grey to green 2 public art brief - sheffield...grey to green 2 public art brief page 2 1.0...
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Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 1
GREY TO GREEN Phase 2
Public Art
Artists Brief November 2019
Sheffield’s streets transformed from Grey to Green in Phase 1
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This brief outlines an artist’s commission for artwork as an integral part of an
innovative and award winning scheme that is changing Sheffield’s grey streets to
green footpaths and cycleways and, in so doing, addressing issues of climate
change and the future role of the city centre.
The commission is for series of artworks that increase and enhance biodiversity in
the area in an exciting sculptural way. Sculptural bug hotels and nesting boxes
made from permanent materials appropriate for the city centre – an exciting
challenge and something that we do not think has been done before.
This commission is widely advertised and we are asking artists to put forward their
approach to the project through the YORTender Portal. The total budget available
for this commission is £18,000 to include all fees and costs related to the project.
Individual artists or teams of artists may apply
Over recent years Public Art in Sheffield has added creativity and high quality
design, craft skills and materials to buildings and public spaces helping to make
places that are owned and cherished by local people. This commission seeks to
continue this approach and, at the same time, provide an essential function for a
sustainable future.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 3
Views of Phase 1
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 4
Grey to Green 2 is transforming the streets from Lady’s Bridge to Park Square
Roundabout
2.0 GREY TO GREEN
2.1 Grey to Green Phase 1 and 2
Funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund and Sheffield City
Region Grey to Green has transformed the streets around West Bar and is now
transforming the Castlegate area of the city. By reducing the traffic lanes the Council
has created new footpath and cycleways and innovative sustainable urban drainage
with beautiful planting. The SUDs beds serve to contain and slow the passage of
surface water into the waterways and have already proved to have a significant
effect on downstream flooding. The beds are planted with indigenous wildflowers
and prairie type planting creating a stunning all year round display which needs little
maintenance.
Phase 1 is recognised internationally as an exciting, innovative and cost effective
approach to climate change and the future role of the city centre and has won a
number prestigious awards.
2.2 Public Art in Phase 1
As well as providing foot and cycle routes an important part of the scheme is to
create places for people to dwell on their journeys, as a break from work and at
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 5
lunchtime. Since its completion there has been a very significant increase in people
on the street and over time this will bring cafes, sandwich shops etc.. We therefore
included large amounts of seating and matching public art ‘totems’ which are
coloured to create a series of identifiable spaces. The same design of seat and the
totems will be used in Phase 2.
In Phase 1 the panels for the five totems were created by five artists working
together within material themes and themes that reflect the history of the area. Each
totem has a combination of materials: stone, metal, reflections and graphics. And
the artists contributed work based on a specific theme for each totem relating to the
history of the area: Music Hall, Characters, Water, Brewing and Industry.
2.4 The Totems in Phase 2
In Phase 2 we will use the same basic totem design but are taking a different
approach to the panels giving the totems more of a functional role in increasing bio-
diversity and supporting local activity.
2.4.1 Colours
We are looking to keep the colours for both the totems and seating within a range of
oranges for this phase rather the different colours in Phase 1. In Phase 1 we wanted
to create a series of spaces with distinct characters – here, in Phase 2, whilst each
totem and its associated seating will have a colour, we want to create more of a flow
of spaces.
2.4.2 Display Cases
Each totem will have a display case which will be managed by Yorkshire Art Space
to promote artists from Exchange Place Studios which has a significant frontage to
the new scheme.
The work within the cases will include artist and craftwork work, more conceptual
artworks and could include (non-valuable) elements from the Castle archaeological
dig. The displays will change forming a shop window for Exchange Place Studios
and other artists and engaging visitors in the vibrant creative scene that is becoming
an important part of Castlegate.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 6
2.4.1 Bug hotels, habitat panels –
this commission
The remaining panels, the subject
of this commission, will function to
increase bio-diversity creating
habitats for invertebrates, small
mammals and birds. This
commission is therefore an
opportunity for an artist, or team of
artists, to create sculptural bug
hotels and nesting boxes.
3.0 THE ARTIST’S WORK
The artist commission is to provide sculptural panels for four boxes in each of four
totems: sixteen boxes, each with two sides equalling thirty-two panels.
