HANDSWORTH PARK ARTS TRAIL

Artists and Handsworth based community groups are invited to participate in the Handsworth Park Arts Trail taking place in summer 2015. The closing date for Expressions of Interest is 5pm Tuesday 31st March 2015.

There are four different ways to participate in the project as follows:

1. As a paid commission for artists to make an artwork with involvement from local community groups which may involve a participatory process to make the art work, or through workshops before or after the installation of the artwork. Therefore members of the community can be involved by either creating, informing or responding to the artwork.

2. A school, community organisation or faith group can apply directly (i.e. not working with a named artist).

3. Artists and/or organisations can submit an idea to design and carry out the artwork for a ‘Big Hoot’ Owl (further details below).

4. An unpaid opportunity for artists and/or organisations to contribute an artwork to the Arts Trail which must also meet the same standards as the paid commission.

Handsworth Park Association proposes to develop the Handsworth Park Arts Trail (HPAT) to engage communities in and around the Handsworth area to develop a number of pieces of artwork in Handsworth Park, to be exhibited from July to October 2015 in the area around the boating lake (photographs and maps from page 4 onwards illustrate the area where the Arts Trail will be sited).

The rationale is to develop this project with an Arts and Wellbeing and environmental focus; providing opportunities for inter-faith activity, community cohesion and the development of inter-generational relationships. This will be achieved by organising creative activities that will culminate in the production of several sculptures, paintings and installations that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing for people of all ages to enjoy in the park.

Handsworth Park Arts Trail is looking for expressions of interest from artists and local community organisations to get involved in producing a number of temporary sculptural /installation pieces of art work to be erected around the boating lake area of the park. As Handsworth Park’s first ‘Arts Trail’ project, the aim is to produce a limited number of pieces that could include audio/visual/digital elements that are robust, weatherproof and can be secured in place for exhibition between July and October 2015.

Handsworth Park Arts Trail would like the art works to reflect the diversity of the area and they must be aesthetically pleasing and suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy, they may be functional too

The use of recycled, reclaimed or donated material (preferably sourced locally) is encouraged but not essential, however each piece of art work must involve some form of input from, or engagement with, local people i.e. Schools, community organisations or faith groups, and artists will be expected to consult or engage communities in a range of different ways as mentioned above.

All artists and organisations will be responsible for transporting their individual piece of artwork to the park and installation will be undertaken jointly with the Curators. Artist will be required to complete a risk assessment covering any risk to both the Artists (installation, materials etc) and to the public through interactions, moving parts or materials.

There will be an opportunity for one of the commissioned artists to decorate an owl from ‘The Big Hoot’ project which is proposed to be located in the park as part of the Arts Trail (http://thebighoot.co.uk).

To assist Handsworth Park Association, please provide advance notification that you are intending to submit an Expression of Interest, by e-mailing handsworth.park.arts.trail@hotmail.com