Open advertisement for expressions of interest towards the recruitment of an artist.
Closing date for expressions of interest: 17th January 2014. Please find criteria and
further information below.
The Knocknagoney Area Forum wish to use an Arts Council STartUP award to recruit an
experienced artist to engage in a programme of creative engagement towards the
development of a proposal for a piece of public art centred around the Turrets in
Knocknagoney Park. Initial expressions of interest are invited from artists towards the
development of a proposal for the piece of public art.
THERE ARE TWO PHASES TO THIS PROJECT. THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE
PUBLIC ART PROJECT WHERETHE OUTCOME WILL BE A REPORT COLLATING
INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE BRIEF FOR A NEW PUBLIC ARTWORK. THE
SECOND PHASE OF PROCESS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC ART PIECE
AND IS SUBJECT TO FUNDING BEING CONFIRMED.
The project concept and wider programme
The commissioned artist will shadow other artists working within Ceramics, Printmaking, and
Urban Arts with three different groups representing Park Users. Workshop participants will
be drawn from The Older People’s Day Centre, Knocknagoney Primary School children and
parents group and Knocknagoney Youth Club.
Through shadowing the artists across the workshop programme, the commissioned artist will
identify experiences and images held by the groups to inform a proposal for a final
commissioned piece. It is up to the artist to then bring some coherence to a multiplicity of
ideas and images generated through the workshops, while also represent individual ideas of
those who took part in the workshops.
Payment:
A fee of £1000 will be paid to the commissioned artist to include:
1. Research to include attendance at 8 of the community workshops in across the
three art-form areas (8 workshops in total).
2. Report write-up.
3. Other costs: artists-briefing meeting; launch attendance and participation;
celebration attendance; travel costs.
Artist role and shortlisting
The remit of the selected artist will be to:

Engage with a ceramic, graffiti art and printmaking artists and engage with artists and
participants in these groups, towards the development of a public art proposal of the
turrets that are part of Knocknagoney Park.
To do this the selected artist will be expected to:

Attend a planning meeting with other artists to instil common purpose and
understanding throughout all workshops.

Attend and give short presentation at launch event and at the end of the project
attend community celebration event and present final developed proposal.

Attend 8 workshops across the 3 artform areas with a view to informing the final
public art proposal.

Ascertain all the considerations to inform the development of a brief for the public
artwork including planning permission and requirements, land ownership and any
other technical considerations.

Produce a report on the findings of the above, with recommendations, and present to
the local project steering group.This report should include:
1.
information on how the community consultationprocess, other research and
knowledge has informed and shaped the final proposal;
2.
a breakdown of costs associated with the proposed development of the final
work and the maintenance of the final work;
3.
a proposed timescale for development of the final work.
Shortlisting Criteria
Artists will be shortlisted against the following criteria:
1. 50% Professional experience in the art form area. (artist cv/examples of
previous work done)
2. 30% Professional experience of using the arts in community settings. (artist cv/
supporting information)
3. 20% Cover letter explaining your suitability and availability for this specific
project.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to attend a short interview and presentation on 31st
January in Knocknagoney Primary School on behalf of Knocknagoney Community Forum.
Information you should submit:
1. Artist cv or artistic biography detailing relevant professional qualifications and
experience.
2. At least three and no more than six clear and distinct examples of previous work
done i.e: photographs.
3. Cover letter explaining your suitability and availability for this specific project.
Deadline for Submissions
Submissions should be posted or emailed to postal address: Knocknagoney Area Forum
c/o Mrs Anne Burton, Knocknagoney Primary School, Knocknagoney Road, Belfast, BT4
2NR. or email: aburton298@c2kni.net by: 17th January 2014
Please reference ‘STartUP arts programme on all correspondence.
Time frame

Friday 6th December 2013: Expression of interest open and publicised

Friday 17th January 2014: Expression of interest closed

Wednesday 22nd January 2014: Shortlisting from Expression of interest applicants.

