Local

Makespace Oxford is looking for a bold street or graphic artist to transform a street facing window into an exciting and engaging urban art piece.

What the space will be: The Community Works will be a dynamic community action hub located in the Oxford city centre for social enterprises and progressive organisations. 

Project Background: Makespace Oxford transforms empty and underused  buildings into dynamic hubs for community action, creativity and social change. They support socially conscious organisations to build a community by providing  affordable space to work and collaborate.

Tone: Exciting, Progressive, Bold, Local, Accessible, Profound, Inviting, Provocative

The world has changed a lot this year. Our sense of normality has been challenged. We’ve become more aware of our need for connection and community and through this have seen creative and generous altruism and brilliant grassroots organising in reaction to these unique challenges. We’re looking for an artist who can express their vision while addressing these current affairs and championing community action, creativity and social change in a unique, even provocative way. (Some of our primary stakeholders are Oxford University Colleges and the Oxford City Council so it is important to make sure that the piece does not offend.) 

The window should be bold and attention grabbing, get people from across the street at the train station interested in the space and inspire engagement and/or participatory action from passers by. They should be excited that the space is being developed, and to be inquisitive enough to look us up online. The piece does not need to be explicitly about Makespace or The Community Works but its theme needs to fit alongside what we do – using empty space in Oxford, providing affordable space for purpose driven organisations, creating space for community, and encouraging civic discourse. 

FULL SPEC: 

The piece should cover the windows in such a way that the public cannot see into the space behind from walking by, as there will be construction work happening behind the windows that we want to obscure. It does not have to cover the whole window, but should cover at least half to two thirds of the window from the bottom up.

There are four adjacent square windows which are all 1980mm x 1880mm

Media choice is up to the artist, however, the piece will be on display for only 3-6 months, depending on the renovation schedule for the ground floor space. It should be easily removable without damage to the windows or fascia.

We are hosting a London based Open Call for an exhibition in the home. 

No theme, no restrictions on medium, we are open to all existing or new work. 

We are opening the kitchen, living space, bathroom, windows and vestibule areas for installations. The space is very open and can accommodate a wide variety of works. We encourage conceptual and imaginative installation proposals, feel free to consider utilising cupboards/drawers, projecting onto glass or window shades. 

Examples of types of work accepted will be sculpture (small/mid-size), photography, paintings, projections, installations, books, zines, performance (opening night only, details to be negotiated). 

Please note, this is a rental property, we will need to respect the space. No ceiling hangings, wall attachments are to be discussed per piece, furniture is easily moved.

Artists can provide their own installation materials, the available technology we are able to provide on a first come first serve basis, as follows:

- Monitor: L: 71.5cm H:42 cm

- Projector: Model + projection size 

- 2 Extension leads

Detailed floor plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s-V38PrlaahZRz_ZZTkdLfp3a1pfLU5O/view?usp=sharing

Deadline: 12 September, 2020 

Work will need to be dropped off by 18 September, 2020

Private View: 22 September, 2020 5 - 11 pm

Exhibition Opens: 23 September, 2020

Exhibition Closes: 3 October, 2020

Exhibition will be located in Vauxhall