An exciting new project will create bespoke artwork within Catterick town centre as part of a £21 million regeneration scheme.
We have started the first stage of a two-part commission by opening the search for an artist to deliver the £175,000 initiative.
Artists from across the world are being invited to bid for the work, which will present an exciting opportunity not only to recognise the history of the military presence and the cultural richness that exists with Catterick Garrison’s Nepalese, Fijian and Commonwealth serving personnel, their families and veterans, but also the aspirations of the area and the wider community for the future.
Our executive member for culture and leisure, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “This is a very exciting part of the Catterick town centre regeneration scheme. We are looking for an artist to lead this exciting project, which has multiple opportunities for art installations of all types – from sculptures and nature trails to planting and murals.
“We want it to look at the heritage of the area in a new way by telling new stories and exploring hidden or overlooked histories.
“And it must consider the impacts of climate change, highlight the town’s diverse heritage and, importantly, engage audiences of all ages in a new, vibrant and contemporary way.
“Community consultation and engagement along with an outreach community arts programme will bring in local residents, businesses and groups to make sure that the sense of place around the town centre and Coronation Park is captured.”
The commission will include a variety of art forms from visual and audio to the written word, and all will be fully accessible. They could include:
- Gateway ‘entrance’ features
- Planted areas on the site alongside the ramp and adjacent to the performance space
- A memorial feature
- Development within the community garden
- Artwork along the footpath route
- Site-specific building-mounted art installation on the main building and within a new outdoor canopy
- Bespoke decorative metalwork used for security screens to external entrances, openings or gates
- Small-scale sculptural pieces in public park and woodland, which could also incorporate a sculpture trail
- A ‘signature’ piece of artwork
- Interactive sculpture using water and light
- Park-based pieces such as storyboards and nature trails
Artists can submit proposals for the work online before 27 November 2023.
Our executive member for Open to Business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, added: “This art project is an important part of our overall plan to transform Catterick town centre to benefit everyone living and working in the communities around the garrison, including our large population of service personnel.”
He said the regeneration scheme would create a new town square on Shute Road, a new pedestrian ramp connecting the development to Richmond Road, and a community and enterprise building. Plans also include landscaping improvements, upgrades to Coronation Park and Shute Road, improved play spaces, accessible routes to the town centre and improvements to footpaths and cycleways.
We will work with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to bring the proposals to fruition by June 2025. We have received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (through the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing), with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and ourselves.