Time and Tide
Milton Creek Residency Brief 2010
Art at the Centre
Art at the Centre wishes to appoint an artist in residence at Milton Creek as part of
its 2010/11 residency programme. The residency will take place during September
2010 –March 2011. The commissioning budget is £ 4000.
Art at the Centre is a nationally recognised and pioneering scheme dedicated to
developing exemplary models of how art can become an integral part of the
regeneration process. Art at the Centre aims to stimulate involvement and
engagement of local communities in the regeneration process and often works in
partnership with other organisations in order to ensure multiple entry points for a
wide diversity of audiences. The promotion of best practice in commissioning highquality public realm artworks is also a priority, as is a commitment to contributing to
the development of a dynamic, supportive and sustainable visual arts infrastructure
throughout the South East of England.
Residency Programme 2010
Art at the Centre is commissioning three creative practitioners to become artist-inresidence at sites across the Borough of Swale. This is a dynamic, creative and
future-focused initiative in response to the uncertain context of the wider economic
downturn; the project enables local people to consider these concerns and explore a
positive future for themselves and their local area through creative activity.
The overall programme aims to establish shared visions, develop creative skills and
find mechanisms that involve wider communities and participants. There is a
particular focus on visiting creative’s to develop participatory elements within their
discrete projects that reflect local distinctiveness. Projects should identify key
features, histories and possibilities, and draw out the key issues of the changing
landscape: what needs preserving, what is missing, and what may be possible for
that community in the future.
Each residency will be developed with community participation at its core and each
artist will define the exact nature of what this means. These may include
‘happenings’, tea parties, walks, workshops, public discussions, performance, salon
or festival. The ‘outcome’ of the residency, whether a new work or event, will be
develop to maximise public engagement. The Art at the Centre Mobile Space will be
present in Leysdown from May 2011 to July 2011 for the resident artist to use as an
exhibition space.
The residency programme is open to artists working in any artform and collaborative
proposals are welcomed. Art at the Centre are looking to engender intercultural
dialogue among artists and international applications are also welcomed.
Residencies will last between 1 and 6 months and each will be hosted by a different
regeneration project: Queenborough & Rushenden, (hosted by ‘Castle Connections’);
Leysdown (hosted by Rose-tinted project) and Milton Creek (in the context of
Artlands project).
Role of the Artist
The appointed applicant will take part in the press and marketing opportunities
relating to the commission. It is essential that the artist is available for
meetings and PR.
The artist will be expected to provide regular updated reports on the progress
of the project to the steering group and attend management meetings as
required. The artist will be expected to give a talk about the process and final
product of the residency to an audience of local artists as part of the final display of
the works produced during the residency.
Please note that any costs for travel and accommodation incurred
by the applicant are included in the overall commissioning fee.
The successful artist will need to be CRB checked and be able to provide
proof of Public Liability Insurance prior to the project commencing.
Project Aims
The Milton Creek Artists Residency has been developed in response to the
Landscape Project and will aim to:
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Frame and articulate the existing and inspirational character and qualities of
Milton Creek (such as the juxtaposition of the post industrial landscape
alongside its major growing industries)
Engage audiences with the heritage and future of the site, making
connections between the existing natural landscapes and its future as a space
for recreation and tourism.
Target the older generation to participate with the project.
Encourage a sense of ownership amongst the communities who live and work
around Milton Creek: creating opportunities to re-engage with the landscape.
Provide learning opportunities for local artists, to encourage their creative
development (through talk and/or seminar event)
Produce through a process of continuous research a body of site specific
artwork which is relevant to Milton Creek and the local older generation.
Artistic quality
They must demonstrate a commitment to high quality and artistic merit.
Quality and merit relate to innovation, creativity, vision, originality and the
power to communicate and interpret ideas, as well as to the highest possible
standards of delivery in all aspects of a project's development and implementation.
Targets and Outcomes of Project
- Engaged over 60 participants (audience and /or active participants).
- Conduct research to develop the proposed idea over the course of 1-6months.
- Designed a new and unique artwork which is relevant to Milton Creek to be
exhibited/presented/performed in the Mobile Art Space when on site in April 2011.
- Give one talk and/or seminar to discuss the works produced.
Finance
The sum of £ 3500 is the complete fee to include all artists’ fees, transport costs and
all community-based work.
Project Budget
Artists Fees; £ 3500
Materials;
Total
£ 500
£ 4000
Contract and Reporting Structure
The successful artist will be expected to sign a contract with Swale Borough Council
which outline the targets and aims of the project. The artist will report to the lead
artist of Art at the Centre, Nicole Mollett.
Copyright
All artworks and research products from the residency will remain the copyright of
the artist.
Selection
Stage 1
We invite artists to submit a proposal, supplying images and information about
existing work as detailed above. A panel consisting of representatives from
Art at the Centre will consider these submissions against the aims detailed above
and select a shortlist of artists to go forward to stage 2.
