Leeds City Council would like to animate void window space left by empty retail units in Leeds City Centre and therefore, invites artists and/or artist groups to submit a CV and sample of work. We are looking for eye catching designs that visually respond to the empty units, their location and relationship to the commercial, social and cultural fabric of Leeds City Centre.

Leeds City Council not only aims to animate void space on the high-street but to also inject artwork into the public realm. We are looking to commission an artist/artist group(s) to design window vinyls that will be installed on vacant units in prime locations across Leeds City Centre. 

THE COMMISSION

Artists and artist groups are invited to submit a CV with a sample of their work and quotes for the final design(s).

The fabrication, installation and removal of the artwork will be funded separately by Leeds City Council once relevant permissions have been gained from relevant landlords/ property management companies for installation on unit windows.

The case study design

Included is a photograph and measurements of a shop front (55 Albion Street) that the artist may use as a frame should they wish to superimpose their design(s) on to a shop front.

There is no specified theme, but we are looking for designs that respond visually the city centre and celebrate arts and culture in the city. The main requirement is that designs are visually engaging and spark interest and curiosity.

Criteria:

• The designs should be innovative and unique to Leeds, in line with our high ambitions for the city centre;
• The designs should be appropriate for a prominent city centre location and consideration should be given to the neighbouring vicinity;
• The designs need to incorporate a ‘viewing panel or panels’ at viewing level that permits prospective tenants to view the inside of the unit. This should be considered as part of any design. The viewing panel should allow clear visibility of the interior of the unit.
• Winning artist(s) shall be required to produce high resolution, print ready pdfs/vectored images of their winning designs, to specified dimensions.

All designs submitted will be judged by a panel comprised of Leeds City Council staff with expertise in artistic delivery, urban design and city centre management. 

Designs may be shared with relevant landlords/property management companies for pre-approval before winner is announced. 

TIMESCALES

The deadline for submissions is 5pm Thursday 10th August 2017

Submissions will be shortlisted by Thursday 24th August 2017; unsuccessful applicants will also be informed around this time. The decision of the panel is final.

The length of time the work stays up for is dependent on the when the unit is re-let.

HOW TO APPLY AND NEXT STEPS

All submissions, to include a CV, sample(s) of work and fee quote need to be submitted via Curator Space.

The fabrication, installation and removal of the artwork will be funded separately by Leeds City Council once relevant permissions have been gained from relevant landlords/ property management companies. 

Only a sample of your work is necessary now and should the artist(s) be successful you will be required to produce your design to the shop window dimensions specified.

Your application should include:

•           CV;

•           A sample of your work;

•           Your fee quotation which should cover:

• attendance to one meeting in Leeds City Centre;
• the development of the chosen design with the client team;
• the high resolution, print ready pdfs/vectored images of their winning designs, to specified dimensions.

Optional

•           A short paragraph about your proposal (no more than 200 words);

•           Designs superimposed on to the image of an empty unit shop frontage provided.

Winning artist(s) shall be required to produce high resolution, print ready pdfs/vectored images of their winning designs, to specified dimensions.

CONTACT

All enquiries about the project should be made via Curator Space.

During the tender process, artists may seek clarification on the requirements by contacting Rebecca Thomas (contact details set out above). Questions and requests for clarification, and the corresponding responses will be circulated to all bidders unless it is deemed that the matter is commercially confidential.

Artists should indicate when making a request whether or not they believe the query is commercially confidential to them and therefore not shared. If it is deemed that the request is commercially confidential the response will only be issued to the artist raising the query.

Questions and requests for clarification may not be responded to if received 24 hours prior to the deadline for submission of tenders.