Thursday 13 March 2008

Mike Hatch at the Abbey

Mike Hatch is having an exhibition at the Abbey in Shrewsbury 20th - 27th March. Please support his work by visiting the Abbey on Abbey Foregate during this time.

The Big Picture World

The Big Picture World Record Attempt Artist Brief

The Brief
Audiences Central wants to appoint an artist or artist/design team to break the world record for the largest photo mosaic in the world, as the culmination of our ‘Big Picture’ project.

The current record is 94,392 photographs covering an area of 562.85m2 (6.058.46ft2). Both numbers need to be surpassed in order to break the record.

Background
The Big Picture is an exciting new arts project that aims to encourage attendances and participation from adults throughout the West Midlands in the C2DE Socio Economic Group by inspiring them to take, use, view and manipulate photographs

This region wide photography project is an accessible and relevant way for Midlanders to engage with, and experience, art at a very local and personal level.

Over a six month period (Jan-June 08) people throughout the region are invited to submit photographs, through The Big Picture website and/or participating arts venues, which they feel define their experience of living and working in the Midlands during 2008, building a detailed visual snapshot of the region, its people and communities.

Six participating galleries throughout the Midlands region are also running education, outreach and enhancement activities as part of The Big Picture. These activities ware being funded by the campaign and although they will be incorporated into the galleries regular programmes, they will specifically target the C2DE groups and fit in with the broad theme of The Big Picture.

Big Picture Activity
There are several ways that audiences will can engage with, and participate in, The Big Picture between Jan and June 2008, these are:

· Attend an event and/or participate in a workshop at an arts venue throughout the region
· Participate in a PR/marketing activity or campaign i.e. “In the Frame” launch roadshow
· Take, submit and/or manipulate a photograph on The Big Picture website.

All of these activities are very different, particularly those in galleries, as each one is tailored to meet the specific needs of each audience to encourage attendance and participation (which is the overriding aim of the project).

Unfortunately the end result of this targeted and bespoke approach is that there is no single region wide end result for the project which participants feel that they have contributed to (which we want them to do as part of the Taking Part Survey).

This world record aspect of the project was the main communication hook for the media when the project was launched w/c 21 January and resulted in over £550,000 equivalent advertising spend of media coverage in one week. The BBC is keen to continue promoting The Big Picture and Midlands Today in particular has committed regular coverage (subject to editorial decisions) to the project in order to help us break this record.

Objectives
The objectives of the world record attempt are:
To pull together all the regional, targeted activity undertaken as part of The Big Picture
To engage large numbers of people within the West Midlands with photography, and subsequently the arts.
To obtain extensive national, regional and local publicity for the project.

What is actually required?
Audiences Central requires an artist/artists to design and produce the world record photograph mosaic (montage) which will be larger in size than the current world record (as detailed above).

The successful artist/artists will work with images supplied via The Big Picture website www.inthebigpicture.co.uk, the galleries and in community workshops to design the mosaic and then produce this large scale artwork.

Audiences Central will provide support for the operational aspects of the project, e.g. the physical production of the individual photographs.

We are currently working with The New Art Gallery Walsall regarding the possibility of producing and displaying the mosaic vertically on the side of their building. If approved Audiences Central will source relevant material (inc scaffolding, safety equipment etc) but the artist/artists will need to be comfortable with working in this unique environment.

In addition this brief also covers 6 half day workshops to be run across the region during April and May which will involve producing small elements of the final mosaic.

This is a great opportunity for a local artist/artists to work on a large scale, nationally recognised project which is funded by Arts Council England and is supported by the BBC. The Big Picture has already attracted a great deal of interest from the arts and audiences region wide (and in some cases nationally and internationally) and the world record attempt will be a high profile culmination to this already much loved project.

The successful artist/artists may be interviewed/profiled on national, regional and local media. They must be available to undertake this aspect of the project, and enjoy being interviewed and working with the media. Audiences Central’s Big Picture PR consultant would liaise with the artist on this and other Big Picture media coverage. Depending on funds, there may also be the possibility of additional work to produce pieces of artwork which can be used to aid the legacy of the project.

