BIG WALL: ARTIST COMMISSION

Big Wall Art Activists with some of their work at The Island in Bristol Super Culture

CONTEXT

Big Wall is an exciting new collaborative initiative that inspires a group of young ‘Art Activists’ to co-create a legacy artwork for the Worle area of Weston-super-Mare. Launched in November 2024 as part of the Big Worle initiative, the project is funded by Big Worle Big Local through the Local Trust, and supported by Weston-super-Mare Town Council and Super Culture.

The Big Wall project engages local young people in creative activities exploring different forms of wall art. The programme includes regular creative meet-ups, workshops with guest artists, and trips to iconic art locations in Bristol and London to delve into the possibilities and power of art in public spaces from street art, protest art, word art, poster projects, fly-posting, billboards, and murals.

The aim of the project supports young people to develop their creativity and voices, giving them the opportunity to shape the direction of the project, and learn about the processes involved in creating art for public spaces. Through Big Wall, the young people are exploring how these art forms can communicate ideas and messages that reflect both their local community and the broader world they are part of.

The project will culminate in the co-creation of a new public artwork for the central blue zone in Worle. This piece will be led by a commissioned artist and unveiled in late summer 2025, leaving a lasting legacy for the community.

COMMISSION BRIEF

We are looking for an artist based in the South West to design and deliver the resulting artwork with the young people. The artist will have experience creating visually captivating artworks for public spaces, as well as working with people.

We are keen to receive proposals that explore creative approaches that engage with the surrounding context, focusing on activating, and linking public spaces through imaginative visual artwork(s) that inspire curiosity and bring joy. The aim of this commission is to create lasting cultural, social, and physical artwork(s) that will enrich the urban environment and benefit the local community.

Working with the existing infrastructure of the area, the artwork(s) could be painted directly on walls and beyond. For example, artworks and/or signage could be printed onto aluminum di-bond panels and attached to walls and/or lamp posts, a series of printed billboard / posters installed in frames attached to walls, pavement based artworks with hard wearing road marking paint, painting shop shutters and lamp posts.

Super Culture will work with the commissioned artist to find the most suitable locations and format for the artwork(s) inline with practical considerations. There is no maintenance budget for this work, which must be taken into consideration. We will support the artist with the fabrication, installation, permissions and H&S requirements for the realisation of the commission.

LOCATION

The commissioned artwork will be located in Worle’s blue zone, with the Art Activists sessions held at Big Worle Hub in the heart of this area. We are currently in the process of seeking permissions for locations for the artwork(s) in the area—which may potentially be around the transitional space with a strip of shops situated between various residential housing. Images of potential walls, pavements, lampposts, and shutters in this area can be viewed HERE.

ENGAGEMENT

Engagement is central to the commission to create this public facing project. The artist will work closely with the group of 8-10 Art Activists aged 13-15 to develop the artwork(s), whilst engaging more peripherally with the broader local community.

As part of the Art Activist sessions, we have held an artist-led workshop focussing on how art happens in public spaces, and developing this artist brief. To this end, the Art Activists have put forward the following questions and prompts that they would like you to respond to in your application:

Questions for the artists:

Give us an example of a creative session you might do with us
What brought you into doing art?
Show us some examples of projects that involve working with people
Images of things you have created before that show your visual style + different ideas

What do they want:

To be involved in the actual painting/making
To commission an artist who is collaborative so that their ideas can be included in the final artwork(s)

What do they want the artwork(s) to look like?

Eye-catching
Thought provoking words
Big colourful shapes + sizes
Decorative but with a message
Making the area brighter – covering up some horrible bits!

How do they want the artwork to make people feel:

Inspired
Hopeful
Supported
Happy
That the artwork is for everybody

TIMELINE

Commission launched: 31 March
Deadline for proposals: 24 April
Art Activist shortlist panel: 29 April
Artists interviews: 6 May
Decision: 9 May
Session 1 with Art Activists: Tuesday 20th May, 4.30-6.30pm
Commissioned artist to further develop proposal: by end May
Session 2 with Art Activists: Tuesday 17th June, 4.30-6.30pm
Session 3 with Art Activists: Day/afternoon session with Art Activists: July, summer holidays – date tbc
Artwork production + install plans confirmed: start August
Session 4 with Art Activists: August (date tbc) – work in progress, design, updates, install plans
Artwork Install: mid-end August
Artwork launch: at Big Worle’s end of summer event, Saturday 30th August

BUDGET

Artist fee: £5500k (equivalent to 22 days @ £250 per day)

Project production budget (materials, fabrication, installation, travel etc): £5500

There is flexibility for budget area reallocation as the project progresses.

APPLY

To apply, please send the following via email with the subject ‘Big Wall Commission’ by midday on 24th April to: sam@superculture.org.uk

An artist CV

A PDF (3 pages max) that includes:

A statement about your creative practice
Documentation of previous relevant projects + links
An outline of your approach to the project brief
Responses to the Art Activist questions

The Art Activists have requested a 30 second video introducing yourself
Email confirmation that you can carry out the commission within the timescale stated, and whether you hold a DBS for working with young people – we can support you with applying for one if not

Selection process:

The commissioned artist will be selected by a panel consisting of the Big Wall Art Activists, Big Worle, and Super Culture.

Criteria for selection will be:

Quality of previous work and relevant experience
Statement outlining your creative, and engagement approach to the commission
Responses to the Art Activist’s questions

If you would prefer to apply by video or require any access support to apply for this commission, please contact: sam@superculture.org.uk

The Big Wall commission is funded by Big Local, supported by Big Worle, and Weston super Mare Town Council, and produced by Super Culture.