North Lincolnshire Museums is delighted to offer the opportunity for an Artist Commission to be produced for Normanby Hall Country Park in North Lincolnshire to be shown during 2020.

Normanby Hall Country Park tells the story of the Sheffield Family, the history of the Hall and its grounds, the people who lived and worked there and on the estate from the regency period to 1960s, their impact on the local area and nationally, along with the broader rural history of Northern Lincolnshire. Further information about the Park can be found on www.normanbyhall.co.uk. It is managed by North Lincolnshire Council and is open from March to October each year.

We would like an artist to create work located at and in response to the Farming Museum at Normanby Hall Country Park which houses historic farm machinery and transport telling the story of how the land was worked between 1850 and 1950, as well as re-creations of a farm worker’s kitchen and backyard, and a saddler’s, a blacksmith’s workshop and a street scene including shops, a pub and market stalls. 

The Farming Museum is due to be re-named for 2020 to the Rural Life Museum to better represent its collection and we would like an artist to work with us to create a new piece of work which will attract visitors to this amazing museum.

This commission has been made possible through Arts Council England funding as part of the Humber Museums Partnership. (Further art/craft commissions are being planned for 2020 to be located in the interior of Normanby Hall. This is the only outdoor work planned for 2020.) 

Aims

• To position contemporary art at the heart of Normanby Hall Country Park. 

• To challenge traditional ways of interpreting our using contemporary art forms to excite, inspire and engage our audiences.

• To involve artists in interpreting and researching the collections and history held at Normanby Hall Country Park, or relating to the wider estate. 

• To provide contemporary artists and makers an opportunity to create new work in a distinctive historic setting. 

• To bring new audiences to the Normanby Hall County Park and the Farming Museum in particular.

• To raise the profile of Normanby Hall Country Park as a cultural venue and visitor attraction. 

• To encourage visitors to visit the Rural Life Museum

• To provide opportunities to learn about the processes and methods employed by contemporary artists and makers to audiences that would not normally engage with contemporary art. 

The commission could include:

• The creation of a permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary, site specific artwork or installation 

• Periods of research, development or production on the estate, leading to a final artwork.

• Engagement with traditional craft, skills, and activities that have taken place on the Normanby Estate in the past.

• The use of new technologies to produce new ways of interpreting or responding to life on the estate.  

Who 

Contemporary artists and crafts makers with a proven track record, based in the UK or overseas (this can be as individuals or artists who work as part of a collaborative practice).

Where

The completed commission is to attract and guide visitors to the Rural Life Museum and so will be located somewhere on or near this site to be agreed with the artist and management. 

Artists should follow all North Lincolnshire Council policies and procedures, including complying with insurance, safeguarding, health and safety and financial requirements as directed by the project management team. (A draft copy of contract can be sent on request).

Application process:

Stage 1 – Artist Proposals 

Artists should submit a short summary of their proposed commission (up to 7 sides A4 including images) and artist statement or introduction (up to 1 side A4) and artist CV (up to 2 side A4). All submissions should be provided as PDF documents. These should include links to access further information and images detailing the artists/crafts makers previous practice. 

Stage 2 – Design Stage

Up to four shortlisted artists will be offered a fee of £500 to conduct further research to produce a more comprehensive proposal outlining their intended approach, details of the commission including images (where appropriate), budget and outcomes in relation to the brief (up to 10 sides A4). 

Stage 2 artists should also produce a small maquette if appropriate, or a short presentation (up to 10 minutes) about their work, as a video or ppt presentation. 

Shortlisted artists will be asked to attend an interview about their proposed commission. 

Selection

One artist will be selected to develop their ideas to full commission by a team of Arts and Heritage professionals based at Normanby Hall Country Park and partner North Lincolnshire Council cultural services venues.  

Timetable

Stage 1: Artists Information to be sent by 14th July. Shortlist agreed by 17th July

Stage 2: Design Stage to be completed by 23rd August. Artist selected by 30th August

Stage 3: Commission and installation to be completed by 28th February

Photography for marketing: November 2019

Fee

Stage 2 selection fee: £500 

Selected artist fee:  £20,000 (to include manufacture and installation).    

Additional budget may be available for publicity and promotion of the commission, and in-kind services and facilities will be provided through discussion with the selected artists.

Selected artists are welcome to apply for, or use additional funding, to support the commission, however they should be aware that this commission is funded by Arts Council England through the Humber Museums Partnership NPO and the commission fee may not be admissible as match funding in an ACE application. The project management team should be made aware of and given final approval of any funding applications submitted by the artist to support this commission.