World Record Rules
There are a number of rules that the successful artist/artists must adhere to in order for us to apply for the world record title. These are:

· The mosaic should be constructed of individual photographs and may be fixed to the floor/surface with an appropriate fixative
· The individual photos used for the mosaic can be any size
· The subject matter of the photo and the subject matter of the overall mosaic are irrelevant to the record as is the number of artists involved.
· The final overall image is one that should, in essence, be recognizable one when viewed in its entirety.
· The placement of the individual photos can be worked out by a computer, but the final mosaic must be created physically as the record is for a mosaic not for a digital image or massive computer print out.
· A qualified surveyor should officially measure the surface area.


The successful artist/artists, in conjunction with Audiences Central, Arts Council and the BBC will decide on the image that will be represented in the final mosaic. However to maintain the regional pride which has been initiated with this project it is recommended that this image is something recognisable as the West Midlands and/or The Big Picture project





Location
As this project is all about engaging people with the arts, it is proposed that the world record attempt will continue along this theme. The rules for the world record do not restrict the number of people working on the mosaic so it is proposed that the production of the mosaic would, where possible, involve members of the public (through the workshop part of this brief).

Timing
The Big Picture project finishes at the end of June so it is planned that the world record attempt will take place over the weekend of the 28 June. A detailed timing plan will be developed in consultation with the successful artist/artists however a brief outline of timings is as follows:

Activity
Date
Artist brief circulated
w/c 25 Feb
Deadline for artist brief
18 March
Artist interviewed and selected
25 March
Community venues selected
April
Community workshops start
April
Community workshops continue
April, May
Collating images, online preparation
June
World record attempt
28/29 June


Budget
The artist fee to include travelling costs for the world record mosaic and 6 half day workshops throughout the region (locations tbc) is £9500.

Materials for the workshops and world record attempt will be provided separately. If any additional work is commissioned this will also be funded separately.


Next Steps
Please provide a proposal outlining costings, background about yourself, initial thoughts on how you would approach this commission and examples of previous work that is relevant to this project (either in scale or style) to Kerry Endsor by Tuesday 18 March.

The short listed artists will be invited for interview on Tuesday 25 March.

Brief prepared by:
Kerry Endsor
Marketing Consultant working on behalf of Audiences Central
601 The Big Peg, 120 Vyse Street, Birmingham, B18 6NF
M:07811 949987
E: kerry@smartypantsmarketing.co.uk

Public Art Project Brief

Public Art Project Brief
Who Rugby First (Rugby’s town centre company), is looking for an artist with experience of working in the public-seating realm to deliver a public art commission for the Regent Place area in Rugby town centre.
Where The area is located in the town centre of Rugby, Warwickshire between a triangle of three roads and surrounded by small, independent retail and office units housed in period buildings. Regent Place is currently laid to pathway, plants and shrubs. A statue of Rupert Brooke along with an interpretation panel of his life, stands close to the centre.
What The commission of a long-lasting (up to 15 years), durable, safe, low maintenance piece or pieces of public seating which will acknowledge the town’s literary heritage, enhance the space, encourage users to discover more about the writer and help raise the tourism profile in the town.
The seating is to be inspired by literary figures connected with Rugby and Rugby School. Eight specific writers have been identified (some living, some dead) although the artist’s input is welcomed on the final list. Materials, design, size and function are all within the remit of the artist.
The Consultation group has expressed an interest in exploring public interaction as an element within the seating. Community Involvement One aspect of the project is to involve local young, Rugby writers. The form, degree and purpose of this involvement are yet to be fully defined.
Fee At this stage we are asking for your quotation for the design, production and delivery of the chosen work. How to Apply At this stage we are asking interested artists to send us:
1. A short proposal statement (500 words) 2. A sketch of your proposed design 3. An artist statement4. A quotation for design, production and delivery of finished work.
For further information, please contact Jan Dunseith, Project Officer, on 01788 533839 or via jan.dunseith@rugby.gov.uk

Shropshire Open Art Exhibition

Call For Entries ...
The 2008 Shropshire
Open Art Exhibition
(Open To Artists Over 18 Living or Working in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin)
First Prize: £1000: Sponsored By: ‘Exciting Spaces’
Under 25’s Prize: £400: Sponsored By ‘Manbat Ltd.’
Peoples Prize: £500: Sponsored By: SADAA
(Other Prizes & Awards To Be Announced)
Deadline For Entries: May 23rd 2008
Information & Entry Forms: Send SASE to SADAA 2008 Open Art
Exhibition, The Gateway, Chester Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1NB.
Download From: www.gateway-gallery3.co.uk
Collect From: The Gateway & Belmont Arts Centre

