“Percent For Arts” Public Art Commission

Project Summary

The Crescent Arts Centre has undertaken a £7.2 million redevelopment of its buildings, funded by Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Northern Ireland Environment Agency – and the numerous kind donations from individual supporters.

As part of this redevelopment the Crescent Arts Centre wishes to commission an artist or artists to create a piece or pieces of art for what is a landmark building. This artwork is likely to consist of independent, stand-alone pieces.

Crescent Arts Centre Background

The Crescent Arts Centre is a diverse community arts centre, situated in South Belfast, which has served the population of the city and beyond with a wide range of arts and cultural activities for almost 30 years. The Crescent building is a four storey listed building located at 2 – 4 University Road, built originally in 1873 for Victoria College.

The neutral location of the building, within the Queen’s Quarter but also close to the communities of Lower Ormeau, Donegall Pass, Sandy Row and Donegall Road, and on several bus routes and close to Botanic Rail Station, encourages visitors and attendance from all communities, and has provided excellent opportunities for cross-community work. Through funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, the wide-ranging programme has been a key and critical provider of culturally diverse activities throughout the centre’s existence. Many of those attending classes and workshops in the Crescent had their first encounter with a particular art form in the centre.

The educational arts programme of classes offered by the Crescent embraces many forms of dance and movement, visual arts, creative writing, music of all kinds, theatre, drama, crafts and hosts an extensive programme of activities and workshops for young people. As a venue the Crescent Arts Centre has been a vital part of the arts infrastructure in the city playing host to public performances of modern dance, music concerts, theatre, readings, circus and much, much more.

The outreach programme has developed and grown, embracing new arts and cultural developments and creating new partnerships enabling our large bank of professional tutors to work with all ages and ranges of ability in all areas of the city.

The Crescent runs two key festivals, ‘Between the Lines Literary Festival’ and ‘Citydance’. These festivals help raise the profile of the centre as do the number of carefully selected residents who occupy office space in an appropriate cultural environment.

The Crescent also hires space, for appropriate activities, to accredited arts and cultural organisations and individuals.

After re-opening in April 2010, the Crescent has two flexible performance spaces which can act separately or together, a café, dedicated gallery space with three exhibition spaces, purpose-built dance studio, art studio, photographic and dark room, office suites for leasing and flexible workshop spaces. Through the addition of two lifts the building will be fully accessible so that all members of the community can avail of all that will be on offer. Through the generous support of our major capital project funders the life of the Crescent has been secured for generations to come.

To get an impression of the refurbishment work, please have a look at some photos taken during the process of the refurbishment here

Our Aims & Artistic Policy

• The advancement of the education of the public by promoting artistic activities, including art exhibitions and artistic performances, and tuition in a range of arts subjects including drama, music, dance, poetry, creative writing and drawing;
• To encourage and facilitate the participation in and appreciation of artistic activities by people from all sectors of society that do not normally participate in such activities, with the purpose of developing their sense of achievement and full capacity as members of society so that their conditions of life may be improved;
• The promotion of a diversity of art forms and high standards in community arts activities; and
• The preservation and improvement of an historic building enjoyed by the public. From its constitution the Crescent has formulated its artistic policy, which may be summarised by the statement

“The Crescent Arts Centre offers opportunities for everyone to meet and be inspired by a varied artistic programme of participatory events, performances and exhibitions.”

Public Art Commission Details

Vision

The total allocated for the Crescent Arts Centre’s Public Art Commission is £40,000 (incl. VAT), which will be awarded to one or several artists. The commissioned artist(s) is/are asked to artistically create an artwork or artworks that are site-specific to the Crescent Arts Centre and its ethos.

The Crescent is looking to install creative, inspiring and permanent artworks in three public areas within the Crescent Arts Centre. The artwork(s) should reflect the multi-disciplined artistic ethos and future of the Crescent Arts Centre and its community and encourage public participation in and appreciation of art.

The artwork(s) should maintain the highest level of artistic excellence, be innovative and original. The artwork(s) should be substantial, durable, and highly visible and if appropriate functional design is welcomed.

Location Of Completed Art In The Crescent Arts Centre – Details of Sites

It is anticipated that the artwork(s) will be independent artwork(s), which would be subject to the architectural, health & safety and operational constraints of the building.
The following sites within the building are suggested for placing of art works:

• Stairwell max. £10,000
• Foyer max. £20,000
• Foyer lift area (level 2) max. £10,000

Artist may select one, two or all three sites.
A tour of the building is scheduled for 22 September, 12pm. Tours by appointment offered as well.

