Artists are invited to submit proposals for a street-based or windows-based light art project, Illuminate, funded by Lancaster Business Improvement District (BID). Taking place in the city centre, Illuminate will also be part of Light Up Lancaster Festival 2016. We are keen to hear from artists, groups of artists or organisations who want to work with our local businesses and communities to create something special in Lancaster's streets and/or shop windows during Autumn 2016.

Call for Arts Projects

Lancaster has a growing reputation for its autumn season of festivals and events, including Light Up Lancaster, and is a great shopping and cultural destination throughout the festive season.

Illuminate will link the existing Lancaster lights events, and further develop Lancaster's reputation as a great place to visit in the run up to Christmas. It enables artists, Lancaster businesses and retailers and local communities to work together to create a new offer for our city – a series of magical illuminated art installations from the end of October through to the New Year.

About Illuminate

Following the success of Illuminate 2015, commissioned by Lancaster Business Improvment District (BID),  which saw more than 30 beautiful illuminated artworks in several Lancaster shop windows, creating a trail through the city, we are keen to commission new work which will connect the themes of light and illumination with Lancaster's businesses and retailers. Adding interest for visitors and shoppers as well as having a resonance with local residents and engaging with the business community, Illuminate will be in situ from late October 16 to early January 17. Illuminate will also be a key component of the Light Up Lancaster Festival programme.

The Brief

·         Design and deliver a magical illuminated art installation, on selected Lancaster streets. Advice and support will be given as to which streets will be best suited to this project. It is possible that the focus will be on one street, or could be, say, 2 or 3 smaller streets.

·         Art works may be sited in shop windows or outside the shops, possibly hanging above the street/s. We are interested in hearing your ideas about this.

·         Art works should relate to Lancaster and/or Lancaster businesses and retailers.

·         Art works should create a significant impact.

·         Art works should be durable and, if outside, weatherproof, to allow them to remain in situ from late October to early January.

·         It would be advantageous if the art works could be created in such a way that allowed them to be reused in future years, and if there was an opportunity to add to them in future years to create an additional element to the project.

·         Work closely with Lancaster BID and the Light Up Lancaster Festival Creative Producer to engage local communities and businesses, the artist/s then delivering creative workshops, to create bespoke light art works for their shop windows.

·         Provide all materials within the project budget, including  workshop and installation materials, as should all costs for installation in October and removal in January.

·         You should be technically self-sufficient.

·         Artists should have their own public liability insurance.

·         Contribute to project reports and evaluation, as reasonably requested.

Budget

£4,500

Our Process

All proposals will be assessed by the Light Up Lancaster Creative Producer, and the BID Manager, supported by the Light Up Lancaster Steering Group. Proposals will be assessed on artistic quality, ambition, financial and logistical viability, and fulfilment of the brief as outlined above. The timetable for the project is as follows:

18 July                - Closing date for proposals

25 July                - Artists/s commissioned

Aug                     - Community partners identified and engaged

                          - Partner businesses/shops identified and engaged

Aug, Sep, Oct      - Work created

W/C 24 Oct         - Work installed

W/C 31 Oct         - Launching the project as part of the Light Up Lancaster Festival

Early January      - Displays taken down