Thursday 6 March 2008

Exhibitions Curator

Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Exhibitions Curator
16 hours per month

to co-ordinate and develop the existing visual arts programme

£6.33 per hour + tickets for some films and live shows

Closing date for applications 10am Monday 17 March
Interviews Wednesday 19 March
Further information and application form from Christine Underhill,
Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 1 Mill Street, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1AZ
Tel: 01584 813704 or e-mail christine@ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk

Wednesday 5 March 2008

Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect

AONB are running a photographic competition
themed to the natural beauty of the Shropshire
Hills. You can enter a maximum of three pictures and we will use
a selection of the entries to form a summer exhibition. Photographs must be in by
4th July 2008 and the winners will be announced at our celebration event on
29th July. Full details and entry forms are available from our website
www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk or contact us on 01588 674080.

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Indoor Mural Project

Indoor Mural Project

Brief for Artist

Background

This is a joint venture with the Children and Young People’s Arts Team and the Leisure & Fun Project for Children in Care of which both sit in Telford and Wrekin Council.

The Children and Young People’s Arts Team has many years experience of delivering arts projects in school and community settings with young people, many of whom are vulnerable or at risk of social exclusion. We also have a positive track record of working with and creating partnerships with other organisations within and outside the council.

The Leisure & Fun project supports children and young people who are in the care of Telford & Wrekin to engage in dedicated play and youth projects and activities. The Children and Young Peoples Arts Team has on many occasions delivered projects with this group. The aim of the project is to provide children and young people with a safe and therapeutic space to build their resilience helping to develop social skills that can enable them to participate more fully in other settings, such as at school and to also support placement stability.

Following on from the success of past creative projects we would like to run a themed based project that could contribute to the Children in Care Awards Ceremony. The Youth group we would like you to work with is has been running for several years and due to its success the numbers are steadily increasing. The young people range from 11-16 years old and numbers are between 5 and 10 young people. It is anticipated that due to the nature of a youth group participants will dip in and out of the delivery program due to short attention spans and other activities in the venue. This will need to be considered when designing the programme of work.

Project detail

We are looking for an artist that is highly motivated and has experience of working with vulnerable young people in a community setting to lead and develop the following idea;

  • Work with the children in care youth group to design and create a mural
  • Design a creative programme of work covering 10 sessions, consulting, designing and producing a mural for a wall in the Webb Centre.
  • Work closely with the Leisure & Fun co-ordinator ensuring that the needs of the young people in the group and the outcomes are being met
  • Consult with the young people on every aspect of the workshop
  • Evaluate the project in line with funding bodies

Person Specification

It is anticipated that the appointed person will have the following:

· A high level of personal skill in large scale two-dimensional mural work

· Experience of designing and leading community based arts projects with vulnerable young people

· Experience of working with young people in a way which enables them to reach their potential.

· Ability to consult with young people on every aspect of the delivery

· Be willing to work as part of a team.

The contract will be for 10 weekly sessions of approximately 2.5 hours each commencing mid May 2008. The sessions will take place on Mondays between 3-5pm

The rate of pay will be £100 per session including all set up time and travel.

We will pay £100 for a thorough evaluation due on completion

Materials will be given a budget

How to apply

  • A written response of no more than 2 sides of A4 outlining previous experience and why you are interested in this opportunity.
  • Young people are actively involved with the whole process. You will need to submit a letter to the young people explaining why you would like to work with them.
  • CV

You will be short listed on the information you provide in respect of the person specification.

Please email sarah.belcher@telford.gov.uk or ring 01952 382 364 for further information

Deadline for expressions of interest: 5pm Wednesday 19th March

Informal interview of short listed artists: Monday 31st March

The successful candidate will be subject to a Telford and Wrekin CRB check.

Applications to be sent by email or to the following address:

The Children and Young People’s Arts Team

Borough of Telford and Wrekin

PO Box 59

Civic Offices

Telford

TF3 4WS