New Opportunity for Applied Artists and Creative Writers

New Opportunity for Applied Artists and Creative Writers

The pupils, staff and parents are keen to design a new environment that will incorporate words and be an active learning space for young people. Themes will focus on the natural environment to complement work already undertaken in the school grounds.
Shawhead Primary School Garden Development 2008
Supported by CREATE (Creative Education Arts Team) & Awards for All


Artist
We are looking to appoint an artist with experience of working in a school/community context to develop an outside space within an existing garden as a place for learning and play. The materials to be used are undefined but the whole design process must be made transparent for the pupils so that they learn in and through the arts practice. The finished ‘built’ environment may or may not involve pupil participation at all stages.

Writer
We are looking to appoint a writer to extend vocabulary and confidence in pupils through the creation of new writing. The writer will work with pupils in the classroom and non classroom environment. The pupils would like their work (words) incorporated into the landscape therefore the writer will need to work in conjunction with the artist on the site development. We will look at prose and poetry.

The artist and writer will be required to work with the pupils to produce a blog of the commissioning process in the school. CREATE will provide training for the school and the artist/writer on how to do this.

The Clients and the School
The successful candidates will ultimately be working with 26 pupils from 19 families and 3-4 staff members and representatives from the village. The project is being led by the young people of the school with guidance from teaching staff, parents and other partners as identified by them.

The Spaces
Shawhead Primary School located just outside Dumfries has a well developed garden area. “At the rear of the school we have a large playing field, and between this the school building is the garden area. The layout of the garden is basically set out in 4 circles. We would like to develop the areas marked 1 predominately and 2 if possible by combining the work of the visual artist and creative writer.

Area 1. The area will be used for sitting, relaxing, talking and learning and at times may be used as outside performance space. We would like the boundary/wall to incorporate some new writing (text) that will be produced by working with the writer. We would like it to have interactive elements related to words and our writing. Ideas and suggestions
already identified by the pupil clients include; lift the flap for words, words on a rotating spindle, sliding words, pull a lever for words, etc. The space would require some ‘architecture’ in terms of seating, platform or covered space.

Area 2. We also have a second area which is in the form of an inverted snail. It has worn away over the years but we wish to preserve this and add to this with our current commission. This is currently a play area and it would be kept as a play/relaxation area”.

The Timeframe
Shawhead Primary school wish to start the development this term in June-July however as this will depend on the selected artist and writer’s availability the programme of work is open to negotiation and will be discussed as part of the interview process.

Fees
The selected artist and writer will be paid a daily fee of £250 and will have 10 planning/contact days working with the clients.
(this will include some early evening work or weekends)
In addition a budget for the following has been identified:
Materials for ‘built’ environment £6,000
A publication for new writing £1,400 (design and print)
Travel for pupil visits £700

Submission Details
Please send a CV or professional profile
Slides of work or copies of previous publications
Cover letter of why you would wish to work with Shawhead
Please send all information marked for the attention of
Pupil Interview Panel , Shawhead Primary School,
Shawhead, Dumfries, DG2 9SL
Deadline Date: 28 May 2008 – you will be notified on this date if you are to be called for interview.

IMPORTANT please note interviews will be held on:
Friday 30th May 2008

For more informal information please contact Sybil Williamson (Headteacher) on 01387 730240 or Vanessa Morris, Creative Education Arts Team, CREATE on 01387 720774