The functional and practical requirements of the artwork are described below but
above all we are looking for work that is unique and creative, is high quality craft
work that exploits materials and the processes of making, is engaging and tactile
and accessible to and enjoyed, owned and cherished by all.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 7
3.1 The Habitats
We are asking the artist to research the potential for different species and how best
to provide suitable habitats. Ecus Environmental Consultants are advising us on bio-
diversity throughout the scheme and are happy to give advice.
The totems are positioned on the edges of the planting beds and against the footway
and the different angles of the boxes mean that they have a variety of aspects.
The location and nature of the totems means that these bug hotels cannot be piles of
sticks and organic material but must have a more civic appearance, be permanent
and require little maintenance. We also want them to be visually interesting and
exciting sculpturally. The commission is therefore breaking new ground, doing
something that we don’t think has been done before and setting an exciting
precedent.
3.2 Interpretation
In an unobvious way we want to make it obvious how these sculptures are
functioning to increase biodiversity. This might be a low relief carved bird or bee but
we are hoping for something less direct but equally appealing. People have seen
and understand how piles of rotting twigs offer homes to bugs – how can we do this
in a civic sort of way?
The bug hotels may not take up the whole of each or every panel and there is also
the rich history of the area, the castle, the river, the canal etc. as well as current uses
which might offer inspiration and themes for the work.
There is the opportunity for QR codes or similar to link to further information although
we appreciate that the budget is limited.
3.3 Materials
The habitats should not experience extremes of temperature so metal is not
appropriate for their construction. There are a number of commercially available bug
hotels and bird nesting boxes made from ‘woodcrete’ – concrete made with wood or
other organic fibres – and this would seem an appropriate material.
We are open to other suggestions of materials – ceramic, stone, durable timber etc
or a mix. We are also open to different production techniques – we would be happy
to see repeated cast or machined elements for instance as a way of maximising the
budget.
The key criteria are suitability for the bugs and birds and suitability for the public
realm – durable, low maintenance, weather and vandal resistant and safe.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 8
All artworks should conform to the regulations and requirements and must be robust,
without finger and head traps etc. and meet Health & Safety guidelines (BS EN 1176
is an appropriate guide).
3.4 Sizes and fixing
The sizes of the panels are given in the table below. Each box has two sides
making 32 panels. In Phase 1 one side to each box was an engraved and coloured
graphic design etched on stainless steel – we are happy to look at this approach
again but would rather see a sculptural bug hotel panel in both sides.
The panels should have a nominal thickness of 50mm and be attached to the
structural web of the box which is set back 75 from the front face as the sketch
below. It is envisaged that, as in Phase 1, the panels will be glued to the structural
web and sealed with appropriate mastic.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 9
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plinth 100 n/a
A1 1100 500 300 12 habitat 1066 463 276.5
A2 600 600 400 0 display
A3 600 500 400 110 habitat 566 463 364
A4 400 600 400 175 habitat 366 563 499
A5 600 500 300 140 void
A6 400 600 400 50 habitat 366 563 499
A7 600 600 300 10 void
plinth 100 n/a
B1 1100 500 300 168 habitat 1066 463 276.5
B2 600 600 400 0 display
B3 400 600 400 30 habitat 366 563 499
B4 600 500 300 70 void
B5 400 500 300 140 habitat 366 563 399
B6 600 600 300 15 void
B7 600 600 400 100 habitat 566 563 464
plinth 100 n/a
C1 1100 500 300 12 habitat 1066 463 276.5
C2 600 600 400 0 display
C3 400 600 400 40 habitat 366 563 499
C4 600 600 300 140 void
C5 400 500 300 30 habitat 366 563 399
C6 600 500 300 80 void
C7 600 600 400 150 habitat 566 563 464
plinth 100 n/a
D1 1100 500 300 168 habitat 1066 463 276.5
D2 600 600 400 0 display
D3 600 500 400 30 habitat 566 463 364
D4 400 500 400 130 habitat 366 563 399
D5 600 600 300 40 void
D6 400 600 400 150 habitat 366 563 499
D7 600 600 300 110 void
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 10
Models showing potential orientation – the yellow squares indicate open (void) boxes
3.5 What we want the artist to do
The artist is required to:
Research and design the panels
Manufacture the panels
Install the panels in collaboration with the manufacture of the totems.
The artist will be responsible to ensure that all protection measures are taken and
that health and safety and proper working practices are observed by themselves,
their team and any subcontractors.
If working on site the artist will be subject to the Health and Safety procedures of the
main contractor NMCN Ltd.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 11
4.0 UNDERTAKING THE PROJECT
4.1 Commission Stages
4.1.1 Stage 1 – Research and Design
The artist will work closely with the Project Team to design the work sharing initial
ideas and developments for discussion and approval.
