Parts & Labour Artist Commission Opportunity

A co-commission partnership between Animate Projects, QUAD and D-Lab

About the Opportunity
Animate Projects, QUAD and D-Lab seek to commission an artist (or artist group) to make
on-site and moving image work that employs animation, drawing and digital technologies,
for a continually evolving exhibition in QUADs Extra Gallery Spaces (the walls and corridors
leading from the foyer to the first and second floors of QUAD for images please see
Appendix) and online. We would like the selected artist to create work that acts out
narratives across QUADs corridor walls, using the space in innovative ways, that can of
equal importance to the physical space exist online on the D-Lab, Animate Projects and
QUAD websites.
The work will be presented alongside and should reflect the themes of the Animate OPEN:
Parts & Labour, a curated exhibition selected from an international open call, presented in
QUAD Gallery, also as a touring cinema programme, and online, in Winter 2015/16.
We are looking for proposals that involve the creation of work in, between and across
physical and digital spaces, and which might, for example, explore how that affects what
drawing or craft become in a digital or hybrid context.
We anticipate that the selected artist will produce some new work that will be ready for
exhibition in QUAD Extra Gallery Spaces when the Animate: OPEN, launches on the 27th of
November 2015 and to continually produce new work for the duration of the exhibition,
which closes on the 24th of January 2016.
Theme: Animate Open: Parts & Labour
The Parts & Labour theme emphasises the craft analogue and digital of contemporary
creative animation practice and is intended to convey this sense of animation as something
that is made and crafted whether physically or digitally - and the importance of the artist
and maker.
This industrious theme also resonates with our Derby context. The nearby Silk Mill Museum is
sited in the former Lombes Mill, the first factory in the world; it marks the southern end of
the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, which includes Cromford Mill, the worlds first
successful water powered cotton- spinning mill, built in 1771 by Richard Arkwright. Derby
became the centre of the rail industry in the 19th century and remains a centre for
advanced transport manufacturing: Bombardier continues 175 years of railway
manufacturing in Derby, Rolls Royces aerospace and submarine manufacturing base is here,
and Toyotas UK headquarters is just south of the city.

The Commission
The commission is for a UK based artist (or artist group) to create work on site, in and for
QUADs Extra Gallery Spaces (staircases, landing, foyer, and projection on QUADs
mezzanine screen), and for online. The selected artist will be based in QUADs dedicated
studio space, with access to QUAD facilities. Students are not eligible.
The Animate OPEN: Parts & Labour exhibition opens to the public at QUAD on 28 November
2015, and runs until 24 January 2016. We dont expect the commissioned artist to be
present over the entire period, but an important part of the project is its focus on the craft,
labour and process of making art and animation, and making this visible prior to and during
the Animate OPEN. We anticipate the artist being on site for at least ten days over the
course of the project (there is a contribution towards accommodation and travel in addition
to the fee), making work in the QUAD artist studio, or in the actual corridors when open to
the public. In addition we expect the selected artist or artists to be available for a number
of Open Studio days and to engage with school and educational groups, in consultation
with the relevant QUAD team member (Education Curator and Participation Curator).
The Animate OPEN exhibition opens on 28 November 2015, and we expect it may be possible
for the selected artist to begin their on-site work from Wednesday 18 November, so that
they can begin producing work for the corridor spaces in QUAD prior to the Animate OPEN
launch evening on 27 November.
The fee is 3000 inclusive of VAT; an additional 1000 towards material and production
costs; an additional 250 for delivery of a workshop and talk. There will be some
additional support towards travel and accommodation. The artist will receive curatorial
support from the commissioning partners and assistance with installation at QUAD from
the gallery team.
How to Apply
To submit a proposal, please send us the following:
A completed proposal about what work you would make, both physically in the space
and online, and how you would approach the commission, maximum of 400 words. In
your proposal, please tell us your idea, and give us a clear indication of work youre
proposing to make, including visual style and technique, and provide any key
production information eg collaborators, other assistance, etc
An outline timeline/schedule (indicating any other commitments)
A short statement about your practice maximum of 400 words
Your CV (as a word document) a maximum of 2 sides of A4
A link to examples of previous moving image work (streaming only) eg your website,
Vimeo, YouTube (with password if protected) Please do not send video files.
Any additional visual material (eg storyboard, images)
Names and contact details for two referees who are familiar with you and your work
Please submit your application by email by 10am Wednesday 22 July, to
peterb@derbyquad.co.uk

If you have any questions please email QUAD Curator Peter Bonnell at
peterb@derbyquad.co.uk
The selection will be made by Animate Projects, QUAD and D-Lab. We will inform people of
our decision by mid-August. We regret that we will be unable to offer individual feedback.
The Parts & Labour commission is supported using public funding by the National Lottery
through Arts Council England, Derbyshire County Council and Arts Derbyshire.
D-Lab
D-Lab is an exciting new project, supported by Arts Council England through the National
Lottery, Derbyshire County Council and Arts Derbyshire, launching in June 2015. It aims to
bring the best and most exciting new media artists and artworks to an online audience,
focussing especially on artists and organisations in Derbyshire and the East Midlands. D-Lab
wants to encourage artists to make more and better use of digital media in their creative
practice, to take risks and experiment, and to showcase their work to an online audience.
www.d-lab.org.uk
Animate Projects
Animate champions experiment in animation. Our mission is to engage the public with the
creativity and craft of this critically under-represented art form and we achieve this through
developing new work, supporting artists to create thought provoking projects, engaging with
audiences across digital and physical contexts, maintaining an extensive online archive and
resource, advocacy and promoting critical debate. www.animateprojects.org
QUAD
QUAD is an international centre for engagement in contemporary art and film, based in
Derby. The year round programme focuses on major exhibitions, professional practice for
artists, mass participation, commissions, independent film and the creative use of emergent
technologies. QUAD is a charity focused on intercultural dialogue through supporting diverse
audiences to engage, develop skills and contribute to contemporary culture. Major projects
include FORMAT International Photography Biennale and the UKs largest international
portfolio review, as well as recent exhibitions by Gibson/Martelli and Susan MacWilliam, and
the forthcoming show KAPUT by Benedict Drew. www.derbyquad.co.uk

This commission is supported by:

Appendix: Images of QUAD Corridor Spaces

Please note: the selected artist (or artist group) will not be expected to use all of
the spaces shown here. Images on wall from exhibition The Pride and the Passion

Stairs to first floor from QUAD foyer/ entrance

Stairs to first floor, looking back at QUAD foyer/ entrance

Above and Below: First floor mezzanine area

First floor/ mezzanine QUAD office and meeting room area

Corridor next to QUAD office leading to Green Room

First floor/ mezzanine large projection screen wall

Stairs to second floor, from Mezzanine

Stairs to second floor, looking back at mezzanine

Stairs to second floor