Neighbourhood Commissions
Artist Call Out – Blackpool, Lancashire, UK.
Mereside at Play
We are looking to recruit a pool of artists to work on our ‘Mereside at Play’
programme of activity over the next 12 months. We would like to hear from
artists who have a specific interest in play, early years development and open
spaces who can deliver workshops and projects.
What we are looking for:
This is a general call out to build up a resource base of artists who we can work with on a paid basis to
deliver workshops and projects for the Mereside at Play programme in Blackpool.
We are very interested to hear from artists who have specific experience and interest in working with
early years children, concepts of play or exploring green spaces in different ways.
Mereside at Play is entering a 12 month research and development period to explore how the green
spaces on the Mereside housing estate can be creatively redeveloped to encourage exploration and
engagement with nature for the early years (0-3) age range and their families.
This programme of work is funded in partnership with Better Start, you can see how the organisation is
working to secure positive futures for this age range in the Blackpool area
https://www.blackpoolbetterstart.org.uk/better-start/
The Mereside at Play programme of activity has been developing over the past two years and artist led
sessions have been delivered looking at activities such as area mapping, den building, food and nutrition
and growing. We are now entering a 12 month intensive research period that will inform a plan for the
development of green spaces on Mereside to be funded through Better Start. Internationally renowned
artist Nils Norman (www.dismalgarden.com) is leading the design process and we have a core group of
residents and stake holders, including local children’s centres, housing associations and local authorities,
working in partnership with him on this. We are recruiting for artists that can support this process. We
are designing a year long programme of activity, including engagement days and school holiday activity
that will work to feed into this design process by engaging with the residents and encouraging them to
get involved so that they can be at the heart of designing the new spaces.
Background: The Art of Play
Play is actually listed in the European Act of Human Rights as a child’s fundamental right to play. Over
the years play as an essential right has seen the growth of adventure play areas, play workers and policy
specifically written about the importance of play. Extensive research demonstrates the vital importance
of children’s play for their well-being and development. Play deprivation on the other hand can be
linked to adverse effects such as social withdrawal, aggression and risk aversion.
Luckily all children have a natural instinct to want to play, we as adults have to try to remember what
that was like and help facilitate that natural impulse.
It’s unfortunate that over the years we have become more risk adverse and because of that a child’s
freedom to play has become curtailed. Green spaces are seen as dangerous and unsuitable, children
playing unaccompanied are seen as anti-social and a nuisance.
Play workers and advocates of play, stress the importance for children to be able to freely access the
outdoors on their own terms and to feel confident in being able to do that. Both parents and children
are losing the confidence to play in the outdoors, climb trees, make dens. Play without boundaries is
scary for adults, and children who have not been given opportunities or permission from an early age to
push boundaries will find it harder to engage with it too.
Mereside at Play, takes the concept of play and will look to apply it across all of the green spaces around
the estate. Creating playful and imaginative places to help make the spaces more accessible to all age
ranges, but specifically the early years age range, and creating spaces that are more easily navigable so
are not seen as hostile or negative.
To Apply:
To express your interest to be involved in this programme, please send us one document that includes:
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Why you would like to be involved in the Mereside at Play programme (150 word limit)
How your practice reflects the objectives outlined above (200 word limit)
Three examples of your work that you feel are relevant (300 word limit, please include images
or web links)
A CV
Your workshop and daily rate
(Files should be no larger the 5MB)
To [email protected]
By the 22nd of April 2016
From this call out we will develop a pool of artists that can be called on to deliver workshops and
projects over the next 12 months. We will invite shortlisted artists to come and meet with us and discuss
their practice.
Background Info
www.leftcoast.org.uk
www.blackpoolbetterstart.org.uk/better-start/