The artist will prepare drawings and samples to illustrate their final design proposal
which will include full budget and implementation plans for approval by the Project
Team.
On approval of this design the artist will embark on Stage 2.
4.1.2 Stage 2 - Implementation
The artist is required to implement and manufacture the work and install it as agreed
with the Main Contractor organising and supervising any sub-contractors. The artist
will make provision to ensure that proper Health and Safety (particularly
Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015 if they are deemed to
apply) and working practices are observed.
4.2 Working with the Project Team
The artist will be required to work with the Project Team and will report directly to
SCC Public Art Officer, Andrew Skelton.
The artist will attend Project Team meetings as agreed and will be required to
produce sketches, detailed drawings and reports as necessary for the project. The
artist will provide full reports on all research and other activity.
member role
Lucia Lorente-Arnu Sheffield City Council, Development Officer
Duncan Bradbury Sheffield City Council, Landscape Architect
Andrew Skelton Sheffield City Council, Public Art Officer
4.3 Timescale
no action date
4.3.1 Tender Issued 11.11.19
4.5.2 Tender response from artist 02.12.19
4.3.3 Selection interview 11.12.19
4.3.4 Artist appointed 20.12.19
4.3.5 Stage 1 Research and Design phase begins 20.12.19
4.3.6 Agreed ‘sketch design’ proposal 10.01.20
4.3.7 Agreed final costings and design (end of Stage 1) 17.01.20
4.3.8 Stage 2 Manufacture and implementation - begins 25.01.20
4.3.9 Completion 31.03.20
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 12
4.4 Budget
The total budget available for this commission is £18,000. The budget is to include
all fees and costs related to the project and the artist is responsible for all fixings and
fixing costs.
We are looking for a robust low maintenance design for the panels. However if the
work will require unusual future maintenance costs, outside the general maintenance
undertaken by the Council’s contractors, these should also be provided from the
overall budget (this might be things like a website or very specialist maintenance).
Please note there will be a retention of £800 for six months after completion.
In order to give price competition within the tenders the Request for Quotation tender
documents asks you to give your price for the Research and Design and
Construction Management elements of the project. The construction cost of the
artwork will therefore be the total budget (£18,000) less your Research and Design
Fees and less your Construction Management Fees
A detailed schedule of payments will be agreed with the artist when the programme
is agreed.
5.0 APPLICATION AND SELECTION
This commission will be widely advertised.
Artists should apply by filling in the tender questionnaire (Request for Quotation)
through the YORTender Portal. The questionnaire will allow you to respond to this
brief and enter into the procurement process.
The full process and selection criteria are detailed in the tender documents.
Whilst the registration process and documents look time consuming and difficult at
first sight the process is not so daunting once you get started. Like many other
public organisations the Council is not able to tender work outside of this type of
framework.
The deadline for applications is 17.00 on Monday 02 December 2019.
1) Create an account by going to https://procontract.due-north.com/register
2) Follow the registration process and set up your company online.
3) Once registered, log on and click ‘Find Opportunities’ on the black bar across
the top of the screen.
3) Enter ‘DN445453’ in the search box in the top right. This will bring up the Grey
to Green project.
Grey to Green 2 Public Art Brief page 13
There is an online help guide on YORtender for help when you set up a profile.
When considering the categories to register under it’s up to you how general or
specific you want to be in terms of definition - it doesn’t affect your ability to apply/be
considered for this opportunity. However, for reference, the UNSPSC category that
is just registered as ‘Art’ is 60121000. This is part of the greater category 60000000
‘Musical Instruments and Games and Toys and Arts and Crafts and Educational
Equipment and Materials and Accessories and Supplies’, and breaks down further
into 16 different categories. There are also other categories within 600000000
bidders may feel are relevant – you can select as many as you like.
6.0 CONTACT DETAILS
Any questions regarding this brief should be addressed through the YORTender
Portal. Please note that where appropriate answers to questions will be shared with
all tenderers through the Portal
If you are having difficulty with the Portal please contact Andrew Skelton
0114 205 3784
7.0 POLICIES
Equality and Diversity Policy
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/business-economy/contracts/scc/policy/policies
Sustainable Policies
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/housing-services/environmental-
sustainability/sustainable-development/sustainable-policies
Health and Safety Information
http://www.hse.gov.uk/