Artist Opportunity - Cae Derw Public Art, Llandudno Junction
Deadline: September 19, 2011
Artist Opportunity - Cae Derw Public Art, Llandudno Junction
Artist Fee: £15,000 (to cover fee, materials, installation and workshops)
Llandudno Junction is recognised as having a shortage of open space provision, which is highlighted in the Llandudno Junction Masterplan. The plan also identifies a need to improve open spaces in a community identified in the Wales Spatial Plan as a ‘Hub for Growth’.
The first stage of this project was to provide a purpose-built play area for use by children between the ages of 4 -12 years, to be sited within the Cae Derw Public Park adjacent to the toddler’s play area.
Cae Derw fields are owned by Conwy County Borough Council and sit in the portfolio of the Community Development Services. The fields are designated for recreational purposes of the local community. There have been many consultation exercises carried out within the Marl & Pensarn wards and the Llandudno Junction Regeneration Steering Group has been established to consider and implement improvements to the facilities that are available for local residents & businesses. The Parents and Teachers Association (& Ysgol Nant-y-Coed) agreed that their involvement in the development of the Cae Derw fields (park) would invariably benefit the pupils, both in school hours & in their free time.
Ysgol Nant-y-Coed prides itself in the relationships that it has built up with the local community & feels that the school’s involvement will inevitably enhance this relationship even further. In the past six months some of the pupils were offered the opportunity to participate in the planting of shrubs, working alongside Conwy County Borough Council’s parks and gardens department. Recently the whole school were involved in a consultation exercise that focused on gaining the pupils opinions as to the type of play equipment that they would prefer to be established on this site. This activity generated considerable enthusiasm from the school as they were feeling really proud to take part in something that would be available to their community now & for future children in years to come.
Alongside development of the play area, the main aim of this project brief is to create a piece of public art for Cae Derw Park. A visual artist will be appointed to work with the people of Llandudno Junction in creating a permanent artwork during a 3 month residency in the town.
The project has three shared aims:
-
To support creative experimentation and to offer professional development opportunities to the artist involved;
-
To contribute towards the wellbeing of local residents thereby boosting their confidence and self esteem as well as developing new creative skills;
-
To regenerate Cae Derw Park and improve the appearance of the town.
The final artwork(s) will be informed by the school/s and community through a series of workshops; with the proposed theme of the artwork being resolved during the workshop sessions. The site and form of the artwork(s) is yet to be agreed and will form part of the artist’s negotiation with the community and project partners. The project will benefit mostly children of school age but will provide a facility that would also be of benefit for a wider age group as it’ll be a focus of attention for those using the park. The facilities will enhance the use and develop the community spirit within the locality and will be an added attraction to the work already being carried out to improve the park. It will provide a much sought after provision that will allow pupils to explore their own physical levels and enhance the opportunities to provide worthwhile leisure experiences.
The artist will work with the School/s and at least several community groups’ therefore previous experience of working with hard to reach groups is vital. The artist will be required to research the history of the area and consult with local residents to help inform the artwork. It is hoped that the artist will work with an artist mentee – an artist in the first stages of their career wanting practical experience of working with communities. Both artist and mentee will need enhanced CRB checks and are expected to hold public liability insurance.
To apply please send a covering letter and CV outlining your relevant experience and any preliminary ideas for the artwork by 19/09/11 to [email protected] or by post to:
Culture and Information, Library Building, Mostyn Street, Llandudno LL30-2RP.