OPEN CALL | 7th Edition of KCAW Public Art Trail - Changing Landscapes
Deadline: 10/01/2024City: 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 7th Edition of KCAW Public Art Trail. Selected works will form part of the sculptural Public Art Trail to be displayed in a variety of public spaces across Kensington and Chelsea for the duration of the Summer 2024. Over 1,000,000 visitors engage with the KCAW Public Art Trail per week.
The annual KCAW Public Art Trail, part of Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) was 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 the most iconic locations in London such as Exhibition Road, Duke of York's Square, High Street Kensington, Knightsbridge, The King's Road, Earl's Court, 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 2024, 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 2024: 'CHANGING LANDSCAPES'.
2024 Theme: Changing Landscapes
Consider in your application social, geographical as well as digital landscapes, the natural habitats and the human response to the world through the use of AI.
In addition to the annual theme, submissions are encouraged to:
- Pay homage to the area's rich historical and artistic heritage, encompassing both ancient and modern influences.
- Foster active engagement with the audience.
- Evoke the festive and celebratory atmosphere of the event.
- Maintain a positive, non-discriminatory, and non-political stance.
- Promote inclusion and celebrate innovation and the possibility of making a positive impact on society.
We welcome artists at various stages of their professional careers; from local to national talents and those who have never previously exhibited their work in public. The Kensington + Chelsea Art Week expert team provides comprehensive support, covering installation, public liability, insurance, engineering approvals, safety inspections, council permissions, and associated expenses related to delivery, installation, display, publicity, and the secure return of artworks to the artist's studio.
The final selection of participating artworks is curated by a rotating, esteemed Art Committee, ensuring fresh perspectives and diversity in the selections.
KCAW Public Art Trail Alumni
Art Trail Alumni include Ai Weiwei, 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, Azarra Amoy and many more.
The Art Committee
The shortlisted proposals are evaluated by an elected Art Committee made up of leading names from the visual arts, performance arts, literature, and the media. The committee changes every year.
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 KCAW24 curatorial theme; and evaluate the suitability to the ethos of the festival as well as the proposed sites for the installations.
Make sure to visit our website to see the 2024 edition Art Committee which will be revealed on 1 November 2023.
The 2023 Art Committee (previous edition):
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 submission deadline is 10 January 2024.
Contact the curator
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 on 12 June and run until the end of August 2024. Submitted artworks must be available for display during these months.
The public art installations may be installed as early as May 2024 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 and arranges: shipping within London and in some cases within the UK, installation, insurance, maintenance costs, and any planning applications, and public health and safety requirements. 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 KCAW24 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 2024 Art Committee.
Selected participants may be invited to collaborate on KCAW workshops and talks.
Kensington + Chelsea Art Week 2024 | 20 June to 30 June 2024.
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.
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