Bolton at Home is seeking an experienced artist, creative collaboration or arts organisation, based locally (i.e. requiring no overnight stays) to develop and deliver a Covid-safe proposal for a spectacular touring temporary artwork that offers an exciting opportunity for Bolton at Home’s customers to safely engage.

ARTIST’S BRIEF: Despite the Distance

Bolton at Home is a charitable community benefit society and social housing provider, managing more than 18,000 homes and working in partnership with local communities, organisations and agencies to create 'homes and neighbourhoods we can all be proud of.'

Bolton at Home’s Percent for Art service is the only dedicated arts team within a social housing context in the UK. It was established in 1997 to harness the transformative power of the arts to engage, involve, empower and inspire the residents living in our neighbourhoods. We work collaboratively with communities to develop arts initiatives that benefit our customers, focusing on themes such as health & wellbeing, cohesion and the environment.  For more information on our work, see www.boltonathome.org.uk/percent-for-art

Context

Many of our most recent projects have focused on health & wellbeing and reducing social isolation. Since the end of March 2020, our community buildings have been closed, our community groups have been unable to meet, and our ability to engage directly with our customers has been greatly challenged. Under the current (and ever-changing) Covid-19 restrictions, we know that many of our customers are feeling more socially isolated and disconnected than ever, and that the next few months will not get any easier.

We want to deliver an ambitious ‘pop up’ public artwork that tours our communities and helps our customers to feel more connected and less isolated, and that creates positive memories and opportunities to share messages of hope in an otherwise difficult time.

The Brief

The commission is for a North-West based artist, creative collaboration or arts organisation to develop and deliver a proposal to:

·      Design and deliver an innovative, interactive artwork that can be safely shared/toured across Bolton

·      Engage and involve Bolton at Home communities within the context of current Covid-19 restrictions

·      Help people feel less socially isolated, and help improve the mental wellbeing of residents in our communities

·      Provide the opportunity for Bolton at Home communities to contribute/engage in a variety of ways, including digitally

·      Give a platform to residents to share their hopes and aspirations for 2021 and beyond

This could be a new or existing piece, and we are open to any arts medium that is appropriate to the project.

Experience

We expect you to be a professional practising artist, with at least three years’ experience of creating interesting and high quality work in the public realm. You/your business should be currently based in the North West. 

The appointed artist will be able to demonstrate:

·      experience and understanding of working with communities

·      excellent communication and community engagement skills

·      the delivery of comparable projects and the aptitude to deliver this type of work

·      relevant design and technical skills

·      experience of working with multi agency teams

·      budget and project management skills

For working with young people and/or vulnerable adults, you will need to be aware of Bolton at Home’s Safeguarding policy, and will have, or be willing to obtain, an enhanced DBS check.  You will also need to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK, and public liability insurance cover between the value of £2m and £5m.

Budget

The total budget for this project is £15,000

The budget includes all costs and expenses, including artists fees, materials, and accommodation/travel expenses, and VAT where appropriate.

Timescale

Project start date: 1st February 2021

Project end date: 1st April 2021

Management

A Steering Group will be established to support the project, involving:

Bolton at Home tenant/s

Community Investment Manager

Housing Arts Officer

Community Development Officer

Other partners, agencies and stakeholders can be linked into the project and invited onto the steering group as appropriate.

Project development and steering group meetings will be held virtually. Site visits can be arranged where needed.

Monitoring and evaluation

The selected artist will have a good understanding of monitoring and evaluation and will incorporate a space/process for customer feedback into the programme, with the support of the Community Investment Team.

Deadline:  Applications to be received by 12 noon Monday 25th January 2021

Virtual Interviews: 28th January 2021