Sewerby Hall & Gardens has £3,000 of funding for an artist or maker to create new work in response to the collections and displays relating to the Hall and the people who have lived and worked within it.

This commission forms part of an Arts Council England funded series of annual commissions to bring new work into the collections of East Riding Museums Service for display and acquisition into the permanent collection of the service over the next three years. The following years will see commissions in Goole and Beverley. 

Aims

·        To provide contemporary artists and makers with the opportunity to display work in distinctive heritage settings.

·        To support the creative careers of emerging artists and makers.

·        To acquire contemporary works by artists and makers for the long-term collections of the museum service.

·        To attract new audiences to Sewerby Hall & Gardens and East Riding Museums.

We are seeking an artist or maker to create a new work for display in the historic room settings of the hall based on their own experience of the museum, park and collections.

A work that reflects untold histories of the Hall and park to engage a broad family audience.

We would like a work that would not be expected by our visitors in a historic building that can attract a diverse audience to visit the Hall and Gardens.

All media are welcome, including textiles, sculptures, ceramics, paintings, installations, and audiovisual works.

The work must fit the space intended and be made of material and construction that can be cared for as a permanent addition to the Hall’s collection.

The completed work will be displayed in the house for at least two months. It is to be accompanied by at least one artist talk for the public about the work and its creation.

About Sewerby Hall & Gardens

House, Family and Collection Highlights

Sewerby Hall stands in 52 acres of glorious parkland and award-winning gardens in its unique clifftop setting. The central core of the house is Georgian, built by John Greame I between 1714-20.

Subsequent generations of the Greames have all added to the house and estate over five distinct construction phases: Georgian, Regency, William IV, High Victorian, late Victorian making it a tour de force of architectural history.

The Lloyd Greames were significant landowners in Sewerby and the surrounding villages, employing and housing large numbers of people supporting the local economy.

The house itself was maintained by a corps of servants: a cook-housekeeper, a butler and footmen, chamber maids and gardeners. The family may be considered good employers by their household’s length of service and that of the farm tenancies in addition to estate workers living in the village.

The last Lloyd Greame sold the house to Bridlington Corporation in 1934, and it was opened to the public by local celebrity aviatrix Amy Johnson. Sewerby holds a nationally significant collection of Amy’s memorabilia, which was donated by her parents in the 1950s.

The house is situated on land which has been occupied for millennia, from Bronze Age burials to its current form as a significant visitor attraction. The name Sewerby derives from a Dane named Siward who settled here.

In the grounds an important Anglian cemetery was discovered during building work to Home Farm. This was the site of a major excavation during the 1960-70s and yielded many grave goods indicating the culture and customs of the 6th century pre-Christian occupants. The Anglo-Saxon finds form part of the significant archaeology collection.

In 2014, the house underwent a major restoration campaign to present it as an Edwardian country house as it would have looked in its completed form after the last construction phase in 1892.

The primary sources informing the look and feel of the interiors were the 1934 sale catalogue detailing furniture and paintings and a small cache of photographs dating from around 1910. The photographs are views of the family rooms dressed with furniture, textiles and paintings expressing Edwardian taste.

They informed the selection of 40 pieces to furnish the rooms, which are loaned from the national collection at the V&A in addition to objects and furniture acquired elsewhere. The whole is a historically accurate presentation of an Edwardian country house as the beating heart of a large estate.

Local Landscape and Zoo

The Hall sits on the northern edge of the seaside resort of Bridlington. The North Sea is immediately to the south of the house with far reaching clifftop views. Danes Dyke and Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve are to the north. To the west and southwest are the heritage rich Yorkshire Wolds.

Sewerby Zoo has been a popular attraction within the parkland of the Hall for many years housing a colony of Humboldt Penguins and other bird and mammal species including pygmy goats and capuchin monkeys.

Information about Sewerby Hall and Gardens can be found on https://www.sewerbyhall.co.uk/

Information about East Riding of Yorkshire Museums can be found on https://www.eastridingmuseums.co.uk/

Sewerby Hall and Gardens, and East Riding of Yorkshire Museums are managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The funding for this opportunity is provided through Arts Council England National Portfoilo Orgnaisation funding to the Humber Museums Partnership.

Application and Selection Process

The commission has a three-stage tender process starting with an initial expression of interest call. Following this, three shortlisted artists and makers will be invited to a research visit with reimbursement for travel costs up to £150.

After submission of final proposals, a panel of museum and art professional staff from East Riding of Yorkshire Councils cultural team will review and select the successful proposer for the commission.

Your expression of interest should include the following:

·        What attracted you to this opportunity, and why you should be shortlisted?

·        Has your work explored this subject matter previously?

·        If so, where does this commission fit within your development or expand on previous work?

·        If not, how will this commission impact the development of your work?

·        What aspects of the museum, collections, or narratives would you like to explore and research further?

·        If known at this stage, an outline proposal of what direction the work might take, what might be produced and how?

·        Your experience of engaging audiences with your work.

·        A CV with images and examples of previous work.

Research Visit

Three shortlisted artists and makers will be invited for a research visit to support the preparation and submission of final proposals. The visit will be an opportunity to experience the museum and explore our collections and historic interiors and discuss your expression of interest with the curatorial staff.

Reimbursement of travel costs up to £150 is available.

Proposed Timetable

Expression of interest closing date: 4th October 2024

·        Shortlist of three artists for research visit (travel bursary of £150 each) and final proposal: 7th October 2024

·        Research visits: between 14th and 24th October 2024

·        Final proposal submission: 4th November 2024

·        Final artist selection: 13th November 2025

·        Delivery and Installation date – by 31st March 2025

·        Marketing and artist talk dates to be agreed and confirmed early Spring 2025.

Fee and Payment

£3,000 for artwork to include all materials.

Additional funding for talks of £400.

The initial start-up fee is £750, payable upon agreement of terms, with a remainder of £2,250 invoiced no later than 17 March 2025.

General Requirements of the Artist

·        The commissioned artist will be freelance and will be responsible for their own tax and national insurance or be part of an arts/cultural organisation.

·        Be ICT literate, approachable and self-sufficient.

·        Attend required planning and liaison session(s) in person or virtually.

·        Be prepared to give a talk about your work to the public.

·        Provide appropriate information for the evaluation process and attend an evaluation meeting upon completion of the commission.

Images of Sewerby Hall and Gardens - Descriptions with each.

1- Sewerby Hall south front on a warm sunny day. The house has three floors is painted white with a bay window reaching the full height of the building at each corner. A large portico and steps lead up to the front door.

2 - A drawing room decorated for the late Victorian period. Green walls, large firepace with guilded mirror, furnished with artworks and furniture from East Riding Museum Collections and loans from the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

3 - Billiard Room and library. A billiard table with ceiling mounted light and large bookcase to the left are accompanied by a small folding card table ready for a game. With a small fireplace and landscape painitings on the right hand wall and a stags head mounted on the far wall. Interior dating to the late Victorian period.