Lowe! Visual Art commissions

Overview

North Shields Cultural Quarter is seeking proposals for ambitious, site-responsive artworks exploring the theme of illumination through light, storytelling, participation, place, memory or visibility. LOWE! will be a long weekend of creative activity in March 2027 across the town centre, focused around the transport hub and the Cultural Quarter. These commissions are designed to support emerging artists, artists testing new ideas, and practitioners interested in community-led approaches.

Commission Levels

• Glow: £6,000 x2
• Ember: £3,000 x2
• Sparklet: £1,000 x3

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: 17 August 2026
• Event: March 2027 (long weekend, 6-11pm)
• Payment structure: 50% on contract, 40% on proposed commission, 10% on delivery

Eligible Works

Works may include, but are not limited to: light-based installations, projection and moving image, sound installations, temporary sculptural interventions, digital artworks, and participatory or socially engaged practice.

Artistic Approach

Projects should demonstrate strong artistic quality, a clear relationship to place, and an achievable delivery plan. LOWE! considers light in three senses: moving light (projection, glow, fire, reflection, signal); urban illumination (drawing attention to hidden, overlooked or marginal spaces); and social spotlight (highlighting voices and identities not always visible within the town's cultural narrative).

Community Engagement

Artists are encouraged to incorporate opportunities for local people to contribute to, influence or engage with the development of the work through story gathering, workshops, informal conversations, co-creation activities, and public testing or sharing events. Meaningful engagement takes many forms and not all projects must adopt the same approach.

Eligibility & Selection

LOWE! is committed to supporting a diverse range of artists and artistic practices. The programme welcomes applications from individuals, collectives, and collaborative teams at all stages of their careers, including those new to public art or large-scale commissioning. The programme particularly encourages applications from disabled artists, D/deaf artists, neurodivergent artists, LGBTQ+ artists, working-class artists, and artists from racially and ethnically marginalized communities.

Selection Criteria

• Artistic quality and originality
• Response to the LOWE! theme
• Connection to North Shields and its communities
• Feasibility and deliverability
• Potential to create meaningful public engagement and participation
• Contribution to the programme's commitment to diversity, inclusion and representation

Budget & Support

The commission fee must cover all costs associated with delivery, including artist fees, materials and fabrication, travel and accommodation, community engagement activity, equipment hire, installation and deinstallation, insurance, and other project-related expenses. Commissioned artists will receive curatorial support throughout the development and delivery process. Please indicate any access requirements or support needed during the application process or delivery.