eyecatcher brief 2017

7/25/2019 Eyecatcher Brief 2017

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Brief for a new commission at Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park

As part of our Landscape Restoration Project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund Compton

Verney Art Gallery and Park seeks to commission an eye-catching work in its landscape for

spring 2017.

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park is an award winning art gallery in Warwickshire,

based in a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion with a modern extension of 2004 and set in 120

acres of Grade II*-listed parkland designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. We house six

permanent collections, including one of Europe's most important collections of Chinese

bronzes and the UK's largest collection of British Folk Art. We are an accredited museum, a

registered charity, and the Chinese collection is nationally designated.

Our mission is to share our passion for art and heritage with as many people as possible. We

pride ourselves on our varied exhibition and learning programmes, which in 2014 attracted

over 60,000, plus 5,000 school children and their teachers. Our vision is, simply, to bring

art of the highest quality and of international standing to a regional audience in the

Midlands, for whom we are 'the national gallery on the doorstep', and to weave our art

exhibitions - together with our grounds displays, our associated learning and public

programmes, and our historic site - into a genuinely unique visitor experience that

entertains, informs, surprises and challenges.

Since opening in 2004, Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park has established a reputationfor regional and national excellence. As The Guardian observed in 2011: Compton Verney

continues to come up with exhibitions that are so inventively curated that they reveal fresh

angles on otherwise familiar subjects. In recent years, Compton Verney Art Gallery and

Park has also been a pioneer in creating collaborations with major museums and galleries

across the UK. We have not only forged a national network of regional museum exhibition

partners, but have also established new ways of working with government-funded

nationals such as Tate and the British Museum to ensure that both our rural and urban

regional audiences dont have to go to London to see great art.

Our exhibitions are nationally and internationally reputed and range from historic shows

such as Canaletto, Gainsborough or British Folk Art, to more contemporary shows on theArts and Crafts Houseor our current exhibition Periodic Tales, which features work by Tim

Etchells, Antony Gormley, Heatherwick Studio, David Nash, Cornelia Parker, Marc Quinn

and Lucy Skaer, amongst others.

We have previously programmed work in the landscape, including artwork by Anya

Gallaccio, Simon Patterson, Jem Finer, Marcia Farquhar, Laura Ellen Bacon and Hilary Jack. In

addition as part of our 2014 exhibition we sited nine Henry Moore and Auguste Rodin

works in the landscape, and in 2015 we worked with contemporary garden designer Dan

Pearson to create an arts and crafts inspired William Morris meadow on our West Lawn. In

2015 we have achieved a record year of over 70,000 visitors.

See:www.comptonverney.org.uk
http://www.comptonverney.org.uk/http://www.comptonverney.org.uk/


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The Commission

We are seeking proposals from artists and/or designers to create a new work in the

landscape at Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park. This is an opportunity to develop a new

work, which is significant, high profile and impactful. We are interested in a piece that may

be an eye-catcher(a piece that will attract attention), which is participatory, surprising orinventive and which responds to the history/heritage of the landscape or even using the

lake. We hope it to be imaginative, high-impact, and a must-see destination piece.

Through this commission we also hope to deepen historic understanding and enjoyment of

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park and to prompt enquiry and new ways of looking at

the site, via a 21st century response to its history, building upon its unique architectural, art

and design led identity.

The commission presents an opportunity to make new work to be presented in the

historic landscape at Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park.

The work will be semi-permanent, but to last no less than 3 years in the landscape.

The commission will be installed at Compton Verney.

The work can be an interventional, physical, sculptural, performative, sound piece

and/or light based.

Artists should assume that there are no storage facilities for the work at Compton

Verney Art Gallery and Park.

An exciting and aesthetic interest to the grounds.

In addition to the commission we are looking to run a high profile, popular,

engaging and experiential series of events/activities/workshops.

Where possible the work should be site-specific.

Aims:

To attract more people to site and help drive ambitious visitor targets.

o To engage our existing audiences (categorised as follows: Commuterland

Culturebuffs, Dormitory Dependables, Home and Heritage, Metroculturals

and Experience Seekers)

o Engage new audiences to visit Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park

(Trips and Treatcategory)

o For more information about these defined categories please visit:

https://www.theaudienceagency.org/audience-spectrum

To increase awareness of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park.

To make a lasting impression on long after visitors have gone (art has the power

to make a lasting impact on the world and our society).

To increase the reach of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Parks distinctive/

innovative programme.

Stimulate debate about contemporary public art in a historic rural environment.

To respond sensitively and imaginatively to Compton Verney Art Gallery and

Parks site/historic setting.
https://www.theaudienceagency.org/audience-spectrumhttps://www.theaudienceagency.org/audience-spectrum


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Role of the maker/artists:

To create a work for the grounds, which could be anything includinginterventional, physical, transportational, sculptural, performative, sound piece

and/or light based.

