Junction Arts: Open Call for Artist

Where: New Bolsover Model Village, Bolsover, Derbyshire
Partners: Bolsover District Council, Robert Woodheads Ltd,
Friends of New Bolsover Residents Group
Background: Extracts taken from the New Bolsover Model Village Activity Plan
New Bolsover Model Village is located in the town of Bolsover and positioned with a beautiful view of Bolsover Castle. Bolsover is a small market town with 13,000 inhabitants. It lies on the edge of a limestone escarpment which forms the east side of the Doe Lea Valley. The town is steeped in history. The first Castle was built on the limestone spur created by the Hockley valley in the late 11th century and its successor still stands prominently in the landscape. The arrival of the coal mining in the late 19th century resulted in a rapid period of expansion and growth which saw the population of the town rise from 1350 to over 11,000.
In 1890 the Bolsover Colliery Company Ltd. Sank Bolsover Colliery and in 1891 started construction of a Model Village at New Bolsover, in the fields below the Castle in the Doe Lea Valley. This was the first of a series of mining villages developed by the Company and the first Model mining village built on “garden city lines” in the Country.
 
The current regeneration scheme will address these current issues and focus on the residential properties and public space surrounding New Bolsover Model Village to build on the Garden City inspiration and ideals. This includes both physical restoration of the properties and using this rich and diverse heritage as a means of engaging with the community, both of which are desperately needed in order to restore and preserve the area and rebuild the sense of place.

The vision is to create a thriving community with aspirations, where people choose to live for its physical beauty, open spaces, local heritage assets, and improved housing. Through knowledge transfer and exchange we will encourage local people and participants alike to feel proud of and become advocates for the Model Village.

Project Brief: Whispers from the Model is an oral history and creative writing project for past, present and future residents of New Bolsover Model Village. The project is supported and funded by Bolsover District Council and Heritage Lottery Fund and will be delivered by Junction Arts, a local arts charity that has worked with communities across Bolsover district for over 40 years.
Projects Aims:
 To engage a mixed group audience, including a class of school
children from New Bolsover Primary, in creative writing workshops to
gather oral histories, written memories and imagined stories of life
on New Bolsover Model Village, past, present and future
 To frame this work through the creation of a publication that can be digitally and physically celebrated and shared, with and by the community
 To support participants to retell their stories and written work through different performance techniques, as part of the project celebration
We are looking for an exceptional artist who has the experience of delivering oral history and creative writing projects with community members. The artist will deliver an uplifting, engaging and accessible community project with a mixed age audience, resulting in a celebratory publication that articulates the fascinating stories, both real and fictitious, of life on New Bolsover Model Village.
Participants from The Model will work with the commissioned artist to explore ways of telling their story, celebrating their heritage and place within the Model Village. The final publication will be a community legacy which captures the diverse reminiscences and aspirations for the future of this area.
Junction Arts are keen to work with artists who can facilitate a more open form of access for the public, so that the creative process enables active engagement and direct involvement. A flexible approach in collaborating with community groups and the school will be necessary. This project acknowledges the importance of everyday, personal stories in shaping the histories of places and spaces.
Project Delivery & Outputs:
Outputs
The artist will:
• Prepare and deliver four days of creative writing workshops with a variety of groups, including school workshops with New Bolsover Primary School. (This may include a combination of drop in workshops, pre-arranged interviews with former and current residents, and workshops with established community groups).
• Edit, design and produce a final printed publication (100 print run) for digital and physical distribution, carefully managing the written content, in consultation with all participants and partners
Attend and support the delivery of the Heritage Open Day on Saturday
8th September, supporting participants to retell or perform their
stories/poems
Delivery terms
The artist will:
• Have access to the community hub space at 133 New Bolsover for workshops, if required
• Monitor and document participant numbers, feedback and updates to the Project Coordinator, Amy Smith for evaluation purposes
• Manage and advise with all aspects of the book’s contents and appearance including the cover design, layout; identify and acquiring appropriate copyright of works and archival images if necessary; liaise with printers and ensure publications are bound and printed in time for the celebration event in September
• Provide final editorial and publication design for approval by Junction Arts and all key partners involved
• Support Junction Arts with marketing and promotion as agreed.
Timeline:
Preparation & Workshop delivery (5 days) May – July 2018
Editing, Design & Production (5 days) July - August 2018
Final Celebration (1 day) Heritage Open Day: Saturday 8 September 2018

The publication will be launched as part of the Heritage Open Day celebration, organised by all partners on Saturday 8th September.

All works to be completed by September 2018.
Budget: £2,300
The fee is all-inclusive of planning, delivery, editing, design, typeset, printing, materials, travel and VAT. Printing costs are included with this fee and must be agreed by Junction Arts, prior to printing.
Application Process: Please submit a written proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 stating your interest, experience and approach for delivering community projects to
Amy Smith, Project Coordinator, amy@junctionarts.org
Please include:
• An outline of relevant experience
• An outline of how you would allocate your time during this commission
In addition to the written proposal please feel free to include evidence of
previous work
• CV including your contact details and names of 2 referees
• Confirmation of Public Liability Insurance to a minimum value of £5m
• Confirmation of Enhanced DBS Certificate
• Confirmation of availability for, if called for interview
CV and website links submitted without a written application will not be considered.
Please make sure your application is submitted via email as one combined PDF and no more than 10mb in size. The contracted artist will have their own Public Liability Insurance in place, as well as a current DBS certificate (or be willing to apply for one), and will be responsible for their own tax and national insurance payments.
Deadline for
Deadline for applications: 5pm, Wednesday 25th April
Shortlisting & Selection Process:
• Successful applications shortlisted for interview will be notified by 2nd May
• If you do not hear by the 2nd May, please assume your proposal was not shortlisted.
• Interviews will be held on the week commencing 7th May and will take place at the Community Hub at 133 New Bolsover.
• The successful artist will be informed of our decision by the 11th May.
If called for interview you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute visual presentation about one relevant project that best highlights your approach and experience for this commission.
For more information on the project, please contact Amy Smith, Project Coordinator at Junction Arts: amy@junctionarts.org or call the office on 01246 209219.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back to news