Friday 24th January 2014:Applicants notified of outcome of expression of interest

Friday 31st January 2014:Shortlisted applicants to attend short interview and present
ideas to panel.

Monday 3rd of Feb 2014: Selected artist and workshopArtists’ meeting in the school

Friday 7th of Feb: Programme launch

Monday 10th February – Friday 21st March 2014: Participative Workshops
programmes to be scheduled across three art-forms; public art artist to attend
selection of workshops to inform proposed public art piece.

Monday 24th March 2014:Artist to present final ideas to selection panel

28th March 2014: Presentation of all participants work and presentation of the
proposed public artwork to be held in the Knocknagoney Primary School.
Backgroup Information.
The Knocknagoney Community Forum (KAF) was formed as a result of a survey undertaken
by Belfast City Council in 2010 that highlighted Knocknagoney, Garnerville and Orchard
were as areas of severe deprivation. High levels of social deprivation, unemployment, low
levels of self-esteem and academic achievements were recorded. KAF represents an
initiative developed in response to the need and draws on several stakeholder organisations
and groups coming together with a view to positively challenging the these statistics. The
groups involved are the primary school, Belfast City Council Community Centre,
Knocknagoney Church of Ireland, Garnerville Presbyterian Church, Tesco, PSNI, Belfast
Housing Executive, KOG (a community group for the area), Belfast City Parks and the
Glenluce Group set up for care of the elderly. It was decided that there would be four key
areas of focus: community cohesion; the environment; health and well-being and education
and youth.
This community arts project is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to support
community cohesion and the regeneration of the physical environment. Specifically this
project will focus on the initiation of the regeneration of an area of Knocknagoney Linear
Park. In recent years, the park has begun a reformation from an area with a reputation for
anti-social behaviour and waste land to become a central part of the community that is
owned and used by the whole community; we hope this project contributes to the park’s
continued development and use. This project will bring professional artists and the
community together to develop ideas and put forward recommendations to how the park
area specified can be developed in the future.
The Stakeholder groups involved in this project are drawn from:
1. Knocknagoney Primary School, (Printmaking workshops)
The children have been involved in developing the local play area and the community
garden. It is an Eco School and they have gained the Green flag. The school is also
a Forest School and they have worked within the park studying the local wildlife and
fauna. Parents are encouraged to work with the children which would help foster
positive parenting skills.
2. Youth from the Knocknagoney Church Youth (Graffitti art workshops)
The club supports young people aged 12 to 18 .They have had some input into the
local park and the community garden Through this project the young people will be
motivated to enagage, take ownership and pride in the developments in their area.
3. Community Centre and Churches (Ceramics workshops)
The day centre for the older generation unite the various groups within the area.
Their participation and contributions to the park development reflects their use and
knowledge of the park area. It is hoped this project will encourage them to feel
secure and confident in using the park area.
4. Belfast City Parks – the site lies within the Council park and they are very keen to
make the park the heart of the community and to work with all the groups.
5. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland are the main funder for this phase of the
programme.
Specifications of the final piece (phase 2 subject to funding)
This application is for phase one of two phases. The second phase of this project is the
development of the Public Art piece subject to funding; between £5000 -£15000 for the
development and installation of the work is estimated. Artists can propose work that fits
within this budget.
Description of site: Knocknagoney Park in a linear Park used as an active thoroughfare by
the local community. The Park is in the process of being significantly redeveloped and is
hoped to gain Green Flag status by mid-2014. The Park includes two turrets, constructed in
the 1980’s and used as lookout towers to view a wide variety of birds that gather in the area.
A community garden, which was built in summer 2012 and used actively by the local
community, community groups and primary schools. Belfast City Council community centre,
kick about area and children’s cycling area.
Photograph of site: 3 images in attachment.
Measurements of the Towers: Left: 5 meters Diameter/ 4 meters height. Right: 7 meters
Diameter/ 6.5 meters height
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
Where the position is defined as Regulated Activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (NI) Order 2007 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) an
Enhanced Disclosure with Barred List check will be carried out on the preferred applicant.