Open Call for Artists

Applications are invited for an exceptional artist or collective to create a new, temporary art piece inspired by childhood and play for the first Chesterfield Children’s Festival on 29th and 30th July 2023.

Background

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will be a free weekend-long festival of arts and culture for children of all ages including music, theatre, storytelling, mindfulness, crafts and more at Queen’s Park and in Chesterfield Town Centre. The festival will run from 10am-4pm on 29th and 30th July 2023.

Junction Arts is an award-winning community arts charity who has been working with communities in Derbyshire since 1976. Annually we deliver around 20 projects, working with disadvantaged communities and people of all ages and backgrounds to create a better future for everyone through the arts.

Project Brief

Junction Arts wish to commission a creative or team of creatives to produce a new artwork, of any form to debut at Chesterfield Children’s Festival and run across the two-day festival.

The new artwork should respond to themes of childhood, play and games and will need to incorporate engagement sessions with three local primary schools in Chesterfield and surrounding areas (circa May 2023). Junction Arts has already engaged Year 4 pupils from Spire Junior School in some creative consultation, this can be seen in the supportive documents and should help inform creative’s applications.

The creative(s) will have experience in co-creation and engaging children and young people to inform their artwork.

Artform

We invite artists of all backgrounds and practices to submit proposals, Junction Arts is particularly interested in participatory pieces that align with our values and mission. Any physical pieces must be temporary installations.

Ownership

Any physical work created will be stored and looked after by the artist and any further touring of work must credit Junction Arts as commissioner.

Budget

The total artist fee is £6000 (inclusive of all expenses, preparation, engagement days, materials, travel, manufacture, installation and VAT).

Application Process

We welcome applications from artists of all backgrounds and shortlist applications blind, please take this into account when compiling your application as we will remove any personal information.

The creative(s) should submit a written application of no more than 3 sides of A4 (including images) showing your experience in co-creation, relevant previous projects and your proposal for this commission and how you would deliver the project. Creatives are able to apply via video or voice recording and should supply images alongside their application, please be aware these will be transcribed for shortlisting.

Please include the following and send your application to Junction Arts info@junctionarts.org

• Your proposed idea for this commission and an outline of how you will allocate your time
• A budget breakdown including contingency
• An outline of relevant previous projects
• Images of previous work and proposed work if relevant – applications are judgedblind, any images including yourself will be removed and website links will not suffice
• CV(s) including your contact details and contact for 2 referees
• Confirmation of availability for interview date 26th April
• Confirmation of availability for 29th & 30th July

CV and website links submitted without a written proposal will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: 9am 17th April 2023

Late applications will not be accepted.

Shortlisting and Interview Process

Successful applications shortlisted for interview will be notified by Friday 21st April. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 26th April at West Studios, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield.

Applications should be sent to info@junctionarts.org

For more information on the project brief only, please contact Jemma Burton at Junction Arts: jemma@junctionarts.org / 01246 209219