken inspiration from Burmantofts pottery traditional vessels to influence the sculptures’ forms.”

The sculptures are accompanied by a specially commissioned poem called Sheepscar Mudlarking by Zaffar Kunial which was written in response to Amelia's sculpture and the poem is presented in the glazing surrounding the sculpture courtyard.