Future Makers: Lead Artist Open Call

About Future Makers

Future Makers is a dynamic organisation at the forefront of sustainable creative initiatives. Based in Nottingham, we are committed to driving social and environmental change through art and innovation.

Thanks to significant funding from Arts Council England and Innovate UK, we’re setting up the first Waste Plastic Studio with advanced thermoforming and plastic fabrication equipment in this region. This isn’t just another recycling initiative, it’s a movement to rewrite the narrative surrounding plastic waste, while equipping the next generation of artists, designers, and makers through our Product Design Accelerator Course.

Lead Artist Brief

Future Makers is in search of a visionary Lead Artist to craft an outdoor public artwork using recycled plastic, emphasising public engagement and reshaping perceptions. The structure, such as a pavilion, shelter or sculptural form will repurpose 1 tonne of locally sourced waste plastic, showcasing its viability and inspiring sustainable practices. The theme is open, inviting artists, designers, and makers to contribute innovative ideas for this work that will be in situ for at least 12 months at the Future Makers site.

Studio capabilities

Our project focuses on utilising a sheet press capable of crafting solid tiles up to 60cm x 60cm x 2cm. These can be processed using hand and power tools as you would use for woodworking. A 60cm x 60cm x 2cm tile weighs approximately 6.5kg and therefore 1,000KG will create approximately 150 tiles. The tiles will take on the appearance of the waste plastic that is sourced and shredded down in order to form them through compression moulding. The workshop also features facilities for shredding, injection moulding, and extruding waste plastic. Our focus is on processing plastic types PP and HDPE, although some other plastic types are possible with some testing.

Key objectives
Concept Development: Create a design proposal for a public artwork, using one tonne of recycled plastic sheet material.
Artwork Construction: Oversee the safe and effective construction of the artwork using reclaimed plastic, working with a designer and engineer, as needed.
Public Engagement: Engage with the public through workshops, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions to educate and inspire, promoting sustainability in art.
Knowledge Sharing: Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among artists, designers, and makers through participation in events and programs.
Documentation and Reporting: Document the artwork’s development stages, provide progress reports, and share insights with the Future Makers team.
Project Coordination: Coordinate with stakeholders, adhere to timelines and budgets, and ensure compliance with regulations.

Requirements

• Proven experience in creating large-scale public artworks, particularly those incorporating recycled or repurposed materials.
• A passion for sustainability and a commitment to raising awareness about environmental issues.
• Strong leadership and project management skills to guide the artistic creation process.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities to work effectively with the project team and community members.Timeline and Key Dates
  Submission Deadline: Friday, 15th December Selection Panel Meeting: Tuesday, 19th December Notification of Candidates: Thursday, 21st December Project Commencement: January 2024
  Artwork Unveiling: June/July 2024

  Budget and fees

  The lead artist will receive £10,000 for approximately 30 days of work, covering expertise and creative effort. Reasonable travel, accommodation, and contingency expenses are available.

  Submissions

  Please email up to 500 words about what attracted you to this project, your initial concepts, and proposal, including 2-3 sketches (up to 2 PDF documents up to 5MB each), along with your portfolio and/or web links to your previous work to hello@future-makers.co.uk.

  Proposals should include visual representations, sketches, or renderings of the proposed artwork, along with a brief description of how the project aligns with the objectives outlined in this brief.