Eden Arts seeks Artist/Designer
Brief: Artist/Designer
Fee: £3000 + Materials
Overview:
Eden Arts is seeking a designer to draw together a series of concepts generated by cultural experts and a local cohort to create an exhibition/display/something else as part of the ‘Bigger Picture’ project. We are especially interested in alternative methods of communicating the vision.
The intention of this project is to create a vision for the future of the city of Carlisle in Cumbria, while pairing cultural experts with a group of emerging local creatives. The cohort and cultural experts will have visited the city and embarked on extensive discussions around what the vision for the future of the city resembles.
Your role will be to thread together these conversations and documents into a coherent display that can be accessed by the public for the duration of the exhibition in Carlisle city centre.
We would expect you to attend some, if not all, of the ‘Visioning Days’ with the cultural experts and cohort. These will take the following format:
Introduction/Presentation: Kick off the day with a brief presentation from a cultural expert setting the stage for our exploration.
City Tour: Join a guided visit through key areas of Carlisle, with a focus on the cultural quarter. This will provide a foundation for following discussions.
Collaborative Discussion: Engage in a conversation with the cohort to develop ideas and visions for Carlisle's future cultural landscape.
Background:
Carlisle has long been in a state of cultural stagnation, with progress often stifled by outdated policies and a risk-averse local government. While some infrastructure improvements are underway, they lack coherence with the city’s cultural aspirations.
However, Carlisle has untapped potential in the form of:
A rich history as “The Great Border City”, with two nearby World Heritage sites and landmarks like the cathedral and castle.
A university presence and excellent connectivity via train and the M6.
A range of cultural activities happening across the city—music, theatre, community, and refugee groups—though these efforts can feel a bit disparate.
New US-based ownership at Carlisle United Football Club with ambitious plans to “Own The North.”
An emerging Business Improvement District eager for a more progressive and culturally rich city with potential funding of £1 million per year.
Despite these positives, challenges remain in the city, such as an ageing population and a prevailing conservative mindset that resists change. We aim to gather fresh ideas and demonstrate what Carlisle could become with the right vision and leadership from the arts and culture sector.
Outcome:
We intend to create a dynamic and exciting display imagining the future of the city of Carlisle, alongside a ‘making of’ documentary about the project, which is already in production. These will be exhibited in Carlisle city centre. We don't yet know exactly what the display will look like - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? You tell us!
We’re looking for something that can engage with and excite both stakeholders and the public in a presentable way - to inspire change and challenge the status quo of mundanity which has for so long left Carlisle culturally and artistically lagging behind.
We’re also currently seeking an empty unit in the city centre as a base for the project and venue for the exhibition.
Timeline:
The project has already commenced and will be completed by the end of 2024. We have created a Doodle Poll with the dates we have set aside for the ‘Visioning Days’ - please complete this with your availability. We do not expect you to be available for all of these dates but it would be helpful for you to attend some to get an idea of the area and those leading the ‘visioning days’. We are working towards an outcome by the end of 2024.
To apply:
To apply please send an up to date CV including links to any recent, relevant work. In addition to this we would like to see a proposal for your initial idea in response to the brief plus an outline of the budget for the display. if you'd like to discuss it further and gain a deeper understanding of the project please call Adrian Lochhead, director of Eden Arts, on 01768 899444
Email jo@edenarts.co.uk
