The Lifecycle of Stuff: Edinburgh Schools Art Project
Call for Lead Artist
Creative Carbon Scotland is offering the chance for a visual artist to lead a new three month
Edinburgh schools art project The Lifecycle of Stuff from late September to mid-December 2015.
Call for Lead Artist
This is an exciting opportunity for an artist interested in exploring the themes of the circular
economy and environmental sustainability in their work, offering the chance to develop new ideas
and artistic work with young people of a range of ages and backgrounds.
The project aims not only to engage young people in themes related to circular economy through
art but also to support the development of artistic practice, by creating a rich opportunity for the
lead artist to further their work and thinking in this field, and supporting schools’ capacities to
engage with the links between creative learning, art, sustainability and climate change.
The Lifecycle of Stuff is part of a wider initiative run by Creative Carbon Scotland called ArtCOP
Scotland which engages with the important UN climate change negotiations taking place in Paris
from 30th November – 13th December (COP21). During the time of COP21, we’ll be supporting a
Scotland-wide artistic response to the negotiations and exploring what roles art and creativity can
play in addressing climate change and building more sustainable societies. This project is a
partnership between Creative Carbon Scotland, Arts and Creative Learning, Children and Families
Department, Edinburgh City Council and Department for Culture and Sport, Edinburgh City Council.
Timeline of project
10am, Wednesday 16th September: Deadline for artist applications
Afternoon, Friday 25th September: Meeting between lead artist and schools convened by Creative
Carbon Scotland and the Arts and Learning, Children and Families Department, Edinburgh City
Council
W/c 19th October: Artist preliminary visit to schools (dates and times to be decided between artist
and schools)
26th October – 13th November: Artist workshop sessions with schools (dates and times to be
decided between artist and schools)
W/c 23rd November: Installation of exhibition artworks
30th November – 13th December: Exhibition of commended works at venues including the Assembly
Rooms on George Street and the Churchill Theatre in Morningside
Schools Workshops and Exhibition
This project aims to encourage artists, children and young people to engage with and be inspired by
the theme of the circular economy: exploring ideas of the resources and materials we use in our
everyday lives, where they come from, how they are made, and how we might use them in more
environmentally sustainable ways. The project is open to young people of all abilities within
primary (Primary 4 upwards), secondary schools and special schools (participating schools and
classes are still to be confirmed).
The lead artist is expected to bring the knowledge skills and expertise of their practice to shape the
project and make it their own. They will make one preliminary visit, followed by three workshop
sessions with each school (each lasting up to half a day) and will oversee the selection and
www.creativecarbonscotland.com
Tel 0131 529 7909 email info@creativecarbonscotland.com
Creative Carbon Scotland, Business Centre 2.6,
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG
Creative Carbon Scotland is a SCIO Registered Charity Number SCO42687
installation of artworks. It is expected that class teachers will continue the work in between artist’s
visits.
These workshops will engage children and young people in the theme of circular economy,
culminating in an exhibition in December which will display work developed by students with the
lead artist.
Project Brief
We are looking for a visual artist with an understanding of and imaginative approach to the links
between the circular economy, environmental sustainability and creative practices, or a keenness
to develop work in this area. In addition, the lead artist should have some experience of working
with young people, whether in school or community settings.
The selected artist will attend preliminary meetings with key project partners, lead a series of
practical artistic workshops with participating schools and support the installation of the final
exhibition of commended artworks resulting from workshops in Edinburgh city centre cultural
venues (Assembly Rooms, Church Hill Theatre, other venues TBC).
The whole project will run from late September to mid-December and the selected artist must be
available for all specified dates, in agreement with key partners, as highlighted in the above
timetable.
Artist Fee
The artist will be paid a fee of £4,876 for 23 days work, based on the Scottish Artist Union daily rate
for an artist with 3 years’ post art-school experience. For more information on the SAU:
http://www.sau.org.uk/rights/pay/
Artist Specification
The selected artist should have all of the following experience and abilities:
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Strong understanding of and imaginative approach to the links between the circular economy,
environmental sustainability and creative practices.
The ability to communicate and creatively explore these links with young people and teachers..
High quality of artistic practice
Experience of working with young people and/or groups of different ages and abilities.
Evidence of how these links have already been explored to a high standard of work within their
own practice.
Ability to install artworks in public spaces.
References
Eleanor MacArthur Foundation: Circular Economy Principles:
http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/circular-economy
The Story of Stuff: http://storyofstuff.org/
CCS’s beginner’s introduction to COP21: http://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/cop21-the-mostimportant-meeting-this-century/
ArtCOP Scotland Project page: http://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/project/artcop-scotland/
Zero Waste Scotland: http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/
www.creativecarbonscotland.com
Tel 0131 529 7909 email info@creativecarbonscotland.com
Creative Carbon Scotland, Business Centre 2.6,
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG
Creative Carbon Scotland is a SCIO Registered Charity Number SCO42687