Stage 2
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview, and will be asked to expand
on the following:
- the concept for the residency project
- how the artist will evaluate the project’s success
Eligibility
Applications are considered from individuals, groups, or organisations. The process is
open to those who are UK or International residents. We are committed to equal
opportunities for all and the submissions will be judged as seen, purely on merit and
without prejudice. This residency is open to artists working in any media, the
selection process will be based on previous experience, and the excellence of the
proposed line of research.
Applicants need to be self employed artists with their own public liability insurance.
Timetable
It is anticipated that the following timescales will apply:
Closing date for receipt of applications – September 17th
Interview of Shortlist – Thursday 29th September
Appointment of Artist – 5th October
Inception meeting with project partners and community groups – October 2010
Final Presentation of Residency Products- March 2011
Further information
Further information can be obtained from Nicole Mollett, Lead Artist Art at the
Centre, Swale Borough Council. Nicolemollett@swale.gov.uk
Making an application and submission process
The deadline for submissions is noon September 17th 2010
2 copies of your application should posted to:
Nicole Mollett
Art at the Centre Lead Artist
c/o Swale Borough Council
Swale House
East Street
Sittingbourne
Kent ME10 3HT
UK
Or email to Nicolemollett@swale.gov.uk
(emails over 10 meg will not arrive, please use www.yousendit.com for larger files)
Images will not be printed larger than A4 so reduce resolution to fit this size.
Late applications will not be considered.
Your proposal should comprise:
a) Short outline of your proposal for the residency and approach to working with the
community group. This should expand on how you
will achieve our Aims and integrate the Concept (See 3: Project Description).
-Maximum of one side of A4
b) Up to ten images of your existing work.
-These must be submitted either as digital files on CD/DVD or as
printed A4 images.
-Digital files must be in JPEG format or QuickTime/MediaPlayer movies
of not more than 30 seconds duration each.
-Digital files and printed images must be labeled with your name and a
number corresponding to a printed list.
c) List of images
The list of images should identify the images and include the following details:
Artist’s Name, Number, Title, Medium, Date, Location and Commissioner (if
relevant).
d) Curriculum Vitae
Your CV should be headed with your contact details including: name, full
address, telephone, email and contact details of 2 professional references. It
may include a brief statement about your artistic practice if you feel this is
helpful. It should cover no more than two sides of A4.
APENDICES
Contextual Introduction
The Landscape Project in Milton Creek will transform Swale - reforming a unique
asset, which will become a key attraction for Swale residents, visitors and wildlife. A
new green heart for Sittingbourne will be created, reuniting the town with its Creek
side heritage, and providing new links between the regenerated town centre, Milton
Creek and the estuary.
In summary the Milton Creek Landscape Project will:
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Create over 52 hectares of new green space, developed on brownfield land. It
will also create over 10 km of footpath.
Provide a sustainable green link between the residential areas to the North of
Sittingbourne, the regenerated town centre, and the Swale.
Improve access to the Creek side and complete the Church Marshes Country
Park. Part of the project will be to provide high quality interpretation of
natural and historical features.
Improve and enhance habitats along the Creek and into Church Marshes
Country Park.
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Realign the Saxon Shore Way to run alongside the Creek, allowing walkers to
appreciate the variety of wildlife, scenery and heritage on offer.
Create long-term opportunities to restructure land uses surrounding the
Creek so that future development has a more positive frontage, with rights of
way connecting local communities to the Creek.
The Partnership
The Milton Creek Public Realm Commission will be delivered through a partnership
of Artlands, Art at the Centre and Swale Borough Council and is supported by Arts
Council England, South East, Kent County Council, Swale Borough Council, Parklands
and Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway.
Artlands is a contemporary art programme which seeks to frame and articulate
North Kent’s identity through a series of public realm commissions - responding to
and engaging with the unique qualities of the area; its landscapes, its heritage and its
people. Developing real and meaningful engagements with North Kent’s
communities is a key priority for Artlands and each commission will incorporate a
significant and integrated community engagement programme devised to create a
opportunities for cultural ownership and active participation. Artlands approach to
working places an emphasis on building a sustainable infrastructure for
contemporary art in North Kent and will offer a strong level of support to artists in
order to encourage ambition, innovation and excellence. Artlands sits within
Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway (GGKM), which is a partnership of public,
private and third sector organisations that works to promote the sustainable
regeneration of North Kent and Medway.
Further information about Milton Creek and the Commission can be found here:
www.artlandsnorthkent.org.uk
http://www.aatc.org.uk
http://www.swale.gov.uk/milton-creek-landscape-project-update/
www.sheilsflynn.com
Possible Project Partners
Artlands Curator Fiona Boundry
Phoebe Adefeso, Milton Creek Project Officer.
Modupe Afunmiso, Regeneration Projects Officer (Environment)
Amicus Horizon Housing Group
St Michaels Church
Friends of Milton Creek