Artist Residency Brief

For Pleckgate High School, Blackburn with

Darwen
ARTIST BRIEF v4

This commission is a unique and exciting opportunity for artists/designers to extend their practice
through inputting into the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme for Blackburn with
Darwen and Bolton schools.

1. Background

Shine are delivering 24 new schools across Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton and are keen to
incorporate Art into the design and construction process. Shine feel that this will enhance the
visual environment of the schools and compliment curriculum and community learning. We have
set out a series of protocols which we expect arts commissions to adhere to. These are included
in the additional brief documents for you to refer to.

Our vision for the Arts within the BSF build process is Art which:

• Transforms learning, lives and communities,

• Is in line with Blackburn with Darwen's Strategy for Change (SfC),

• Complements high quality urban design and increases the quality of the environment,

• Is accessible and/ or visible to the public,

• Is temporary or permanent in nature,

• Should reflect best practice in consultation, collaboration and input from a range, of
communities depending on the requirements of the project,

• Considers future maintenance requirements,

• Enhance the school and learning environment,

• Recognise the significance of the new schools,

• Engage with the local community,

• Meets the requirement of each Local Authority,

• Will be specific to each school,

• Encourages artwork which is multisensory.

1.1 Pleckgate Construction Programme

Construction works on site to Pleckgate High School began in January 2010, and are currently
ongoing. Full project completion is anticipated by July 2011.

Further project details can be downloaded from http://shine-lep.blogspot.com and

http://www.pleckgatewebsite.co.uk/bsf.

2. The Commission

Shine are seeking an artist / designer proficient in arts, creativity and the built environment and
natural landscape, to collaborate with the design team in producing a number of pieces of work
that are integrated into Pleckgate High Schools design and construction.

As such, Shine are looking to initially appoint a Lead Artist to work on developing both their and
other artist commissions within the new school. This residency will include working with the local
community, and must be able to meet the aims of the BSF programme for the arts in Blackburn
with Darwen, whilst enhancing the visual or other sensory environment within Pleckgate High
School, compliment curriculum learning and deliver wider community benefits.

The structural design of each schools has been undertaken by Shines Design team in
consultation with the architects. Outline drawings for the schools are available on request.

Pleckgate High School is a maths and computing specialized school and this should be taken into
account when planning project work. The areas within the schools environments that have been
allocated to this or other related artist commissions curated by the Lead Artist are:

1. The design of the main entrance plaza to reflect the specialism of the school in
mathematics and computing. And in accordance with the requirements of the Local
Authority design brief and planning approval.

2. Design of the SEN garden in accordance with the requirements of the Local Authority
design brief and planning approval.

3. Design of the schools main amphitheatre to reflect the specialism of the school in
mathematics and computing and in accordance with the requirements of the Local
Authority design brief and planning approval.

4. Design of the Discovery garden area in accordance with the requirements of the Local
Authority design brief and planning approval.

5. Design of the external dining area to reflect the ideas of the school pupils in accordance
with the requirements of the Local Authority design brief and planning approval.

6. Design and potential supply of the external furniture to the Discovery Garden and
external Dining Area.

7. Design of the finishes, layout and material selections to the hard landscaping finishes
within the schools winter garden to reflect the specialism of the school in mathematics
and computing and in accordance with the requirements of the Local Authority design
brief.

8. To design the layout of the finishes and to select the materials for the floor coverings
within the main dining hall to link to the LA strategic goal of health and well being in order
to raise its profile within the school and its importance for the pupils.

9. Design of the toilet and changing room finishes reflecting the specialism of the school in
mathematics and computing and in accordance with the requirements of the Local
 Authority design brief.

It is anticipated that the commissioned Lead Artist will influence the overall look feel and
ambience of the finished designs contributing to artworks that create a dramatic statement,
sympathetic to the high ambitions of the project and its stakeholders, the work should be
innovative in a contemporary way yet, sympathetic to the sites historical, social and economic
influences.

3. Engagement

Whilst all formal permissions will be obtained by the programme manager, liaison with
stakeholders, and the local community form an important element of this project. All
commissioned artist/s will be required to liaise confidently with stakeholders and participate in
wider community consultation. It is suggested that information gathered during this stage should
be used to inform the creative and evaluation process.

4. Budget

The fee for this commission is up to £15,000 + VAT - subject to Lead Artist negotiation and
agreement with Shine. All other project materials required will be supplied by Shine and
installation costs and related artist fees will be covered. However, we expect the Lead Artist and
any other artists to submit a fully costed draft proposal including material definitions to Shine and
the design teams prior to sign off.

5. Commissioning Procedure

This commission involves a two-stage competitive process:

Stage 1 involving the short listing of artists for interview, was made by an approved Selection
Panel and is now complete. As such, 6 artists have been invited to interview to consider the 2
separate residency commissions for Pleckgate and Darwen Vale High Schools.

Stage 2 will involve a 50-minute interview for each of the 6 short-listed artists. Some of these
artists will be applying for the Pleckgate High School commission only, whilst others will be
applying for Darwen Vale High School only. Some artists are applying for one commission off
either school.

