Opportunity: Artist commission - Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway

Rebuilding the Community Brick by Brick: The Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway Commission is a partnership project between Growing 21 and Seven Lochs Wetland Park in association with Platform. 

The Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway provides an entrance to Hogganfield Park from the neighbourhood of Ruchazie in North East Glasgow. This project aims to celebrate the rich industrial history of the local area and improve the entrance area from Ruchazie to the park.  

We are seeking artist(s) to work collaboratively with the local community to explore the fireclay history of the area through a programme of ceramic tile making workshops. It is envisioned that artworks created in these workshops will be part of the final artwork that will be installed at Ruchazie - Hogganfield Gateway. The artist(s) will lead on the co-design, production, co-ordination and installation of artwork.  

Ruchazie and surrounding areas have a rich industrial history. Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Co Ltd (1872 – c. 1951) was located in the area and for some years were the most productive industrial works in Glasgow. This commission aims to celebrate local history through a creative process that will bring residents from the community together and will lead to the improvement of the The Ruchazie – Hogganfield Gateway. 

ARTIST BRIEF
We invite the artist(s) to: 
• Design, organise and deliver tile making workshop programme for up to 50 participants - children and adults. The workshops should aim to creatively explore the fireclay history of the area and guide participants through the process and creation of tiles that will be incorporated within the entrance gateway.
• Produce ceramic artworks for the entrance gateway, including accompanying interpretation panel
• Provide information to, and consult with, Glasgow City Council engineers.
• Ensure all safety measures and building regulations are identified, considered and have been adhered to within the design and modify where necessary.
• Undertake or oversee the fabrication and installation of the artwork at the entrance gateway.

Glasgow City Council through Seven Lochs Wetland Park will provide the artist(s) with information regarding any relevant services in the work area prior to you starting on site

The artist(s) will work directly with staff and volunteers from Growing 21, supported by Seven Lochs Wetland Park and Platform. 

The artist(s) should be able to demonstrate experience of working with community, delivering creative workshops and demonstrate that they have brought similar installation projects to a successful conclusion. The expected outcome will be an attractive but durable and low maintenance entrance that brings attention to this route into the park.  

TIMELINE
January – May 2022
w/c 10 January: Appointment of artist followed by initial meetings with partners 
w/c 31 January - February: Deliver of artist led  workshops | design, creation and firing of ceramic tiles
March – April: Fabrication, installation, procurement of materials and services     
April – May: Ruchazie – Hogganfield Gateway completion

FEE AND BUDGET
The appointed artist(s) will have a budget of £6000.00.
The budget is inclusive of artist fee, production and fabrication of project, below is detail of what is expected from artist(s): 

- The development, organisation and delivery of the workshop programme
- Liaise directly with staff and volunteers from Growing 21 with support from partners
- All materials and accessories for ceramic tile making and signage
- All ceramic tile processing including glazing, kiln firing, fuel and other related costs. Along with any transport of tiles, storage if necessary and associated packaging
- Meetings and correspondence related to building regulation processing and documentation, if necessary.
- All building materials and any plant hire, fabrication and installation of entrance and artworks.
- Project travel

We expect artists time to be budgeted in line with SAU rates.

PLEASE NOTE
Full project details, artist brief and addtional background information, can be downloaded as a complete document HERE

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit the following in response of the outlined brief: 

1. CV and cover letter outlining your suitability and relevant experience, particularly your experience of working with children, young people and adults.
2. Cover letter (no longer than 2 A4 pages) outlining methodology, demonstrating how you would approach the workshop programme and commission.
3. Up to 5 images of relevant / previous artwork (10MB max).

Assessment of responses
A selection panel with representatives from Growing 21, Seven Lochs Wetland and Platform and will review all applications in line with the above requested information.  

SUBMISSION
Please submit your application by email to Margaret McCormick at margaret@platform-online.co.uk by Thursday 6 January 2022. 

If you have any queries about the project, please email Margaret McCormick, margaret@platform-online.co.uk or call 0745 810 5322.