KCAW21 Public Art Trail Open Call
Deadline: 31/12/2020City: London | Region: London | Country: United Kingdom | Kensington + Chelsea Art Week
Expenses paid
The Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) Public Art Trail creates ambitious temporary installations across the West London borough. For its fourth edition, and in order to give greater visibility to locally based creative talent, KCAW is launching an open call to artists, creative organisations and curators to submit artworks to be displayed in a variety of public spaces for one month or longer during Kensington + Chelsea Art Week in Summer 2021.
Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) is a festival celebrating the borough’s artistic legacy and its abundant creative future.
Founded in 2018 and developed with community consultation, KCAW shines a spotlight on the area's unexpected and unique cultural variety across a multitude of studios, museums, galleries, exhibition spaces and businesses, attracting local and international audiences hundreds of events and installations throughout the borough.
2020 saw the biggest and most successful Art Week to date, spanning 130 venues and 200+ installations, exhibitions and digital project, in a true celebration of arts, culture and resilience in our area of London.
PUBLIC ART TRAIL
The KCAW Public Art Trail creates temporary landmarks across the borough, connecting RBKC through an evolving discovery trail, explored on foot and through digital experiences.
Each year, KCAW presents thought-provoking installations and murals, which in the past have included work by Alex Chinneck, Liz West, Terry O'Neill, Laura Ford, Amanda Parer, James Capper and Richard Woods. KCAW20 saw the expansion of its public art programme to more sites with eleven installations by invited artists and selected through an Open Call.
In 2021 we will continue the expansion of the temporary Public Art Trail throughout the borough, extending the duration of all installations to a minimum of one month and up to a year, increasing visibility and engagement with local residents and visitors.
The Public Art Trail will be featured across all KCAW platforms. Exclusive behind-the-scenes content about each work will be shared on the new KCAW Culture Map, providing unique insights about the installations and the artists who created them.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
In order to give greater visibility to locally based creative talent, KCAW21 is launching an open call to artists, creative organisations and curators to submit pre-existing artworks to take place in a variety of public spaces during KCAW21.
Participation in KCAW21 is an opportunity to engage new audiences, it provides a platform on which to present work in extraordinary locations while exhibiting alongside renowned cultural organisations and leading artists.
Successful proposals for KCAW21 Public Art will feature public art installations in the borough’s public realm and urban spaces.
The shortlisted proposals will be evaluated by an Art Committee made up of leading names from the visual arts, performance arts, literature and media. The Art Committee will verify that the proposals fit the selection criteria, including their viability for display in the public sphere and safety for public use; will assess how the projects reflect the KCAW21 curatorial theme; and will evaluate their suitability to the proposed site, allocating the final locations for the projects.
Successful proposals will be featured in the festival’s core programme, as part of the printed KCAW Guide, the digital Culture Map, and as key features in the KCAW marketing campaign, benefiting from media coverage of the event.
THEME
The overall theme for KCAW21 is: REIMAGINE
For the Public Art Trail Open Call, KCAW is inviting applicants to consider this theme in their project submission.
The theme reflects the Festival mission of creating public spaces for conversation and exchange; rethinking the purpose and function of public spaces through Art – from places to pass through to places to dwell, play, dream. Enounters with art help us all to re-imagine what’s possible in our own lives; and creativity involves a daily re-imagination of what’s possible.
We will all need to re-imagine the shape of our lives as we seek to re-establish them post- pandemic. But we also must address urgent issues including the climate emergency, reimagining the impact of the Anthropocene; as well as address social and racial justice issues.
Asking the questions: what if we had made different choices as species or society? what if we make different choices now? what might life be like if we don't?
BRIEF
- Submissions are open to artists, curators, groups or collaborations without established commercial representation in the UK. Artists with established representation or commercial galleries should contact the festival to find out how to be involved in KCAW21 and the Public Art Trail.
- The artworks exhibited are primarily 3D installations and sculpture. The works may be in a broad variety of materials and may be free-standing or may be shown suspended. Digital installations and projects are accepted.
- We expect that some social distancing regulation will remain in place during KCAW21. As such, interactive works that require sharing equipment, will lead to the creation of crowds, or that cannot allow for 2 metre social distancing, will not be accepted.
- Submissions of pre-existing works is highly encouraged.
- The Festival will run from 24 June to 4 July 2021. Submitted artworks must be available for display during the KCAW21 dates.
- Submitted artworks must be available on loan from at least 1 June 2020 and can be displayed outdoors for minimum 28 days. The public art installations may be on display for up to a year, depending on the project and location.
- The works are on loan at no fee for a period of minimum 5 weeks or longer, depending on the artwork and its final location. This will be agreed shortly after the shortlisted applicants are notified.
- Artworks should be in good condition and suitable for display outdoors. A condition report may be requested as part of the Loan Agreement.
- KCAW covers shipping within the UK, installation, insurance, maintenance costs, and planning applications. Applicants will be responsible for producing their own work, as such, we encourage submission of pre-existing works.
- Following the shortlisting stage, artwork sites will be identified and KCAW will work closely with successful applicants throughout all delivery stages, including obtaining relevant documents (council permissions, insurance, etc.); and managing audience flow with the help of security staff and invigilators where needed.
- Applicants are invited to suggest a location for their work, however, the final locations will be allocated by the Art Committee. Successful applicants will be invited for a site visit to identify which site(s) are most suitable for showcasing the particular work/project. If they have a site to propose, this will also be reviewed.
- All selected participants will contribute to the promotion of their event and the festival overall when possible (e.g. on social media, newsletters).
- Applicants are invited to the launch party in June (depending on social distancing regulations), as well as to participate in any press opportunities that may arise.
- Selected participants may be invited to collaborate on KCAW workshops and talks.
Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. Should the application be incomplete we will ask for the missing information. However should these not be provided by the 31 December deadline, the application will not be considered.
Due to the expected high number of applications, please be advised that only successful applicants will be notified.
Contact the curator
Selected artists may be invited to collaborate on KCAW workshops and talks.
The project may also fit one or more of the following criteria:
- Reflect on the history and legacy of the area where the work will be presented
- Encourage audience engagement
- Evoke the celebratory spirit of the festival
The artworks exhibited are primarily 3D installations and sculpture. The works may be in a broad variety of materials and may be free-standing or may be shown suspended. Digital installations and projects are accepted.
We expect that some social distancing regulation will remain in place during KCAW21. As such, interactive works that require sharing equipment, will lead to the creation of crowds, or that cannot allow for 2 metre social distancing, will not be accepted.
Submissions of pre-existing works is highly encouraged.
Artworks should be in good condition and suitable for display outdoors.
KCAW21 Public Art installations areas may include:
Sloane Square
Duke of York Square
Pavilion Road
Holland Park
Avondale Park
King's Road Curve
Exhibition Road
White City Place
Applicants are encouraged to research the borough, its public spaces and institutions, to suggest new Public Art sites for their projects. However, the final locations will be allocated by the Art Committee Panel.
mid-January 2021: Art Committee votes on successful proposals
w/c 8 February 2021: successful applicants are contacted
March 2021: all participating projects are announced
24 June – 4 July 2021: KCAW21
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