Location: Limerick ETSS, Castletroy, Limerick
Budget: €68,000
Application deadline: 12pm Monday 10 June 2024
Introduction
Limerick ETSS is located in Castletroy on the suburbs of Limerick City. The school opened in 2018 in temporary accommodation on the north side of the city before moving to a new state of the art campus in Castletroy in September 2023. As of September 2024, the school’s enrolment will total approximately 750 students. At the bedrock of our school vision are five fundamental core principles: curiosity, creativity, diversity, respect and community. Building positive relationships lies at the heart of school life in Limerick ETSS. We strive to build relationships that are respectful, inclusive and collaborative. At the centre of building and sustaining positive relations in our school is our restorative practice model.
The commission
The Public Art Working Group of Limerick ETSS invites applications from artists/digital artists for a commission funded through the Per Cent for Arts Scheme, by the Department of Education and Skills. Artists/digital artists are invited to tender for the project in a single stage process as outlined in this brief. Proposals are welcomed from both individuals and collectives, and from those working across a range of disciplines and a broad scope of creative approaches. We are interested in physical artwork(s) in the form of digital wall art that integrate into and enhance the spaces of our school within the building, specifically corridor wall spaces and social areas (See Appendices for photographs/site plans).
We welcome proposals that have a digital/graphic design element and that are vibrant and innovative in design/approach. Locations have been identified within the school environment in which people circulate or gather. We envisage that within the budget, a public art project that results in one or multiple physical artworks may be commissioned by an individual or a collective. It is important that any resulting artwork(s) communicate the relevant meaning of our community.
Commission proposals should address at least one of the following; proposals that address all three are particularly welcome.
- To enhance the spaces within our new school building where people circulate/gather, through commissioning of physical artwork that is positive, vibrant, innovative, and engaging. We are seeking artwork in the form of bespoke wall art that seamlessly immerses as a natural visual feature of the school environment, rather than stand-alone. The wall art will draw people together and celebrate the principles of curiosity, diversity, creativity, respect, and community — all of which are fundamental to the vision and mission of Limerick ETSS. We are interested in light, space, colour and an uplifting atmosphere and environment.
- The commissioning of artwork(s) that carries a significant meaning for our school community, for our current cohort of staff and students and those to follow. We are a moving school where student voice and inclusion is central to all that we do. More importantly, student voice and inclusion is evident in the classroom; fundamental to this are the positive relationships established between students and staff and the array of learning opportunities made possible through a broad curriculum.
- The commissioned artwork(s) will speak to the particular culture of the school, its roots, traditions and ethos. Pioneered by staff, students, parents, and education partners since 2018, our school stands collectively as one where all students are provided with a safe and positive learning environment where learning is real-world and meaningful; a learning environment where all students can be who they want to be, experience success and ultimately thrive in what is a very competitive working world. Key focus areas or themes for the wall art may include but are not limited to the following:
- Neurodiversity;
- Inclusion;
- STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and music);
- Mental health and wellbeing;
- Vision and mission of Limerick ETSS;
- 21st century learning.
Commissioning process
This is a single stage, open competition for practicing artists/digital artists. In consideration of the limited budget, the selection panel will make their decision based on the proposals submitted at this single stage. From this stage, the selection panel will decide to:
- Select and commission from the proposals received;
- In the event of a split decision, the panel may ask up to three artists for interviews to assist in final selection of the most suitable proposal. A stipend of €100 will be offered to artists if they are invited to interview (no Stage 2 proposals will be requested).
- If none of the proposals received are deemed suitable, the panel reserves the right not to commission and to enter a targeted commissioning process.
Budget
The total budget available is €68,000. This amount is fully inclusive of all costs including fees to the artist and VAT.
Site location/visits
The new campus was completed in two phases. Phase 1 opened in September 2023 and Phase 2 followed in January 2024. Notwithstanding the classroom spaces, the circulation spaces in the school include a central general-purpose area, social spaces and corridors. A key architectural feature of the building is such that natural light permeates throughout the general-purpose area, social spaces, and corridors. The colour scheme is bright with splashes of bold colours on feature walls which are further enhanced by with vibrant coloured flooring.
The busiest areas of the school include the general-purpose area, corridors, and social areas. Photographs of these areas in addition to photos of the exterior of the campus are included in Appendix 1. If an applicant wishes to visit the school, they can contact the principal by email at principal@limericketss.ie between 8 April and 10 May 2024.
Project delivery timeline
The preferred timeline is for the artist to begin the commission on 3 June 2024 and for the commission to be completed by 17 August 2024.
Queries
Applicants are welcome to make inquiries regarding this commission. These should be sent via email to: principal@limericketss.ie. The closing date for queries is Friday 10 May 2024. Deadline for submissions is Friday 17 May 2024. For more information and to apply, email principal@limericketss.ie