Liberty UK Leicester is an annual interdisciplinary festival that explores freedom and democracy through a range of artistic projects and public interventions. For 2021, Liberty UK will be exploring the hidden inequalities and injustices within our communities, exploring the freedoms and perceived freedoms that we have, that we don’t have and those that we take for granted. The festival will explore how far we have come, but how far we have left to go in building an equal and fair society. Liberty UK is produced and presented by ArtReach.
As part of this programme, ArtReach will commission 5 artists to create imaginative and artistic installations with strong social messages in public toilet spaces across Leicester City Centre. This exhibition will take place 22 February – 29 March 2021 and is part of an international collaboration, Accessible Art for All, which is an innovative art project spanning 5 European cities including Rome (Italy), Leicester (UK), Hamburg (Germany), Kristianstad (Sweden) and Sofia (Bulgaria) funded by Creative Europe. Organisations in each city have partnered up to artistically transform toilet spaces located in community locations (museums, schools, stations, markets, etc.) and will be exploring options for an outdoor installation.
ArtReach are looking for visual and interdisciplinary artists to create temporary art exhibitions transforming toilets in Leicester. They want the artwork to be a celebration of the different cultures and communities living in Leicester, whilst raising awareness about issues that most affect them, particularly in relation to migrant or resettled communities.
Artists will be required to deliver a series of online or live workshops in advance of the exhibition. Artists will work with members of the local community teaching them new creative skills, building confidence and creating a safe space for conversations about issues relating to discrimination and community cohesion. They should be an opportunity for participants to contribute and shape the outcome of the exhibition.
Artists of all disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. ArtReach also welcome applications from multiple artists wishing to collaborate. Applicants must be a resident and have the right to work in the UK or another European country.
The total budget is £2,900 (+VAT) including artist fees, materials, installation costs and workshop preparation and delivery. The budget is broken down as:
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£1500 – fee for designing and creating the installation.
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£400 – to develop and deliver workshops.
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£1000 – materials.
