Light Artist for Barry Island Eastern Promenade
Deadline: October 3, 2013, 5:00 pm
Introduction
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is implementing a major refurbishment scheme on Barry Island, including structural works to the Eastern end of the Promenade to increase access between the Promenade and the town. The Council wish to appoint a Light artist for a consultancy period to collaborate with the lighting engineers, and develop a design concept for a Light Art commission. This initial consultancy may lead to the implementation of the design once funds have been secured. The scheme is funded by the Welsh Government.
The Site
The site is at the Eastern end of the Barry Island Promenade. Situated in this area is the Eastern Shelter, a large listed structure built in the 1920s in a classical revival style with tall Greek columns supporting a flat roof and a long supporting wall, along which will be a ramp that will lead up to an amphitheatre area and car park, with a run of beach huts (to be installed as part of the scheme), and a mist and light feature towards the end of the Promenade (to be installed). Artist Gordon Young has already been appointed to design a climbing feature for the lower section of the supporting wall.
Further along the Promenade, as it comes to an end, is a site of Special Scientific Interest due to the geological rock formations. Rocks formed as lake, playa (an un-drained and flat desert basin) and beach sediments from 205 to 290 million years ago sit on top of older limestone from 350 million years ago. These rocks and structures enable geologists to work out where the coastline was during the Triassic period, between 205 and 250 million years ago. Also visible are beds of nodules in the undivided ‘red mudstones’ of the Mercia Mudstone Group of Triassic age (these are particular to the Penarth-Barry area).
The Project
This project is an opportunity to collaborate with the scheme lighting engineers to have some input into the overall lighting design of the Promenade as well as develop a concept design for an art lighting commission. Recent consultation with young people in the area has identified a desire for more lighting at the Eastern end of the Promenade to make it a more attractive and safer place to go in the evenings.
In the 1960s the Promenade was well lit, with floodlights on top of both the Eastern and Western Shelters, and colourful light shows. However, these were eventually removed and the Eastern Promenade currently has no lighting. An Art Light project could be sited on the roof of the Shelter, which is being restored as part of the scheme. Light could wash the outside columns of the Shelter, or create an attractive entrance to one side. Any design would require the appropriate listed building consent as the structure is grade 2 listed.
The seafront is an extremely harsh environment with salt and sand degrading surfaces over time. Any light fittings should not be bespoke but should be easily replaceable by the manufacturer.
Considerations:
- The light artwork should not have any costly short or long term maintenance requirements
- Accessibility for maintenance/replacement of components
- If necessary, production of a comprehensive maintenance schedule may be required
Schedule
Interviews will be held on 15th or 17th October, therefore please indicate in your application your availability.
The selected artist will be contracted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council and a meeting with Bingham Hall Engineers will be arranged as soon as possible.
Further funding to implement an Light art commission should be confirmed by November.
Budget
Artist fee for the initial stage of work, to include concept design and travel is £2,750 +vat.
Budget for implementing a Light Art project, IF successful with fundraising, will be in the region of £45K - £50K.
To Apply:
Please send images of your previous work as a Powerpoint or PDF document with a list and description of the attached images, a brief CV, and a letter outlining your interest in this project. Three artists will be short-listed for interview and they will need to prepare a programme of work to demonstrate their ability to deliver the project within the timescale. The Selection Panel will consist of representatives from the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Celfwaith. Reasonable travel expenses to interview will be reimbursed such as train or bus fare, and mileage at 40p per mile. No overnight stay or subsistence may be claimed.
Send expressions of interest to: [email protected]
Deadline: Thursday 3rd October 5pm.
For further information contact: Mererid Velios, 02920750992, [email protected].
Click here for more information.
Click here to download a brief.(187 KB)
