Artists invited to apply for Storey commission
Artists are being invited to apply for a public art commission at The Storey, Lancaster's creative industries centre.
Artists are being invited to apply for a public art commission at The Storey, Lancaster's creative industries centre.
In October last year work started on a £3million project to turn the Storey Institute building into a hub for the creative industries. As part of the project the Storey Board (a trust made up of people with extensive experience in the arts and business and which will be accountable for running the centre) is commissioning a new piece of public artwork.
Responsibility for recruiting an artist has been delegated to a steering group of representatives from arts organisations Folly, Litfest and the Storey Gallery as well as several members of the Storey Board, and Lancaster City Council staff.
Expressions of interest are now being sought from artists who think they have what it takes to create something fit for the Grade II listed building. The deadline for expressions of interest is January 31 2008 and a selection panel will then draw up a shortlist of artists.
Coun Abbott Bryning, a member of the Storey Board and Lancaster City Council's cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration in Lancaster, said: "The Storey is an important building and deserves to have a top artist create a new artwork to celebrate it. We are hoping to have a really strong response from artists locally, nationally and internationally."
It is hoped that the artwork will be completed in time for the re-opening of The Storey, which is scheduled for winter 2008, when it will become home to Folly, LitFest, the Storey Gallery and a new Visitor Information Centre. It will also provide quality creative industry workspace/offices, a new 100-seat auditorium space and conference venue, meeting rooms, café, restored galleries and exhibition spaces.
The building works are funded from several sources including:
- A grant from the European Union of £2,175,000 under the Lancaster and Morecambe Economic Development Zone (EDZ) programme
- A cash contribution from Lancaster City Council of £500,000
- A grant from the Arts Council of England North West of £693,600
- A grant from the North West Regional Development Agency via its Single Regeneration Budget programme of £252,950
To receive a copy of the artist brief, and supporting information, please contact:
Suzanne Dimmock, Lancaster City Council's public art and regeneration officer on 01524 582603 or email sdimmock@lancaster.gov.uk
Date Updated: 19/03/09