Didcot Town Council are inviting artists to submit proposals for the design and creation of a series of distinctive benches for Edmonds Park and a low level sculpture. These benches will serve as both functional seating and unique pieces of public art, celebrating the rich heritage of Didcot and responding to the surrounding natural environment. The central sculpture will provide a focal point of the space and contain opportunity to reflect and share through both the material and surface.
The main aims of the project are:
1. Enhance the Park Experience: To create inviting and engaging spaces within the park for visitors to rest, relax, and connect with the natural surroundings. With the opportunity to share stories through a QR code embedded in the artwork in the centre of the space.
2. Celebrate Local History: To incorporate key elements of Didcot's history, culture, and heritage into the design of the benches, making them both visually and historically significant; encapsulating 4 key subjects: Job’s Dairy, William’s Formula One, Great Western Railway and Didcot Power Station using ideas around the themes of sustainability and nature, flow, progress, and transformation to inform the translation of ideas.
3. Promote Community Engagement: To foster a sense of community ownership and pride by involving residents and children in the design process and potentially in the creation of the benches. This also facilitates the intergenerational nature of the space.
4. Encourage Environmental Awareness: To inspire appreciation for the park's natural beauty and encourage visitors to consider their impact on the environment.
Site and Context:
* Edmonds Park: The park spans 8.5 hectares and features two play areas, outdoor gym equipment, football pitches, sports courts, car parking, a sports pavilion, and a splash pad. Historically, it was home to the town's war memorial, and recently, the slabbed war memorial cross was unearthed by the Town Council’s outdoor team and now stands proudly and prominently in the northeast corner.
Target Audience: The primary users of the park are families, seniors, children, and dog walkers. This creative intervention is aimed at those who need a space to talk or a quiet space to reflect. It also aims to encourage new park users and connect with more vulnerable or isolated demographics. The park already contains an exercise area, splash park, and play area so this will offer an alternative space which encourages calm and promotes wellbeing.
Bench and Sculpture Specifications:
* Number of Benches: 4
* Sculpture: 60cm in width and up to 50cm in height
* Materials: Encourage the use of sustainable and durable materials such as wood, local stone, mosaics, or a combination thereof.
Design Considerations:
* Ensure the benches are comfortable and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
* The benches must be able to withstand the elements (e.g., rain, snow, sun) and withstand regular use.
* Consider the long-term maintenance requirements and propose solutions for ongoing care.
Environmental Considerations: We take our commitment to climate change seriously and wish to ensure that projects use energy and resources efficiently to minimise carbon emissions in line with the council’s Climate Emergency objectives. We therefore welcome artists who share this commitment by proposing innovative ways to reduce their climate impact whilst enhancing the local environment. Consideration of climate and ecological impacts will be at the heart of our decision making, and we actively encourage artists who incorporate sustainability in the design and making of their artworks over the lifetime of the piece. We require all proposals to demonstrate how they can make a positive contribution to climate action through their sourcing and use of materials, and how that message can be communicated as part of the project brief.
Timeline:
* Closing Date for Submissions: 7 April 2025
* Selection Process: Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the end of April 2025.
* Project Commencement: June/July 2025
Project Budget: The total budget for the project, including design, community engagement, materials, delivery, and installation, is £20,000.
How to Apply:
Please send your submission to Mike Blake - mblake@didcot.gov.uk by 7 April 2025. Interested artists should submit:
* An artist's statement explaining your initial ideas and approach to this project (max 500 words).
* A CV or portfolio highlighting relevant previous work.
* Up to 5 images of past projects.
* An indicative budget breakdown.
Mike Blake, Outdoor Services Manager at Didcot Town Council.
Email: mblake@didcot.gov.uk, telephone: 07950426040.
#J-18808-Ljbffr