Anglia Ruskin University Science Centre: Artist s Brief Perspective View from Broad Street Richard Murphy Architects
Science Centre Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge 1. Introduction Expressions of interest are invited from artists with experience of working in the public realm whose practice explored the cross over between the Arts, Sciences and Architecture. The project aims to be a focus of celebration for Anglia Ruskin University s new Science Centre. 2. Background Anglia Ruskin University Anglia Ruskin University was awarded university status in 1992. Today, the University has a number of campuses with a student population of over 25,500; they are one of the largest universities in the East of England, and a large provider of part time education. Students are on courses leading to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as a range of professional qualifications. In addition to being one of the most significant suppliers of nurses and teachers to the professions, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) offers an ever expanding range of contemporary courses designed to meet the needs of individuals and the requirements of a knowledge based economy. Science Centre The Site and Context In 2009 a Masterplan was approved for Anglia Ruskin s East Road site in Cambridge. That masterplan sought to enhance and replace outdated and substandard facilities and if possible to rationalise academic accommodation where faculties and departments had become fragmented over time. The first phase of redevelopment of the East Road site was completed in 2011 delivering new facilities for the Lord Ashcroft International Business School, a 400 seat and two 200 seat lecture theatres. Anglia Ruskin is continuing the process of modernising and enhancing our campus to provide a 21st Century learning environment and to enable it to compete with other universities for students. The following issues have been fundamental in influencing the next stages of campus renewal: a consolidation of courses which has created larger group sizes creating a requirement for larger, more flexible spaces; the need for specialist forms of accommodation and significantly more space for science
As a result, the immediate focus for development is a new Faculty of Sciences and Technology incorporating a 304 seat lecture theatre adapted for science; a 202 seat laboratory providing flexible teaching space for all science disciplines; staff offices and a range of specialist teaching space on the site of the current Bryant and Mellish Clark buildings along the Broad Street frontage. Richard Murphy Architects Richard Murphy founded his practice in 1991. Its early reputation was built on highly crafted and innovative domestic work in the Edinburgh area. The practice has since won an unprecedented 19 RIBA Awards, and has considerable experience in the Arts, Education, Housing, Health, Public and Community use and Master planning. From their offices in Edinburgh, with a staff of 16 people, they have been involved in projects across the UK and Ireland Europe and Sri Lanka. Richard Murphy Architects defined their goals as to make architecture equally of its place and of its time. The projects Richard Murphy Architects have designed illustrate this approach looking equally at careful contextual responses to designing within and adjacent to existing buildings and also constructing new buildings within the contexts of established landscape and urban patterns. For further information visit: www.richardmurphyarchitects.com
3. Artist s Brief The public art commission for the new Science Centre for Anglia Ruskin University is an exciting opportunity to produce innovative, site specific public artwork. The artwork should be developed in collaboration with the architects and delivery teams working on the project. The artwork will need to be developed in accordance with the City Council s Adopted Supplementary Planning Document on Public Art. The appointed artist should account for the broad range of people engaging with the University students, staff and members of the public. Consideration is to be given to the evolving relationship and experiences with the resulting artwork, whilst relating to and providing creative interpretation about the site and its context. The artist will be responsible for developing an innovative community engagement programme to ensure local opinions are reflected within the final artwork. A draft outline approach for the community engagement has been proposed, it is envisaged the communication of science through the arts is developed with the selected artist on their appointment and form part of the Cambridge Science Festival in March 2016. Three requirements for the artwork have been identified and should be translated within the final artwork and in the community engagement programme. Art that explores the crossover between Art, Architecture and Science including new research and development in these areas Art that engages the public, students and staff in the above themes and constructs experiences Art that enhances and communicates the identity of Anglia Ruskin University and the new Science Centre
4. Artist s Role To collaborate with Anglia Ruskin University, Richard Murphy Architects and the design teams involved throughout the development and delivery of the commission. Undertake research and consultation with stakeholders, including members of the local community, and future users of the buildings, involving them in the development process. With the project manager devise an innovative and engaging programme of community consultation that leads to meaningful input and involvement by local people in order to develop ownership and engagement both with the artwork and development and Anglia Ruskin University. Identify opportunities for integrating art into the university building and/or surrounding spaces. To attend meetings related to the development of the artwork/s within the university and at external consultation events. To develop a minimum of three concept design proposals, able to be produced within the budget and design constraints. One proposal will be worked up to full design stage, on agreement with the steering group. Create and install, or oversee the creation and installation of the artwork in accordance with the proposal agreed by the project group. Provide the budget and technical information required for all artwork proposed. Provide a schedule for fabrication and installation. Provide maintenance and decommissioning plans, as a requirement of the Supplementary Planning Document. Contribute to marketing and promotional activities linked to the public art. To provide a report evaluating the implementation of the Public Art Delivery Plan on completion of the artwork, a requirement of the Supplementary Planning Document.
