Northstone are looking for an experienced, North West based environmental/public artist or creative collaboration to undertake research and consultation, prepare a Design Proposal for an appropriate public art scheme, and (subject to approval) ultimately create artworks and implement that Design Proposal.

Northstone is Peel L&P’s new northern-based placemaker and provider of quality, innovative homes. Its ambition is to create much more than a house. It strives to create exceptional spaces, stylish environments, and communities where families will thrive. Northstone’s community and social value work aims to build sustainable communities through education and training opportunities and a wide range of community initiatives.

Bolton at Home is a community benefit society and social housing provider that owns, manages, and maintains more than 18,000 homes across Bolton. It’s Percent for Art service was established in 1997 and has worked with local communities to develop and deliver hundreds of socially engaged arts initiatives, including temporary and permanent public art projects.

The Airie site is a total of 3.88 hectares/9.6 acres and is located at St Helens Road, Over Hulton in Bolton. Northstone secured planning consent for the site to deliver 108 new homes, including 6 affordable homes in partnership with Bolton at Home. 

Bolton Council planning policy requires the provision of public art as part of the development. A budget for public art has been allocated and Bolton at Home Percent for Art has been approached by Northstone to support the development and delivery of the public art element of this scheme. 

We are looking for an experienced North West based environmental/public artist or creative collaboration to undertake research and consultation, run creative workshops with local group/s, and children and young people from local schools and the community, prepare a Design Proposal for an appropriate public art scheme, and (subject to approval) ultimately implement that design proposal. 

A Design Proposal is initially sought for an environmental/public scheme to create a permanent piece of art; or a number of smaller, linked pieces of art.  We are particularly keen to encourage applications from artists working  in a sustainable way with sustainable materials.

We anticipate that the area of focus for the integration of public art will be around pockets of greenspaces and public walkways identified on the scheme plan, however we have left the brief fairly open so that there is scope for including ideas generated through stage 1 creative community engagement.

The design proposal will be for a permanent piece of public art or a number of smaller, linked pieces of public art, to be located on the development site.

The scheme will consist of two stages.

Stage 1:  research, consultation and production of appropriate environmental/public art design proposal £2000

Stage 2:  (subject to approval) implementation of the design proposal £8000

Preparation of this design proposal will include:

·         Consultation with Members, local residents, Bolton Council and Bolton at Home officers, and other relevant stakeholders

·         Researching and identifying suitable site(s) on the site

·         Producing an appropriate design specification

·         Identifying all relevant technical issues

·         Preparing a 'Stage 2' budget

·         Preparing an implementation schedule

The project may also be a potential opportunity for shadowing/work experience for a student placement.  Bolton at Home will be responsible for supervision, but the successful candidate must show a willingness and ability to support this process.

Budget & Timescale

Total project budget available up to £10,000

Stage 1:

Consultation, and preparation and delivery of appropriate environmental/public art Design Proposal and design specification.

The contract for this preparatory work will run from March 2023 with implementation September 2023.

The fee for Stage 1:  £2000

And includes: Artist fees, materials and expenses, research, all costs relating to the production of an appropriate design proposal and specification, travel, insurance

Stage 2:

Implementation of Design Proposal - subject to approval by Bolton Council.

Timescale for implementation, fabrication and/or installation to be delivered within the Design Proposal and agreed by Bolton at Home and Northstone prior to commencement of Stage 2.

The total fee for this stage of the project will be determined by the budget delivered within the Design Proposal and agreed by Bolton at Home and Northstone prior to commencement of Stage 2.

The budget will need to cover all relevant costs.

Skills & Experience

You will be a professional, practising artist, with at least three years experience of creating quality and innovative environmental/sustainable/public art works.  The appointed artist will be able to demonstrate:

·         the delivery of comparable projects and the aptitude to deliver this type of work

·         relevant design and technical skills, and demonstrable understanding of the technical issues relating to environmental/public art work

·         experience of working with relevant professionals

·         experience and understanding of working with communities, to collaboratively explore the ideas of residents on a creative, constructive and social level

·         excellent communication and community engagement skills

·         excellent budget and project management skills

For working with children and/or vulnerable adults, you will need to be aware of safeguarding policy, and will have, or be willing to have, Enhanced DBS Certificate.  You will also need to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK, and public liability insurance cover between the value of £2m and £5m.

Management arrangements

This contract is offered on a freelance basis.  The selected artist will work as part of a team comprising officers from Bolton at Home and Northstone.

To apply

You should email an expression of interest, including:

·         a short response to this brief (no more than one side of A4) outlining why you are interested in this commission and what relevant experience you would bring to it

·         CV

·         links to examples of previous work, or a PDF summary of previous work (please be mindful of file size; shortlisted candidate will have an opportunity to present a more detailed/visual summary of previous work)

·         details of two references

Artists applying to this project will also have the opportunity to be considered for a similar environmental/public art project with Bolton at Home and Northstone. That commission is due to go out to advert Spring 2023.

Deadline: 

Applications should be submitted by 5.00 pm on Monday 10th April 2023

Interviews:

We anticipate interviews will be held during week commencing Thursday 17th April 2023