Artist Open Call - GHT Climate Action Community Projects

Artist Opportunity, Community, Open Call

Wednesday 26th October 9:00am – Sunday 20th November 2022 5:00pm

 

We’re looking for artists to apply to our latest open call as part of our ongoing work at ‘a space’ arts to raise awareness of the current climate emergency. 

 

The Brief

In 2023, we will be hosting a new programme of exhibitions and activities with a focus on climate action. At the centre of the programme will be a major new commission at our flagship venue, God’s House Tower (GHT). Alongside this, we would also like to support two community-focused projects led by artists who live or work in the SO postcode.

These community projects will enable participants and audiences to connect with environmental ideas and concerns and bring about meaningful change in perceptions and behaviours, leading to climate action and climate solutions. Acknowledging the need for collective and collaborative approaches to climate action, this opportunity is for artists with a social practice to connect with local communities and generate new work.

There will be two opportunities to host activity at God’s House Tower across the six month programme. The Creative Climate Action Lab, which will take place in May 2023 will enable artists to launch their projects in our main gallery space and engage with community groups and members of the public. Then in November 2023, we will host an exhibition of outcomes and documentation of the projects, co-produced by the artists and the communities they have connected with.

Global warming continues to have a profound effect on life on earth, socially, politically and economically, disproportionately effecting marginalised communities. As part of our commitment to anti-racism, accessibility and inclusion, we encourage expressions of interest from those who are underrepresented in current climate conversations.

We recognise that it is important at this stage to remain open-minded about the structure and outcome of these projects. One of our favourite things about working with artists and communities is being surprised and excited by new perspectives and ideas.

Download the full artist brief here – GHT Climate Action Community Projects – Artist Brief

Download a large print version of the full artist brief here – GHT Climate Action Community Projects – Artist Brief Large Print

 

The Budget

There is a total of £4,000 set aside for this part of our climate action programme. Our intention is to fund two projects at £2,000 each.

The £2,000 budget will need to cover all the costs of the commission, including artist fees, travel and expenses. Please note the budget must include VAT.

 

Commission Timeline

  • Open Call: Thursday 27th October – Sunday 20th November
  • Deadline for Proposals: Sunday 20th November
  • Successful artists notified and artist agreement signed: Monday 28th November 
  • Development Period: Monday 28th November – Friday 5th May 2023
  • Project Launch (Creative Climate Action Lab at GHT): Friday 5th – Sunday 21st May
  • Project continues off-site: Monday 22nd May – Sunday 1st October
  • Exhibition planning: Sunday 1st October – Monday 13th November
  • Exhibition installation: Monday 13th – Wednesday 16th November
  • Exhibition and project conclusion at GHT: Friday 18th – Sunday 26th November
  • Evaluation: December – January 2024 

 

How to apply

Please send a proposal to Mia Delve at [email protected] by 5pm on Sunday 20th November.

  • Proposals should include:
  • No more than 300 words, including: 
  • A brief intro to your practice
  • Your ideas for a climate action community project
  • Please identify what community/communities or partners you would like to work with and why. It would also be useful to know what connection (if any) you have with these groups/partners 
  • Please tell us a bit about your ideas for the Creative Climate Action Lab and how you would engage members of the public across three weekends at GHT in May 2023
  • A project timeline
  • A breakdown of the budget which needs to cover all the costs of the project, including artist fees, materials, travel, expenses and a contingency. Please consider any costs associated with working with communities e.g. outreach and travel. Please note the budget must include VAT
  • A link to your website, or a portfolio (up to 8 images) of your previous work

If you have any questions please email Mia Delve at [email protected] or phone the ‘a space’ arts office on 02380 338 778.

Please note, this opportunity is only open to artists who live in the SO postcode.

 

Access

As an organisation we actively look to reduce barriers for artists applying for our opportunities and commissions, and we are committed to being fair, accessible, transparent and inclusive.

We offer a range of access support for artists, including alternative formats for information we release and submissions we receive as well as an artist access fund; please contact us so that we can discuss your individual needs and provide appropriate support for your application or project. Please either email us on [email protected] or call 023 80 338 778.

For more information about this work please visit – aspacearts.org.uk/about-us

 

Anti-racism

To further our mission we are taking proactive steps to becoming an anti-racist organisation. We have pledged to deliver a number of commitments through our Anti-Racism Action Plan over the next two years along with a series of activities to bring immediate benefits to global majority artists. We feel this combination of working towards long-term change and immediate action can make a real difference to Southampton’s global majority visual artists and we plan to continue working on this dual approach.

For more information about this work please visit – aspacearts.org.uk/about-us

 

A note on terminology 

  • We acknowledge language is fluid and evolving and aim to ensure our use of language remains inclusive and inoffensive.
  • As an organisation we have joined the movement to reject the acronym BAME as this state-manufactured term flattens and depoliticises global solidarity between people with a lived experiences of racism.
  • We acknowledge the term ‘people of global majority’ as it is factually true with over 80% of the world’s population making up the global majority of non-white peoples.

 

Climate Action

As a cultural organisation it is our responsibility to raise awareness, as well as reducing and mitigating our own environmental impact. This commission is part of an organisation wide review of our environmental policy and programme at ‘a space’ arts. A new climate action plan is currently in development and is on course to be launched alongside this commission.