Jobs and opps

WHO: Caerphilly County Borough Council would like to commission an Artist to work with their Urban Renewal Team (the Client and Managing Agent) to develop artwork for Blackwood town centre. In developing ideas/concepts the chosen Artist will be required to liase with the Council’s planning/engineering divisions and actively work with the local community in order to develop proposals that reflect the site and the aspirations of the local community.

WHAT: The Council has secured funding from the Arts Council of Wales, for a piece of artwork to sit upon a large concrete retaining wall within the town centre. The artwork will be an integral part of a wider town arts strategy, which has already seen the implementation of a number of unique and contemporary sculptures. A copy of the Arts Strategy can be provided on request. The commission is for a strong imaginative, site-specific artwork, which will act as a 'gateway feature' thus enhancing the 'corridor' from the high street up to the newly developed bus station. The artwork must be of hardwearing material, permanent and requiring low maintenance.

WHEN: It is the Council’s intention to complete this project by September 2010. Closing date for submissions is November 27th 2009. Dates for interviews T.B.C. provisionally early Jan 2010.

PAYMENTS: The budget for this project including collaboration, concept and detailed design, foundations, fabrication, and installation is £22,000 (excluding VAT).

DETAILS: The site is situated within the town centre of Blackwood, which is centrally located within Caerphilly County Borough in the heart of the Sirhowy Valley. The town is a busy shopping centre that has benefitted from recent public realm improvements, transportation link enhancements and an award winning new bus station. The actual location of the concrete wall is the key access point to the town from the South (ST: 317450:196844) The wall is of reinforced concrete construction and presides along the main bus route into the town centre and new bus station and will thus create the first impression for visitors. The site is visually important and provides a great opportunity for community based artworks, which must be dynamic enough to be the main focus. Four Artists will be short-listed for interview. Each will be given an opportunity to expand on their previous work to the Client Group. Following interviews, one Artist will be appointed by the Client Group to implement the project.

Deadline: 27 November 2009 ** Deadline expired**

Organiser/employer: Caerphilly County Borough Council

[ Added on 9 November 2009 ]