5. Potential Locations There is potential for the artworks to be either stand alone, focal point pieces, or more integrated works that will look to complement the sequence of spaces that will be experienced as you walk through the development. Central to the location will be the ability of the work to enhance the legibility of the campus, creating a sense of place that has coherence and impact. The eventual artworks would be located in accessible areas visible from the public domain, situated externally or on the façade of the building. Potential locations for the public art have been identified; however these suggestions and eventual location of the works will be in response to the community engagement programme and in consultation with the selected artist. An aspect of the artist s role will be to consider the feasibility of proposed locations with the project design teams. Meeting the City Council s criteria for public art and access to the work will be taken into consideration as part of the development process. 6. Aims & Objectives to provide a high quality public art programme encouraging excellence and innovation in public art and encouraging artistic practice which interrogates, and communicates the relationship between the Arts and Sciences to convey the function and aspirations of the new Science Centre; assisting in the promotion of the new flagship development improving the quality of learning environments alongside the legibility of the campus to engage the students and public through arts and science collaboration in the research that will take place at the new campus, ensuring relevance and sense of ownership for the artwork, whilst stimulating curiosity to improve the quality of life for students and communities within the area, encouraging a sense of shared space and community to facilitate and explore the role students, staff and local residents can have on the Science Centre, its future success and as a destination within Cambridge to reference and enhance the local distinctiveness and character of the area whilst aiding orientation and access into the site and enhancing the feeling of a central heart to the campus
to establish a collaborative approach between the key stakeholders, members of the design team including Richard Murphy Architects, Saunders Boston, Anglia Ruskin University, Savills, Gardiner & Theobald LLP and the Artist to facilitate a joined up, curated approach to the commission that capitalises on resources and opportunities internally and externally and allows the function of the new building to inform all artistic enquiry to provide publicity and marketing opportunities that will attract students to the University and build long term relationships with the local community and business 7. Project Team The Artist will work with a project team including: Client Board of Directors Steve Bennett Anglia Ruskin University Secretary and Clerk Client Programme Director Sandy Lynam Director of Estates and Facilities Services, Anglia Ruskin University Akin Oluwatudimu Estates and Facilities Services, Anglia Ruskin University Eamon Strain Dean of faculty Chris Owen Head of Department, Cambridge School of Art James Mason Representative Murphy Richards Architects Project Consultant Clare Cleary Place Services, ECC Developer Gary Faulkner Gardiner & Theobald LLP Developer Colin Campbell Savills Local Authority Nadine Black, Public Art Officer
8. Outline timescales It is proposed for the Lead Artist to be appointed in August 2015. Once agreed, the final artworks will be produced in line with the building programme, currently due for completion in September 2017. 2015 Opportunity promoted June/July 14 th July Deadline artist s application August 4th Shortlist & interview curator with artist & Steering group August Artist to develop community engagement programme/ appointment of curator/coordinator Oct. Nov. 2015 Feb. 2016 March 2016 April 2016 June 2016 August 2016 Sept. 2016 Jan. June 2017 June July Initial community consultation and involvement of representative Council member Contact Cambridge Science Festival co ordinators and discuss event as part of the programme Develop exhibition/event with Ruskin Gallery/ Contact key external organisations regarding event Submit selected artists & curator and programme to CSF Devise and deliver stakeholder and community consultation programme in order to inform the development of the artwork. Research & develop concept of artwork Initial concept proposals will be presented to ARU and the Steering group during this period, prior to developing the selected concept in detail. Cambridge Science Festival Deliver creative consultation event 1st design proposals presented to stakeholder representatives and the City Council s Art Panel to establish that this phase of the proposal is acceptable in principle with the group. 2 nd, refined design proposals including costings and samples (if required). Final designs including structural engineering calculations (if required), installation method, maintenance programme & costs to be signed off by steering group. Final design proposals presented to the City Council s Art Panel and community, to establish that this phase of the proposal is acceptable in principle with the panel. Planning Application (if required). Construction phase Studio or fabricator visit to oversee construction prior to delivery on site. Installation of artwork.
2017 A detailed installation programme developed with the build programme schedule and nature of the proposed artworks. August 2017 Launch programme involving key community members identified throughout the consultation stage. Records made of the work Maintenance programme provided Sept. 2017 Project Completed 9. Fees and Budget The total budget for the public artwork is 159,000 inclusive of VAT and all costs. The budget is broken down into a fee for the appointed Artist s research and design 14,000, and community consultation, 5,000. The budget for the production and installation of the artwork is 140,000 inclusive of VAT. The lead artist will work on a self employed basis. The total budget for the delivery of the community engagement programme is 24,400, on appointment this element of the programme will be developed with the lead artist. 10. Selection Criteria The artist will be selected on the basis of track record, suitability of practice, understanding of and sympathy with the brief and by the following criteria: Applicants should be an experienced, practising visual artists. Applicants should have experience in fulfilling public art commissions, including drawing up proposals, budgets and technical requirements. Applicants should have experience of working with the public in developing their artwork. Applicants should have good communication skills, both written and verbal, enabling them to address meetings, write reports, etc. Applicants should have good inter personal skills Applicants should have good organisational skills. Applicants should be able to work effectively within a team and on their own. Be able to demonstrate previous examples of successful community engagement. Applicants should have a minimum Public Liability Insurance cover of five million pounds.
Selection will be made by a personal interview of short listed artists. At the interview, each candidate will be asked to make a 10 minute presentation about their work, using a digital presentation, portfolio or other visuals, and will then be asked a range of questions related to the role and the selection criteria. 11. Application Process Expressions of interest should be sent by email or post to: Clare Cleary, Associate Senior Consultant Public Art, Place Services, E4 County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH E: clare.cleary@essex.gov.uk Deadline of 4pm 14th July 2015 Expressions of interest should include a covering letter enclosing the following: CV Up to ten images of relevant previous commissions A list of images with short description A brief outline of why you are interest in the project Contact details of two referees Please note interviews will be held on the 4 th August 2015 in Cambridge. Images can be attached to email or on CD, the name of each image file should include the artists name and a number corresponding to the list of images. Emails should be no larger than 10MB. If you require any element of your application to be returned please provide a SAE.