OPEN CALL | 6th Edition of KCAW Public Art Trail - The Art Of Change
Deadline: 30/01/2023City: West London | Region: London | Country: United Kingdom | Kensington + Chelsea Art Week
Expenses paid
The Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) is inviting artists, creative organisations and curators to submit sculptural (3-D) installations for the 6th Edition of KCAW Public Art Trail. Selected works will be displayed in a variety of public spaces across Kensington and Chelsea for the duration of the Summer 2023.
Founded in 2018 and developed with community consultation, the festival shines a spotlight on the area's unique and unexpected cultural variety. It brings together a multitude of studios, museums, galleries, exhibition spaces and businesses, and attracts local and international audiences to hundreds of events and installations throughout the area.
KCAW Public Art Trail
The KCAW Public Art Trail is set across landmark locations such as High Street Kensington, Chelsea's Duke of York Square and The King's Road, Earl's Court, The Exhibition Road, Notting Hill and North Kensington - connecting Kensington and Chelsea through the unexpected discovery of art and the area. Over 1,000,000 visitors engage with the Art Trail and for 2023, we continue to build on the legacy of the past editions.
We encourage artists of all backgrounds and at varying stages of their careers to apply to the Open Call and to observe the overarching festival theme of 2023: 'THE ART OF CHANGE'.
Art Trail Alumni include Sokari Douglas-Camp OBE, Gavin Turk, Yinka Ilori, Toy Studio, Sir Terry O'Neil, Zak Ové, Baker & Borowski, Laura Ford, LR Vandy, James Capper, Richard Woods, Barnaby Barford, Liz West, Alex Chinneck, Linett Kamala, Azzarra Amoy and many more.
Call For Entries
In order to give greater visibility to locally based creative talent, the Open Call encourages applications from the area of Kensington and Chelsea, as well as from further afield, to submit existing or complete 3-D artworks to be installed in a variety of public spaces during KCAW23.
The Art Committee 2023
The shortlisted proposals are evaluated by an elected Art Committee made up of leading names from the visual arts, performance arts, literature and media.
The committee verifies that the proposals fit the selection criteria, including their viability for display in the public sphere and safety for public use. They assess how the projects reflect the KCAW23 curatorial theme; evaluate the suitability to the ethos of the festival as well as the proposed sites for the installations.
Wesley Ankrah Director of Social Value at Savills Earth
Baker & Borowski Artists, Producers of Skip Gallery, Graphic Rewilding, KCAW Alumni
Emily Candler Cultural Placemaker, Ex-Director of Exhibition Road Cultural Group
Sadie Clayton Sculptor, TV personality Hair Power: Me and My Afro, Chanel 4
Cynthia Valianti Corbett Director, Curator, Cynthia Corbett Gallery & Young Masters Art Prize
Hannah Lambert Community Engagement, The Royal College of Art
Councillor David Lindsay The Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Steven Medway Chief Executive, Knightsbridge Partnership
Adam Rutherford Director, Art Brand Communications, The Fondation Beyeler, Art Basel Cities, V&A Museum Africa Fashion
Victoria Whenray RIBA RIAI AoU Architect, Board Director at Conran and Partners
Anda Winters Artistic Director, The Coronet Theatre
Shortlisted proposals are featured in the festival’s core programme, in the KCAW Guide, digital Culture Map, and as key features in the KCAW marketing campaigns, benefiting from media coverage of the event.
The submissions deadline is 30 January 2023.
The artworks exhibited must be 3-D installations or sculptures. The works may be in a broad variety of materials and may be free-standing.
Please submit pre-existing works or works which will be produced in time for the festival.
The Art Trail will launch in June and run until the end of August 2023. Submitted artworks must be available for display during these months.
The public art installations may be installed as early as May 2023 depending on availability and may be on display for up to a year, depending on the project and its location, with prior agreement with artists.
The works are on loan at no fee for the above period, depending on the artwork and its final location. This will be agreed upon shortly after the shortlisted applicants are notified.
Artworks must be in good condition, structurally sound, 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 any planning applications. Applicants will be responsible for producing their own work: we thus encourage the submission of pre-existing works.
Applicants are invited to suggest a location for their work within Kensington and Chelsea, however, the final locations will be allocated by the Art Committee and KCAW Team. (Locations are listed further below.)
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.
Artists with established representation or commercial galleries should contact info@ kcaw.co.uk to find out how to be involved in KCAW23 and the Public Art Trail.
Applicants are invited to the Opening + Press Events in June and are encouraged to participate in any press opportunities that may arise. This is a Press Event attended by members of the KCAW team, Sponsors, Press, Artists and the 2023 Art Committee.
Selected participants may be invited to collaborate on KCAW workshops and talks.
Kensington + Chelsea Art Week 2023 | 22 June to 2 July 2023.
The Longlist is then debated and evaluated by the Art Committee during an in-person meeting usually held at The Design Museum.
Following the shortlisting stage, artwork sites will be identified. 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 and KCAW team.
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 and to participate in any press opportunities that may arise.
Due to the expected high number of applications, please be advised that only successful candidates will be notified.
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new”- Socrates.
Progress is impossible without change, the alternative is stagnation. The key lies in embracing this reality and even seeking it, in order to access the unimaginable. Change is a moment of bravery and action, the moment to embrace the flow of chance - that’s the moment of freedom, the feeling of change in the air.
The proposals can be site-specific and explore materiality, patterns, technology and innovation. The proposals can embrace new concepts and ideas of traditional ways of making art, revolving cycles, referencing the past and present in humanity and nature, personal storytelling and observations. In addition to the theme, submissions can:
+ Reflect on the history and legacy of the area where the work will be presented, Kensington and Chelsea’s rich artistic heritage, ancient and modern
+ Encourage audience engagement
+ Evoke the celebratory spirit of the festival
KEY LOCATIONS
+ Sloane Street, Duke of York Square, Top of King's Road
+ South Kensington
+ Gloucester Road
+ Napoleon Garden
+ High Street Kensington
+ Warwick Road
+ Brompton Oratory in the Brompton Cemetery
+ Ladbroke Road Area and Bramley Road
+ Kensington Memorial Park
+ Notting Hill
+ Lot's Road
+ King's Road Curve
The KCAW Public Art Trail aims to connect across eight zones: North Kensington, Notting Hill + Holland Park, High Street Kensington, Kensington Church Street, South Kensington, Earl's Court, Sloane Square + King's Road, and Old Chelsea + Worlds End, all connected by the interactive Culture Map.
+ Detailed artwork description
+ Artwork images
+ Artwork statement explaining the process and idea behind the artwork, including how the work is connected to the curatorial theme
+ Technical specifications, including dimensions, weight, and materials
+ Installation requirements (if required)
+ Current artwork location
+ Applicant’s CV/portfolio, including a short statement detailing any connection with Kensington and Chelsea
+ Link to applicant’s website/Instagram
+ Applicants can submit up to 5 artworks but must submit a new application for each one.
TIMELINE
January 2023: Deadline for applications
February 2023: Art Committee selects a shortlist of proposals
March 2023: Selected artists are announced
June - August 2023: Art Trail Open
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