Artists are invited to submit their applications for existing pieces of work to exhibit their light installations around The Bowes Museum this December (subject to ACE funding approval). We would love to see your unique light pieces around our grounds responding to our 125th anniversary celebrations and be part of our 2017 Christmas Fair!

The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum is one of the most prestigious venues in the north of England. Opened to the public in 1892, the French chateau inspired build is hosting amazing collections that its founders John and Josephine Bowes have lovingly acquired in their travels around Europe in the 19th century. The Bowes Museum displays world-class collections of European fine and decorative art, textiles, ceramics, silver and metals, archaeology and toys that can be found today in the galleries. Highlights include works by renowned artists such as Canaletto, Goya, El Greco, van Dyck and Turner, and the Museum’s iconic Silver Swan automaton. To complement these collections, The Bowes Museum offers an ambitious and lively exhibition programme featuring a number of distinct features appealing to a wide range of audiences such as contemporary art and design often bringing objects of national and international significance to the North of England.

For more details visit: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

The opportunity

Following our successful and popular Christmas events at The Bowes Museum in previous years, and in association with the market town of Barnard Castle, the Museum will hold a five-day outdoor Christmas Festival running from Wednesday 13th to Sunday 17th December 2017.  The festival will include a range of Christmas stalls, seasonal entertainment and Victorian style fairground rides.  Although this event is a well-established seasonal tradition in the area, we are always looking to create an even greater experience for our local audiences and visitors from further afield.

We invite proposals for existing work in the field of light installation suitable for a broad community audience.  The theme is the 125th Anniversary of the museum and the collections. You can have a look around the collections and different objects here: http://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Collections/Collections-Search  

We are primarily interested in outdoor installations for the Museum grounds. We are also looking forward to receive applications for interactive work as we are interested in facilitating our local communities and family audiences to get involved with contemporary art. However, this will not be a decisive factor in final selection.

Details:

•  Each artist will receive a £3000 budget to bring their work to the venue, install it and attend to it over the course of the 5 days of the festival (if requiring assistance). This figure covers the artist fee, travel and accommodation, and all costs related to the installation, delivery, and de-installation of the work.  
•  Applicants are welcome to bring additional funding from other sources to support their proposal or for proposals to be part of a larger/on-going piece of work.
  
  

Location:
The installations will be displayed around the grounds of The Bowes Museum, although there is also the potential for exhibiting at other outdoor sites in the centre of Barnard Castle.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be made online via Curatorspace.

Your proposal may be submitted EITHER in writing using the online form OR as a video recording uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo. The link for this must be part of your application.

Your application will need to include the following - either in writing OR video (max length 5mins):

• A brief summary of your idea (250 words max);
• A more detailed description of your proposed idea (500 words max);
• The resources and technical support you will need access to;
• Links to website and/or social media platform. If the application is successful, this will later be used for marketing purposes;
•  Images (6 max) or weblinks illustrating your proposal and /or previous work;
  
  

Deadline: Applications to be submitted 9am Friday 1st of December 2017.  All applications will be acknowledged on receipt.

•  All shortlisted artists will be notified by Monday 4th of December with a potential Skype interview.
  
  

Weather:

Wind and rain is likely to be a factor in December. And, whatever the weather, our audiences will still attend. All projects should be weatherproof, or should have a wet weather contingency plan to allow them to go ahead in all but the most extreme weather.  All work must use IP rated electricals suitable for outdoor use.

Support:

All projects should be technically self-sufficient and budgets calculated to include all technical requirements. Projects will be supported by the in house technical team within reason. All projects will be marketed centrally by both The Bowes Museum own marketing and digital platforms as well as the Barnard Castle Christmas Festival.