To install the commission (with the support of Compton Verney Art Gallery and

Parks teamwhere required).

To work to the given specified budget provided by Compton Verney Art Gallery

and Park.

Liaise and work directly with the Curator and other Compton Verney staff (such

as the Learning Team and HLF project team) throughout the duration of the

project.

To work with Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park regarding seeking planning

permissions, should they be required.

To work with Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park on the events and

participatory side of the project.

To work with Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park on the marketing side of the

project.

To inform Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park should any issues arise

regarding the project.

To work with Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park to provide additional

interpretation.

To be responsible for maintenance of the work, should issues arise.

To speak at a staff briefing on the project, attend press day and associated eventsif/when required.

Notes:

The work will be insured by Compton Verney House Trust during installation on

site and whilst on display, subject to an agreed maximum value.

The artist will need to have their own public liability insurance.

The Budget

Artists fee Production and installation costs

Transport/delivery of work

Expenses

TOTAL BUDGET: 45,000

[Please note an additional budget held by Compton Verney Art Gallery and Parkhas been

allocated to cover the following: project consultation, marketing, engagement, interpretation,

insurance and planning permissions]


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To apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest:

A very short proposal outlining your ideas for a new work/s, your interest in

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park, and how you meet the brief above. A CV and artist statement

Up to 6 images/details of previous work

The deadline for submissions is 9am on Monday 15 February 2016.

Please submit your application via email or post to:

Email: [email protected]

Post: Penelope Sexton, Curator,Compton Verney, ComptonVerney House Trust, Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ

N.B.If you would like to discuss the project before submission or have any queries please do not

hesitate to contact Penelope Sexton on 01926 645540 or

[email protected]

In addition to this brief, please find below:

i.

Draft scheduleii.

Brief history of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park

iii. Plan of Compton Verneys site

iv.

Images of site


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i. Draft timetable:

Expression of interest deadline: 9am on Monday 15 February 2016

Assessment and shortlisting: From 16-19 February 2016

Announcement of shortlist: Monday 22 February 2016

Shortlist proposal submission deadline: Friday 4 March 2016

Shortlist interviews: From 14-18 March 2016

Commissioner selected: Thursday 24 March 2016

Research, development and production of

work:

From end March-November 2016

Planning permissions sought (if required): From May 2016

Work finished by: November/early December 2016

Work installed by: February 2017

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park

commission opens to the public:

18 March 2017


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i. Brief history of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park

Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park is an award winning art gallery in Warwickshire,

based in a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion with a modern extension of 2004 and set in 120

acres of Grade II*-listed parkland designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. We house six

permanent collections, including one of Europe's most important collections of Chinesebronzes and the UK's largest collection of British Folk Art. We are an accredited museum, a

registered charity, and the Chinese collection is nationally designated.

The mansion at Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park was remodelled in the 1760s by

Robert Adam who in turn introduced Capability Brown to the site. From 1768 Brown

revisioned and transformed the landscape creating sharply defined lakes, bridges, tree belts,

carriage drives, paths, vistas and garden buildings. A key element of Browns new vision

was his Grade I listed Chapel (1776-9), one of the very few buildings known to have been

designed by Brown with practical purpose (i.e not as follies). Browns new park was

designed as an amenity to be used by residents and visitors alike and many of the features

of Browns scheme paths and routes through the landscape, exploration of art and nature

in landscape and the role of eyecatchers and vistas are central to our project now.

By the time that the mansion and part of its grounds were purchased by the Peter Moores

Foundation in 1993 there had been significant deterioration in the Capability Brown

landscape. The decline in the Verney familys fortunes in the late nineteenth century, the

subsequent sale of the estate in 1921, combined with damage and loss during the Second

World War and since had all taken its toll. During this time the estate was broken up into

multiple ownership; with subsequent neglect of some areas, the loss of others to intensive

agriculture, and denudation by Dutch elm disease.

However, research and exploration has made clear that much has survived from the

eighteenth century and much can be revived through sensitive restoration and creative

reinterpretation, thus bringing Capability Browns original vision back to life. Re-imagined

for the contemporary visitor, it will, once more, be possible to appreciate Brown and

Adams visionary blend of landscape, architecture and art.

Since 1993 the mansion has been spectacularly restored, renovated and renewed for the

21st century. It now houses significant collections, ranging from Chinese Bronzes (a

Designated Collection) to British Folk Art, and stages temporary fine art exhibitions and

commissions, in both the gallery and grounds, that consistently bring artists and artistic

themes to life for visitors.

This heritage of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park is important because Capability

Brown was the pre-eminent creator of eighteenth century landscapes; parklands that

continue to inspire delight in visitors three hundred years after his birth.

The Chapel, a building he designed for use rather than as a folly/eyecatcher, makes this

Brown landscape doubly rare and distinctive, and indeed of national importance.


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ii. Compton Verney Art Gallery and ParkSite Plans


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iii. Images of Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park


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eyecatcher brief 2017

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