Lead Artist Open Call
Lead Artist Brief
We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity for a visionary Lead Artist to craft an outdoor public artwork using recycled plastic, emphasising public engagement and reshaping perceptions.
The structure, such as a pavilion, shelter or sculptural form will repurpose 1 tonne of locally sourced waste plastic, showcasing its viability and inspiring sustainable practices. The theme is open, inviting artists, designers, and makers to contribute innovative ideas for this work that will be in situ for at least 12 months at the Future Makers site.
Our exciting offer:
Lead a ground breaking project in our state-of-the-art Waste Plastic Studio.
Craft a prominent structure using 1 tonne of locally sourced waste plastic.
Showcase the viability of recycled plastic and inspire sustainable practices.
Engage with the public through workshops and events, promoting the beauty of sustainability.
Collaborate with a dynamic team, share insights, and document the journey.
Studio capabilities
Our project focuses on utilising a sheet press capable of crafting solid tiles up to 60cm x 60cm x 2cm. These can be processed using hand and power tools as you would use for woodworking.
A 60cm x 60cm x 2cm tile weighs approximately 6.5kg and therefore 1,000KG will create approximately 150 tiles. The tiles will take on the appearance of the waste plastic that is sourced and shredded down in order to form through compression moulding.
The workshop also features facilities for shredding, injection moulding, and extruding waste plastic. Our focus is on processing plastic types PP and HDPE, although some other plastic types are possible with some testing.
Key objectives
Concept Development: Create a design proposal for a public artwork, using one tonne of recycled plastic sheet material.
Artwork Construction: Oversee the safe and effective construction of the artwork using reclaimed plastic, working with a designer and engineer, as needed.
Public Engagement: Engage with the public through workshops, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions to educate and inspire, promoting sustainability in art.
Knowledge Sharing: Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among artists, designers, and makers through participation in events and programs.
Documentation and Reporting: Document the artwork's development stages, provide progress reports, and share insights with the Future Makers team.
Project Coordination: Coordinate with stakeholders, adhere to timelines and budgets, and ensure compliance with regulations.
Requirements
Proven experience in creating large-scale public artworks, particularly those incorporating recycled or repurposed materials.
A passion for sustainability and a commitment to raising awareness about environmental issues.
Strong leadership and project management skills to guide the artistic creation process.
Excellent communication and collaboration abilities to work effectively with the project team
and community members.
Timeline and Key Dates
Friday, 15th December: Submission Deadline
Tuesday, 19th December: Selection Panel Meeting
Thursday, 21st December: Notification of Candidates
January 2024: Project Commencement
June/July 2024: Artwork Unveiling:
Budget and fees
The lead artist will receive £10,000 for approximately 30 days of work, covering expertise and creative effort. Reasonable travel, accommodation, and contingency expenses are available.
Interested?
Please email up to 500 words about what attracted you to this project, your initial concepts and proposal, including 2-3 sketches (up to 2 PDF documents up to 5MB each), along with your portfolio and/or web links to previous work to hello@future-makers.co.uk.
Proposals should include visual representations, sketches, or renderings of the proposed artwork, along with a brief description of how the project aligns with the objectives outlined in this brief.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, 15th December.
FAQ’s
Where will the public artwork be situated?
The public artwork will be situated outside Future Makers building, 22 Daleside Rd, Nottingham NG2 4DH.
What are the dimensions?
We have an area of circa 10m x 10m at the front of the building and 9m x 4m around to the side. The dimensions of the work are up to the artist to consider. The height of the structure is at the artist's discretion, however we will have to consider local planning permissions, risks and budgetary constraints that may be associated.
Can I use more than 1 tonne of waste plastic?
In principle yes, as long as it's technically feasible and within budget.
Can I use other materials, in addition to the waste plastic?
Yes, it's fine to use other materials. We also have a stock of reclaimed timber in house
What support will there be available?
There will be technical support available.
Do I need previous experience working with plastic?
No previous experience working with plastic is required. We recognise that there’s a training and experimental phase involved in learning how to work with waste plastic.
What is the time period?
The time period for the Lead Artist will be from January 2024 - July 2024.
When will the workshop be open?
The workshop is generally accessible Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5pm and we'll work with the selected artist to establish a timetable of access to suit both parties.
When will the public workshops be held?
The public workshops will be arranged in line with the artists availability.