To deliver our latest residency UnderEarth, CAS wishes to appoint a digital artist-in-residence for three months, from Feb to April 2022, to work with two schools in the Andover area, and in collaboration with the award- winning ecological organisation Andover Trees United (ATU).

Just over a year ago our first CAS:AIR residency saw us launch the hopes and dreams of  Andover into near space with the help of a bespoke craft attached to a weather balloon. 

For this coming CAS:AIR residency the people of Andover will be turning their gaze from the  sky to the ground beneath their feet. UnderEarth will be a digital, environmentally focused project, exploring what happens beneath the ground as we approach springtime. Partnering with environmental organisation Andover Trees United, school age children will be learning about seeds as they emerge from dormancy, tree roots as they communicate under the ground and the importance of a vibrant insect ecology to the health and life of our soil.  

In schools, (and potentially in after school groups), coding techniques will be taught by the digital artist/artist team, to help young people create their own immersive fantasy ecology, inspired by the information they have gained from environmental research together. This will be available online for viewing but will also be projected within the CAS space. 

We are very pleased to announce that in support of this residency, Test Valley Borough Council will be funding a mentee post. The mentee will work with, and assist, the successful artist throughout the duration of the residency.

Outline:

Using creative digital technology, we want to the young people of Andover to gain a new understanding of the ecology around them, leading to a greater sense of appreciation of the world we all share.

The successful artist/artist team will be commissioned to work with young people in schools over 10 weeks, February to April, creating a final digital work for exhibition.

The location of Harmony Woods, grown, cultivated and managed by ATU is also a site of Iron Age excavation, which may be of interest and feature in the artists plans.

There will be points in the project to share knowledge and skills with the wider Andover community, and celebrate participants work through an Andover based CAS exhibition. 

The artist will be based at the CAS project space, Chapel Arts Studios where there will be personal studio space to develop their work, and access to a wide variety of resources and equipment. 

Andover is a Hampshire based town with a mix of demographic and a significant population falling into the lowest category economically and socially. Despite this it is the town of great possibility with many community groups and active projects seeking to enrich and build up community life together.

Project Aims: 

The project aims are to bring great art experiences to Andover town, using these to gain and disseminate knowledge through collaboration with Andover Trees, opening doors to new skills, building confidence, enriching lives and connecting communities while doing so. 

The project will:

• Introduce the ambition of inspirational and high- quality digital art to Andover
• Teach coding skills to children and young people
• Help children to learn more about their land and what is happening beneath it. It will encourage children and young people to grow up appreciating the richness of their environment and the need to care for and nurture the natural habitat throughout their lives.

The artist will work with:

• Vigo Junior School
• Portway Junior School
• Andover Trees United
• The wider community in at least one town centre activity day. 

Who are we looking for?

CAS are looking for a digital artist with experience in creating exciting digital environments, and introducing participants to techniques such as coding and projection.

The artist will also have experience of working with KS2 pupils. The residency will conclude with a final artwork/s for display to the general public.

We would like applicants to consider how, and to what extent they might integrate the groups from both schools, and the size of the groups they would propose working with for the residency.

The artist will need to have their own public liability insurance and DBS certificate. If required, CAS can facilitate access to the DBS application process and advise on reasonably priced insurance.

The structure of the project 

The residency will begin on 7th February 2022 and complete on April 30th 2022.

The main elements of the project will include: 

• A visit to Harmony Woods
• An event in Andover Town centre for knowledge sharing with the public.
• A minimum of five workshop sessions with each of the two participatory groups
• A celebratory exhibition at CAS 
• The creation of an artwork to be installed CAS, (and possibly at Vigo and Portway Schools if appropriate)
• Working with a mentee throughout the duration of the project
• An evaluation report 

The Artists Fee 

The artist will receive £7000 pounds in total for the residency, including evaluation.  £2000 is available for materials and installation of the final artwork.

How to apply:

Create two PDF documents as follows; 

1. Your CV including contact details, saved as a PDF entitled: yourfirstname-yourlastname-CV.pdf

2. A second PDF containing; 

Proposal – One side of A4 to include; how you will work with the two groups and how your proposal responds to our overall theme  

Budget – A rough breakdown of costs 

Outline of possible activities for town centre event – 200 words max 

5 x Images of past work 

Links to website, social media accounts 

Entitle this PDF: yourfirstname-yourlastname-UnderEarth.pdf 

Please upload these to the Make a Submission tab. 

Time frame: 

Deadline for application:      30th November 

Shortlist announced:              3rd December 

Interview dates:                     10th December

Decision announced:             17th December 2021 

It may be helpful to visit Harmony Woods to familiarise yourself with the possibilities for the project. It is free to access, and fully open to the public. Please note, that any dogs MUST be kept on a lead at all times. The ground is fairly rough in places, and if you have any access needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for assistance

If you have any questions concerning this opportunity or special requirements to make your application accessible, please email info@chapelartsstudios.co.uk