We are looking for an artist with a passion for the waterways to engage with schools and communities to produce a regional map linking our natural blue spaces. 

This map will be an artistic representation, holding elements produced by participants. 

The artist will work with the participants to make elements that come together to produce a map that not only showcases the importance of our blue spaces but also produces a public campaign to protect these areas. 

 

The artist will be mindful of the interaction that the map could provide on a digital platform as this project may extend digitally.  Having some skills in graphic design may be useful for this project.

 

About the Project: 

Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) are linking with the Canals and River Trust, The Greensand Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council’s Culture and Countryside Teams to explore the blue space in Central Bedfordshire.  

We aim to engage with three to four local schools and communities around them to create and explore blue space through a series of arts activities. We will work with schools to learn and produce a Blue Space map of their “river, canal, lake or pond”. 

Working with the countryside team and artists we will have sketch-up walks and record our natural findings and evidence the area's incline or decline in providing positive steps towards preventing the negative impact of climate change using archive data. 

Groups will work together to produce a regional menu of steps and a campaign for healthy living alongside our waterways without impacting the planet. 

 
The Brief: 

 

We are looking for an artist who will work with BCA to create the following outputs: 
 

  1. Produce a largescale representative map connecting Blue Spaces; “River, Lake, Canal or Pond” and the artwork produced by 3-4 schools and their communities in the area. 

  1. The map should be part of a clear campaign including call to action for the public to respect the waterways. 

  1. Produce a pop-up display map for Linslade Canal Festival in July 2024. 

 

The delivery needs to include: 

 

  1. Delivery of workshops: 5 x day sessions per school preferably over a 5-week period, with 3-4 schools involved. 

  1. After-school family sessions with each school. 

  1. Installing artwork at the Canal Festival. 

 

 

Timeline: 

 

Deadline for artist submissions: 10am, 22nd January 2024 

Artist shortlisting and interviews: Week beginning 29th January 2024 

Workshop delivery: February – May 2024 

Display for Linslade Canal Festival: July 2024 

 

 

Fee: 

 

Total fee is £8,000 for the planning, workshops and delivery of a campaign and map. The fee should be inclusive of any VAT, if applicable.   

Separate materials budget of £1,000 approximately 

Reasonable expenses for essential travel may be agreed separately if required.   

This fee assumes approx. 21 days contracted work.   

This is a freelance contract.  The artist will be liable for their own tax, insurance and pension contribution.  This is not an employment contract.   

 

Application Process: 

 

Candidates wishing to apply should submit a proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 including links to their work, their previous experience, and covering letter explaining how they will respond to the brief and outlining the following: 

 

  • Their relevant experience (including work with primary and secondary aged children and their families) 

  • How they intend to deliver the outputs required   

  • 2 professional references 

 

Artists are welcome to supply this information in video or audio format (no longer than 5 minutes) if they prefer.   

 

VISIT HERE FOR ARTIST BRIEF AND EQUAL OPS DOCUMENTS

 

 

Deadline 

 

10.00am Monday 22nd January 2024.  

 

Submissions should be sent by email to amia@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk   

 

Questions may be asked in advance by email to clarify the brief using the address above.   

 

Interviews/follow up conversations will be in the week beginning 29th January 2024. 

  

Eligibility 

 

We welcome applications from artists at various stages of their career and from a variety of demographic backgrounds.   

An Enhanced DBS check will be required for any unsupervised work with the community.  

Due the geographical location of the project, artists will be expected to travel to multiple locations.