Please download the Percent For Art visual guide (PDF, 4.1Mb) to get an impression of approximate measurements and photos.

Commissioning Process

Selection will be by way of a two-stage submission.

Stage 1

In Stage 1 we are looking at the history of the artist’s practice, quality of delivery and appropriateness of proposal. A maximum of 7 artists will be shortlisted and will receive a Stage 2 invitation.

Information required for Stage 1

Artists are required to submit:

• A curriculum vitae (incl. artist statement and bio)
• Up to a maximum of 10 images (CD, DVD, slide or photographs) of recent work
• (All should be labeled with artists name, date, materials and project name and be relevant to the proposed project)
• Listing of publications, catalogues or published articles, reviews
• Outline of concept for proposed artwork(s)

Please Note

• Submission by email or fax will not be accepted.
• Applicants will need to arrange collection of work they wish returned.
• Late submissions will not be accepted.

Criteria For Selection For Stage 1

• Quality of work
• Concept, artistic merit and distinctiveness of proposed artwork(s)
• Perceived ability to realise the commission vision as detailed above under Public Art Commission Details
• Experience of project management including managing budgets and deadlines

Closing Date For Stage 1: 8 October 2010 at 12 noon

Successful applicants will be informed by 22 October 2010

Stage 2

Information Required for Stage 2

A detailed proposal for the proposed artwork(s);
To include:

• A project summary including a visual representation of the proposed artwork(s), and its location within the Crescent Arts Centre
• An explanation of the conceptual ideas and proposed materials for the artwork(s).
• Outline details of all technical issues related to construction and installation of the artwork(s)
• Required ongoing maintenance for the artwork(s)
• Timescale for realisation, inclusive of any research period
• A detailed itemised budget setting out costs, artist’s time, maintenance costs, VAT, tax, expenses, sub-contracting (where applicable)
• Suggested programme of engagement with Crescent stakeholders during the process of the project

Fee

A Stage 2 fee will be granted to each of the shortlisted artists for the amount of £800. This fee may be used to cover any costs incurred by the artist whilst attending the interviews and prepairing the Stage 2 information. The artist is obliged to attend two interviews at this stage.

Criteria For Selection For Stage 2

• Concept
• Artistic merit and distinctiveness of proposed artwork
• Perceived ability to realise the commission vision as detailed above under Public Art Commission Details
• Quality of rationale behind positioning of installation issues relevant to artwork on site
• Consideration of installation issues relevant to artwork
• It is desired for the artwork(s) to have minimal management and maintenance, estimates of costs to be included in budget
• Artist to comply with legislative requirements, incl. Health & Safety, Process of Planning Permission, insurance
• Artwork(s) to be durable with resilient and environmentally sustainable materials to be used
• Artwork(s) to demonstrate value for money
• Tendering artist(s) is/are to make/produce the piece. Any sub contracting will only be allowed with prior consultation and agreement by Crescent Arts Centre
• Having an appropriate level of Crescent Arts Centre staff and stakeholder engagement during the process of the artwork to inform (of) artists thinking (ie. public forum or creative workshop)

Closing date for stage 2: 26 November 2010 at 12 noon

Selection Panel and Policy

The judging panel will be made up of stakeholders of the Crescent Arts Centre (Board and Management), a site specialist, ACNI Visual Arts Officer and an independent artist if available.

DISCLAIMER

The Crescent Arts Centre reserves the right not to commission work if none or only parts of the proposals are suitable.

APPLICATION SCHEDULE

• Site visit 22 September 2010, 12pm
• Stage one closing date 8 October 2010
• Short listed Artists for stage 2 informed by 22 October 2010
• Stage two closing date 26 November 2010, 12pm
• Artists interview and presentations week of 6 December 2010
• Selected artist informed by 17 December 2010
• Signing of Contracts by 11 January 2011
• Commission completion date & Launch May 2011

BUDGET INFORMATION

The budget available is £40,000 (incl. VAT). This includes artists fee, materials and fabrication costs, installation costs and all other associated costs.

CRESCENT SUPPORT TEAM

The commissioned artists will liaise with the Deputy Manager. The Deputy Manager will make all necessary information available, and act as a link between the artist and the Crescent. (deputy@crescentarts.org)

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Petra Blomker
Crescent Arts Centre
2-4 University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NH

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