The second major commissioning initiative between Jerwood Open Forest and the Forestry Commission England is now open for entries
Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Forestry Commission England have announced the second edition of Jerwood Open Forest, an exceptional opportunity for visual artists to propose ideas for a major new £30,000 commission to be realised anywhere within England’s Public Forest Estate.
Jerwood Open Forest was first launched in 2013 by Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Forestry Commission England, with support from Arts Council England. The project facilitates new interactions between artists and forests and opens up new art experiences to a wide public audience, leading a national conversation about how contemporary visual artists engage with the environment today.
There is no brief. This is a call for bold, broad-thinking proposals that explore the potential of forests as sites for art, both in and about the environment. Proposals can be for work in any discipline or medium, temporary or permanent, site-specific or touring. From initial ideas submitted, five artists or collaborations will be selected to each receive £2,000 for research and development over a six-month period.
During this period the artists will be fully supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Forestry Commission England to expand on their concept, assess the viability of their idea and explore potential sites. A curated exhibition presenting the shortlisted artists' work and exploring broader contemporary debates around critical practice and art in the public realm and the environment will open at Jerwood Space, London in November 2016 as part of the Jerwood Visual Arts programme. One artist will be selected during the exhibition to receive the £30,000 commissioning budget to realise their proposal.
Peter Heslip, Director of Visual Arts, London area, Arts Council England, said: “We are excited to be supporting Jerwood Open Forest once again, and I look forward to seeing how artists will respond in new ways to bring more people across the country to enjoy great art, and foster a deeper engagement with the environment.”
How to apply:
The deadline for submissions is 5pm 1 February 2016. For submission guidelines and to apply, please visit jerwoodopenforest.org. Join the conversation online at @ace__London #JOF.