Flourishing Barnstaple invites artists for town transformation

North Devon Council is seeking creative talents to revive the town's heritage and spark community pride

Expressions of interest are being invited for public artworks in Barnstaple town centre as part of North Devon Council's Flourishing Barnstaple initiative, developed in collaboration with the Barnstaple Town Team for Culture.

Flourishing Barnstaple aims to revitalise the town through arts and culture. It is funded through the Cultural Development Fund, delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Flourishing Barnstaple team is seeking accomplished public realm artists who are passionate about making public art that engages with local heritage, addresses modern needs, and is valued by the community and its visitors.

The total budget for all the commissions is £200,000, to be divided between the selected works. This could involve a single large commission or several smaller ones, and artists are asked to provide their ideas.

Lead member for economic development and regeneration for North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse says: "The Flourishing Barnstaple project celebrates Barnstaple's rich heritage, and also offers a creative response to the evolving needs of our community. By engaging with our history and modern identity, the public art installation has the potential to become a valued landmark, fostering pride among residents and offering a fresh cultural experience for visitors. I look forward to seeing how local artists capture the spirit of Barnstaple and contribute to its ongoing revitalisation through arts and culture."

The commissions will be awarded through a two-stage application process, with up to 10 artists selected at the first stage to further develop their proposals. The expression of interest stage is intended to shortlist suitable artists, who will then receive a payment of £500 to develop their ideas.

Flourishing Barnstaple welcome applications from artists at all stages of their careers, including students and recent graduates.

Artworks should be designed to last in good condition for a minimum of 20 years. A shortlist of locations and themes has been chosen for this commission. Every shortlisted location may not necessarily result in a commissioned work.

Artists interested in submitting an expression of interest should contact Michelle Nicholson-Sanz to request the shortlisted locations and all other relevant documentation.

Expressions of interest can be submitted until 5pm on Monday 18 November 2024. The delivery and installation of artworks is expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.

More details on this opportunity can be found on the Arts Council England website at www.artsjobs.org.uk/jobs/search/50199.