We are inviting submissions from creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds to create billboard artwork(s) that re-contextualise the landscapes within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Wales. The billboards will be displayed as temporary artworks as part of a celebration event for World Heritage Site Art Project: The Bridge that Connects by the Canal & River Trust. The event taking place on the 23rd & 24th November 2024 will be an invitation to an alternative World Heritage Site experience, one that has been shaped, influenced and reimagined by the communities that live in Cefn Mawr, Trevor, Chirk, Froncysyllte. The Bridge that Connects project has been funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund through Wrexham Borough Council.
Cefn Mawr, Trevor, Chirk, Froncysyllte and many other places within the UNESCO World Heritage Site visually, physically and economically echo the industrial heritage that this area was, and still is famous for. The topographical landscapes, architecture and networked canals that we now see today, once saw the development of industries such as coal mining, quarrying and ironworks that some say became the catalyst for the industrial revolution. The opening of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Ellesmere Canal in the early 19th century contributed to the transportation of many goods and materials. Fast track to the present day, tourism attracts 500,000 UK and international visitors a year to appreciate the romantic beauty and engineering feats.
However, how many of these visitors have the opportunity to take a deeper look at rural Wrexham and the complex layers of lived histories that have shaped this land and its people? The Bridge that Connects is a community and culture-led placemaking project exploring the existing cultural landscape of this area, and how this place came to be? Working across four communities we aim to playfully, joyfully and seriously explore through what the future potential of the World Heritage Site status could hold for the communities that live there.
The World Heritage site always attracted visitors, from those in search of the ‘picturesque’ in the 18th Century to the present day.
The project is focused on presenting and sharing hidden heritage, alternative and social histories through visibility in public and community spaces. In recognition of the systemic and lack of diversity of artworks in the public realm, we have invited curator and visual artist Chantelle Purcell to create opportunities for creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Through the artworks we invite you to question; how do we better connect with these post industrial landscapes? How can language help to forge a better connection? What imprints are left within the everyday landscape? What do existing communities feel about the decommissioning of these trades and how do future multicultural communities connect to the hinterland of space surrounding the historic landmarks?
Artist Brief:
The Bridge that Connects are looking to commission creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds to respond to the sites across the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and through this offer new perspectives to reframe the landscape for future communities. The artworks should aim to present an alternative interpretation of the World heritage site.
- From a place of small Welsh speaking agricultural communities, to a place of industry and land exploitation, to a place where people can appreciate nature.
- From booming industry to the joyful hustle and bustle of tourism
The project has opportunities for 2-3 artists to exhibit temporary work across two sites in Trevor (The main Entrance to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct from the visitor car park) and in Cefn Mawr. Currently the GPS entrance to Pontcysyllte leads visitors to a temporary car-park with access there to Trevor Basin, the artworks here should help to provide a sense of arrival and gateway to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, connecting to the identity of the nearby communities in response to the (one or more) questions we have asked you to consider.
Cefn Mawr is a town of significant industrial heritage. Heavy industries once dominated the area as large deposits of iron, coal and sandstone were extracted for their mineral wealth. Many of these minerals would have been transported by canal and over the Pontcysyllte aqueduct. The artworks here should delve into the heritage and celebrate the surrounding nature, themes of renewal and sustainability.
Each artist will develop an artwork in response to this brief, which could be an iteration of existing work, practice or idea to be displayed in the public realm at two historic sites via reclaimed billboard structures (120 x 90 cm, 2.4 metres tall and 120 x 120 cm, 2.4 metres tall).
We encourage a variety of artistic responses from photography, fine art, poetry and performance to launch the artworks. Our aim is to amplify diverse voices to engage with the land around us - past, present and future.
Who can Apply:
- Creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds
- They are living and working in Wales or have a practice based in Wales
Guidelines:
- To develop work in response to the UNESCO World heritage site
- To supply digital files in the following format: TIFF or High res JPG at 120 x 90 cm or 120 x 120 cm
- You can propose activation of the artwork in situ through another artform if you would like to
Our team will take care of artwork layout, printing and installation.
Site Locations:
Cefn Mawr & Trevor Basin entrance/gateways
Your work will be documented and displayed in a special screening at Broadworks in Liverpool Street, London in December 2024 or early 2025.
Artist Fee:
The artist fee is £1,000 per artist. Expenses and remuneration for travel will also additionally be provided up to the value of £200.
We anticipate that the opportunity will support approximately 3 days work apportioned (pending whether what is proposed is the creation of a new response or an iteration of existing work, practice / idea) 0.5 desk based research, 0.5 day site visit if required and 2 days production.
The curator will ensure all files are print ready and installation will be delivered by the production team.
How to apply:
Phase 1:
To apply for the open call please use the following form to submit your expression of interest. Artists will then be shortlisted and awarded the opportunity.
Phase 2:
The 2-3 artists will be appointed in October and have 4 weeks to develop their works.