Leeds City Council, in partnership with Trinity Leeds, is looking to commission a new project for the city’s annual Light Night Leeds event.

In 2015 Leeds Hackspace hacked into the impressive roof lighting system in Trinity Leeds to create a bespoke lighting and sound project ‘The Seventh Wave’. The project utilised hundreds of LED lights in the glass roof to create the effect of a dramatic weather-scape across the central atrium area.

This year we are looking for a new and innovative project to host in Trinity Leeds for two nights in early October 2016.  We are inviting artists and arts organisations to explore how the space, in combination with the unique Madrix lighting system, can be used creatively for an exciting audience experience.  This could be through performance, installation, interactive work or digital technology or a combination of art-forms.

The overall theme for this year’s Light Night Leeds is ‘The Elements’; so we are interested in receiving proposals for projects relating to Earth, Air, Fire and/or Water. The work can be narrative led or more abstract in style, and should be durational to be repeated regularly throughout the evening.

This is an open commission for experienced artists and arts organisations, and we expect submissions from practitioners with a proven track record in delivering large-scale events, performances or installations. Light Night Leeds has a broad and varied audience so the commissioned artwork must have cross-generational appeal. It is important that the work does not include any elements that would cause offence to the general public, and artists must bear in mind the proximity of restaurants inside the building.

Here is an example video of the lights in action last year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf-GDJL40qw

Practical requirements

·         The commission must be for original work designed specifically for Light Night Leeds 2016.

·         The work will be required to run for approximately 4 hours each evening (7pm -11pm).  The piece should be approximately 10 – 15 minutes in duration and be designed to be repeated over the course of the evening. Bear in mind that audiences will be able to view the work from 3 levels in the atrium area. 

·         The sound composition must take into consideration the shape and size of the space and its acoustics.

·         Project delivery to take place Thursday 6th & Friday 7th October 2016. (NB Work must be ready to test on Wednesday 5th October).

·         Projects must be deliverable within the specified budget and to the agreed timescales.

·         Applicants must not rely on a major commitment of staff resources from Leeds City Council. It is essential that you have the experience to oversee the installation/operation of the work.

·         Applicants must work proactively with Light Night Leeds and the LCC and Trinity Leeds marketing teams to create a buzz about the commission and the Light Night event.

Technical Information

The Madrix controlled LED lighting system in Trinity Leeds uses over 900 colour LED lights situated across the large glass ceiling of the centre. The system generally uses pre-set scripts, however the lights are all independently programmable. Madrix can synchronise effects to sound and allows advanced users to write their own effects scripts. Trinity can offer advice and guidance in using their system. There is an in-house PA system but as this is mainly used for customer announcements they advise bringing in an additional sound system for a better effect.

Schedule

Deadline for submissions – 5pm Friday 3rd June 2016

Interviews – W/B 13th June 2016 TBC

Project development – July - September 2016

Project delivery – 6th & 7th October 2016

Evaluation complete – 11th November 2016

Budget

The project budget is £8,000 inc. VAT.

Budgets must include all artistic fees (including all travel / accommodation), project development, production, equipment hire, and infrastructure costs.  Costs to be met by Light Night are: Event security, electrical, fencing/barriers, and Light Night project management.

How to Apply

Please complete this application form and include the following:

·         An outline proposal including images and/or a video pitch (of up to 3 minutes in length).  Projects do not need to be fully formed at the proposal stage but should demonstrate clear concept and viability. Please provide links to where your video is hosted (e.g. Vimeo or YouTube) along with any password required to view the content.  

·         A detailed project budget.

·         Background information on the artists or organisations, and supporting evidence to demonstrate experience of delivering successful large projection mapping projects. Applications from organisations/producers should include confirmed details of the lead artists involved.

Our Process

Applications will be assessed by the Light Night Leeds and Trinity Leeds teams and short-listed applicants will be invited to interview.

The selected applicant will work on the development of the full project plan and evaluation framework in consultation with the Light Night Producer and Light Night Production Manager.

Leeds City Council reserves the right to re-open the call or not to make an award if applications are deemed unsuitable.

About Light Night Leeds

Light Night is an annual multi-arts and light festival which takes place every year in early October at numerous venues across Leeds city centre. Hundreds of artists, makers and performers transform the city’s streets and buildings for an unforgettable evening of exhibitions, installations and performances.  It is a celebratory showcase for the huge range of diverse and thriving creative activity taking place in Leeds all year round, and gives visitors free access to art and venues that they might not normally see. In 2015 an audience of 60,000 people attended Light Night experiencing over 60 different events in over 30 locations in the city centre.  2016 will be the 12th annual event.

Light Night aims to…

• Bring new audiences and welcome more young people and their families into cultural venues in the city.

• Deliver an annual multi-arts and light festival across multiple venues happening on one evening in Leeds city centre.

• Grow new audiences for all art-forms and increase access for people from diverse backgrounds who would not normally attend arts activities.

• Enable and support artists and arts organisations to collaborate, show new work in new and/or unusual spaces and develop their audiences.

www.lightnightleeds.co.uk

About Trinity Leeds

Trinity Leeds is the city’s biggest shopping and leisure destination with over 120 shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants.  Housed under a giant iconic glass roof, Trinity Leeds is located in the heart of the city between Briggate and Albion Street. Covering 3 floors and open 7 days a week, shops are open until 8pm from Monday – Saturday and the wide range of bars and restaurants serve late into the night. Trinity Leeds has been named one of the UK’s coolest brands by CoolBrands, and is home to the only Everyman cinema in the north of England. Trinity Leeds is also home to a unique food concept, Trinity Kitchen, which alongside a range of permanent restaurants, hosts 5 of the very best street food traders in the UK. These vans, trucks or stalls change every month meaning there is always something new to experience.

www.trinityleeds.com

About Leeds

Leeds is a modern and diverse northern British city. It is the third largest and one of the fastest growing in the UK and is now home to an estimated 798,800 people.  Leeds is the regional capital and the main economic driver for the counties of Yorkshire with major road, rail and air connections to neighbouring towns and cities, and to national and international networks. The city’s diversity can be seen in a population which is made up of residents of over 140 different ethnic groups and the fact that Leeds school children speak over 170 languages. BAME groups represent 17.4% of the population.  A unique and distinctive place, the city of Leeds has a rich industrial heritage.  Known as the leading financial and legal centre in the UK outside London, the city is home to some of the largest financial institutions in the country. It has a diverse economy, excellent universities and world-class culture and sport.  Culture, tourism and sport play a key role in attracting people and investment to Leeds. The growth in the number of visitors to the city has been helped by restoring and developing flagship cultural and sporting venues including Northern Ballet & Phoenix Dance Theatre, The City Museum, The Grand Theatre & Howard Assembly Rooms, The City Varieties theatre, The John Charles Centre for Sport, Headingley Stadium, and the First Direct Arena.  Leeds is home to Yorkshire Dance, Opera North, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Henry Moore Institute, and a wide range of festivals including Leeds International Film Festival and the West Indian Carnival.  The city also has a vibrant independent music scene and a thriving DIY arts community.

Visit www.visitleeds.co.uk and www.leedsinspired.co.uk to get a flavour of what’s currently on in the city.