Supporting Young Minds: Artist call out for place-based commission from The Sandown and Lake Youth Forum
WHAT:
This is an exciting call out for an artist (or artists) based on the Isle of Wight and Solent region to create a place-based artwork in the Bay (Sandown/Lake) Isle of Wight, co-produced with young people from Sandown and Lake Youth Forum. The project aims to support young people’s mental wellbeing by increasing physical activity and young people’s engagement with the Isle of Wight UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status through creativity.
The Sandown and Lake Youth Forum are a diverse group of young people aged 12-18 years who fairly represent the local community, being supported by Community Action IOW youth workers to have an opportunity to express their ideas, opinions, and needs to decision-makers and community members. The Forum have created this brief, and will select the artist and work closely with them to co-produce the artwork.
In their own collective words, they said, “we would like an artist to help us”:
- to unite our community
- reduce stereotypes / stigma
- represent young people’s views on what’s good and bad about The Bay
- highlight the negatives as a call to action
- make Sandown more exciting
- convey a message that stimulates thinking and makes people happier
Things they care about:
- Each other
- The beach
- Environmental impacts
- Feeling safe
- Feeling happy
Artists working in any medium are invited to apply, but the Forum are particularly interested in these mediums as a final output (but could also incorporate other mediums):
- Film/Moving Image
- Photography
- Text-based
- Animation
WHEN:
- Deadline for applications: Friday 26th Aug, 12pm noon
- Shortlisted artists informed by: Tuesday 30th Aug
- Artists to deliver final pitch to Youth Forum on: Friday 2nd Sept between 3-6pm (Ideally artists will attend in person at The Heights, Sandown. If this isn’t possible, the pitch may be delivered by Zoom)
- Delivery of project throughout September and October 2022.
FEE:
There is an Artist fee of £5,000 for approx. 25 days delivery (including expenses and basic materials, an additional materials budget may be available, dependent on project).
There is an additional budget for a launch event / promotion.
AVAILABILITY & EXPERIENCE:
The artist(s) would need to be available in September, October 2022 and some availability during October half term would be an advantage. They need experience of working with young people and have Arts Award bronze level training or willingness to be trained (the project will be structured to enable delivery of Art Award bronze award). The artist(s) would be expected to work a minimum of five days/40 hours with the Forum members. The artist(s) must have their own insurance and supply at least one reference contact.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please forward your CV, maximum two pages, with relevant images / links to similar previous work, including a statement about why you would like to be considered and your approach to the project to the following email: [email protected]
Deadline for applications: Friday 26th Aug, 12pm noon
‘Supporting Young Minds’ is being managed by Isle of Wight arts for wellbeing charity Independent Arts, on behalf of The Island Collection and the Isle of Wight CEP, in collaboration with Artswork (Southampton). It is part of a larger region-wide programme supporting young people’s mental health through creativity.