5.1 Interview Agenda

The proposed running order for the day is as follows:

09.00 - 09.10 Selection Panel Set-up, Arrivals, Introductions & Coffee

09.10 - 09.30 Selection Panel Briefing (Ian Banks)

09.30 - 10.20 Interview # 1

10.30 - 11.20 Interview # 2
11.30 - 12.20 Interview # 3

12.30 - 13.00 Buffet Lunch & Panel Discussion

13.00 - 13.50 Interview # 4

14.00 - 14.50 Interview # 5
15.00 - 15.50 Interview # 6

16.00 - 16.30 Panel Discussion, Voting & Summing-Up

16.30 - 17.00 Potential Over-Run (if required)
5.2 Interview Timings

1 hour is allocated for each interview but this includes a 10-minute administrative margin for over-
runs as well as pre-interview briefing and a brief post-interview recap for the Panel only. As such,
the actual time allocated to each artist is only 50 minutes, and so artists have been asked to
prepare a 20 minute presentation and then undertake 20 minutes of questions. On top of that is a
5 minute allowance both before and after for their introduction and set-up and packing-away
respectively.

Artists are advised to familiarise themselves with the location of the Pleckgate CLC venue
(particularly in terms of arrival in by train), and to arrive for their interview at least 15 minutes prior
to their allocated time.

5.3 Interview Panel

The currently anticipated interview panel comprises the following (but may be adjusted before the
17th August):

• Ian Banks - Shine Arts Strategist

• Darren Siddall - Balfour Beatty Education (BBEd) Design & Construction Bid Manager
• Rebecca Johnson - Blackburn with Darwen Head of Arts
• Martha Henry - NW Neighbourhood Board
• Adam Tyson - Balfour Beatty Capital (BBCap) Blackburn with Darwen & Bolton BSF
• Richard Hyder - Balfour Beatty Contruction Ltd (BBCL) Pleckgate Design Manager

6. Artist Preparation for Interview

The interview is split into 2 parts of 20 minutes each: Presentation and Panel Question &
Answers.

6.1 Artist Presentation Session - 20 minutes

Your 20 minute presentation should essentially reflect and build-upon your initially supplied
Expression of Interest and 500-word supporting statement . This should already have included an
outline description of your previous areas of artistic interest or working methods; ideas about how
you might develop artwork proposals for this commission, given the stated artist and school
design briefs; who you might collaborate with (if at all); as well as your thoughts on how you
would engage with the wider context and the local community.

Note that information on the school design brief, including downloads of drawings and videos can
be obtained via the blogsite http://shine-lep.blogspot.com. Artists are advised to familiarise
themselves with this information prior to interview.

Finally, given the stated £15,000 + VAT maximum Lead Artist Fee, we would like an indication of
your proposed day rate and programming considerations. We appreciate that this can only be
treated as a provisional consideration at this stage, but we would like an initial response to initiate
further discussions and negotiation.

6.2 Question & Answer Session - 20 minutes

Artists are advised that Interview Panel questions are likely to reflect the short-listing
consideration critieria again; may consider further the stage 1 supplied Artist Expression of
Interest and supporting statements; and will also respond to the delivered interview presentations
made on the day.

With regards to the short-listing criteria, listed below fyi are the ten scoring categories considered
in the original Stage 1 short-listing - with up to 10 marks maximum awarded for each of the 10
categories. Note that individually awarded scores out of a total 100 marks were then transferred
to an overall aggregate scoring matrix, compiled from all received scores from a wider Short-
listing Panel. The 10 categories and weightings were:

Creativity & Innovation Weighting (30%)

1. Pure Work Quality: General creativity of previous work seen in links, images and/or CV?
2. Initial Ideas: Artistic innovation, perception and interest shown in their Expression of Interest?
3. Additionality: Does their work offer any additional artistic opportunity – i.e. An X-Factor?

Fit for Purpose Weighting (30%)

4. Artistic Fit: Does they work fit with the suggested arts and project visions for Shine?
5. Consultation Potential: Experience of consulting creatively with the youth and community?
6. Education: Does their previous work include wider education experience of BSF etc?

Project Delivery Weighting (20%)

7. Technical Experience: Is there evidence of experience of working within construction?
8. Programme Deliverability: Are they likely to understand procurement & programming?

Other Weighting (20%)

9. Local Access: Are they likely to have good local awareness and be able to access local
partnerships & community easily & economically - within time frame and budget?
10. Value for Money: Do they represent overall excellence and Value for Money?

7. Summary

Artist interviews are on Tuesday 17th August 2010 at Pleckgate City Learning Centre, Blackburn -
set between 09.30 and 16.00. Actual 50-minute interview slots (including 10 minutes set-up and
pack-away) have been confirmed separately.

Venue for artist interviews is: Pleckgate City Learning Centre (CLC), Pleckgate Road, Blackburn,
BB1 8QA. Telephone 01254 244560

http://www.pleckgatewebsite.co.uk/city-learning-centre_2

7.1 Provided Equipment

Pleckgate CLC will be providing a PC laptop and data projector and (if required) interactive
Whiteboard. NO provision for MAC laptops, equipment or adaptors or for external speakers will
be provided - so please note that if required, artists will need to provide their own and connect-up
prior to their interview starting. As such, on top of the allocated 40 minutes for presentations and
Q&A, we have also allowed 10 additional minutes for pre set up and pack-away at the end.

In any event, artists are advised to confirm all requirements for provided equipment and internet
access (if required) before 16th August.

7.2 Other

For further information please contact:

Ian Banks
Arts Strategist
Shine "Working together for a brighter future"
(Blackburn with Darwen & Bolton LEP)

E: ian.banks@atoll-uk.com
M: 07717710014
W: http://shine-lep.blogspot.com