Artist Residency at Runnymede, Surrey - National Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund

National Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund
               Artist Residency at Runnymede, Surrey

                Scene from The People’s Pageant, Runnymede 2019, Estella Castle
                                       © National Trust

   The team at Runnymede is seeking an artist to create a series of
   interpretive sustainable natural sculptures, developed alongside local
   schools, children’s centres and family groups. The sculptures will form
   part of an onsite family trail and should be installed by Autumn 2021.

Overview

Runnymede and Ankerwycke, bisected by the river Thames, are sites of local and national
significance. Runnymede is a site of outstanding international significance as the recorded
location of the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215.

The Runnymede Explored project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to
transform how visitors experience Runnymede through new and improved access,
interpretation and community connections. The aim is to develop our visitors’ engagement
with this special place and to see it as a rich and inspiring local resource for recreation, learning,
volunteering and community engagement. The artist residency is a strand of the project. In
June 2019, the meadows of Runnymede set the stage for the first artists’ residency, The
People’s Pageant, a performance created by artist Estella Castle inspired by the 1934
Runnymede Pageant. Despite the 2020 pandemic, Mike Roberts utilised virtual opportunities

and the timeless resonance of birdsong to connect with visitors who recorded their own
experiences of freedom to create his installation freeSong and a unique sound trail. An artist
residency is also planned for 2022.

1. Introduction to the Residency

As part of the Runnymede Explored project, we want to work with local community groups to
develop and understand the stories we tell at Runnymede. The artist-in-residence should draw
on themes represented by Runnymede’s locally, nationally and internationally significant history
and landscape.

Aims

   •   To increase family visitors’ emotional and intellectual connection to Runnymede
   •   Nurture creative partnerships that support co-created activities – identifying
       opportunities for innovative ways of working
   •   Engage actively with local under-represented audiences both on- and off-site, meeting
       their specific physical and learning needs and abilities, removing barriers to
       participation
   •   Test a sculptural approach to family engagement onsite

Objectives

The artist should:

   •   Engage with local schools and/or local families to develop and deliver a programme of
       sustainable sculpture making to build community participation, deepen emotional
       engagement and understanding of the heritage of Runnymede
   •   Develop local partnerships with community groups and provide regular opportunities
       throughout the residency for engagement, culminating in a final outdoor sculptural trail
       located at Runnymede. Engagement can include workshops, online sessions, blogs,
       possible social media (subject to participant permission), exhibition or events.
   •   Work with National Trust staff and volunteers throughout the residency, including
       regular contact, meetings and reports
   •   Liaise with National Trust staff on all matters relating to sculpture installation –
       locations, fixing, quality, safety and security

Engagement with National Trust staff and volunteers is important to the success of the
residency and it is essential that the artist is open to discussing their ideas with the Runnymede
Explored project and property teams throughout the residency, so monthly reports and
meetings will be agreed between the team and artist.

2. Our audience

Currently more than half of visitors to Runnymede are families and mature people visiting
socially; 40% visit because of interest in the site’s heritage.

Runnymede Explored aims to broaden outreach to groups such as socially isolated adults,
children’s centres, families with children with additional needs, and more broadly to overcome
the barriers to the site and build relationships in the community. We want the local community
to understand that Runnymede is for them.

3. The Commission

Runnymede Explored is seeking an artist with experience in local community engagement and
an interest in the heritage of Runnymede to create a sustainable natural sculpture trail. The
artist will work with the project team closely to understand the stories of Runnymede and
which community groups to engage with. Local groups could include but are not limited to:
Forest Estate Community Hub, St Cuthbert’s Primary School, St Johns Church family groups

The artist should maintain a regular public blog throughout the commission. At the end of the
commission the artist will present a final natural sculptural trail and will work alongside the
National Trust team to create interpretation that supports visitor appreciation and
understanding of the sculptures and the ideas or stories they represent.

This would suit an artist based in Surrey or Berkshire but artists from outside these areas are
welcome to apply.

Deliverables:

   •   Research and development, the sculptures to be determined by the artist in
       collaboration with the Runnymede Explored team and community groups.
   •   Delivery plan, budget and schedule
   •   An installation and maintenance plan devised with National Trust staff to ensure that all
       sculptures are installed securely and in the right location.
   •   Two artist talks:
          o One to the public
          o One to invited guests including staff, volunteers, community partners and groups
   •   A minimum of three workshop sessions from June - September inclusive
   •   Monthly progress meetings with the project team
   •   Interpretation developed and produced alongside the National Trust team, that
       supports visitor appreciation and understanding of the sculptures and the ideas or
       stories they represent.
   •   Produce promotional material and images for social media, press and website use for
       the Marketing and Communications Officer
   •   Defined number and location of sustainable natural sculptures to be agreed with artist
       prior to commission.
   •   Support given to the evaluation process

4. The support we can offer

The project team can provide connections with local authorities, organisations and institutions.
The National Trust staff available to support the artist’s work include the Volunteer and
Community Involvement Manager, Experiences & Partnerships Curator, Cultural Heritage
Curator, Senior Project Coordinator, Visitor Experience Officers and a team of National Trust
volunteers.

5. The Budget

There is a budget of £9,000 which covers artist fees, expenses and materials, production and
installing/de-installing the work. The value of the commission will be paid over four instalments.

6. The Timescale

The residency is from July-December 2021, with a temporary exhibit display in October-
November.

7. The selection process

Artists at any stage of their professional career (not currently studying) are eligible to apply. Up
to three artists will be invited to attend an interview at Runnymede to discuss their application
in more detail. Selection is through an interview with a panel of National Trust staff.

To make an application please submit the following as a single PDF document to
jess.kellard@nationaltrust.org.uk using the subject line Runnymede Explored Residency 2021
Application:

    •   A current CV
    •   An initial response to this brief (one side of A4 max) describing your current artistic
        practice, the reasons for your interest in this residency and an outline projection of how
        you would expect to use your residency time
    •   Five examples of your recent work relevant to this commission. Images of artwork
        should be provided with artwork details (title, year, materials). These can be sent via
        email, WeTransfer or OneDrive
    •   Selection criteria will be based on:
            o how the history and/or landscape at Runnymede will feature in the residency
            o evidence of previous experience delivering high quality engagement work with
                communities
            o evidence of working with people from a range of backgrounds with different
                learning abilities
            o the quality of previous work based on examples provided

If selected for interview, applicants will be required to present a more detailed budget and plan
along with a 10 minute presentation on their work. Artists selected for interview will be paid
£200 to prepare and will need to submit an invoice for payment. Travel costs up to £50 for
selected artists to attend an interview will be covered.

NB: The National Trust’s email attachment limit is 10MB so anything larger will not be received.

Deadline for applications:                 9am, Monday 28 June 2021
Interviews:                                Tuesday 6 July 2021
Notification of outcome:                   Wednesday 7 July 2021
Residency period:                          July-December 2021
Installation:                              Before October half term (23-31 October)

8. National Trust Staff

   Runnymede Explored project team

   Jess Kellard, Volunteer and Community Involvement Manager
   Susannah Elliot, Experience & Partnerships Curator
   Rowena Willard-Wright, Cultural Heritage Curator

   Sarah Catchlove, Project Manager
   Lucy Dowling, Senior Project Coordinator
   Rachel Davis, Engagement & Learning Coordinator
   Alex Thompson, Visitor Experience Officer
   Hannah Potter, Project Archaeologist

   Supporting National Trust staff:

   Michelle Kent, Visitor Experience Manager
   Laura Fry, Marketing and Communications Officer
   Jamie Preston, Lead Ranger
   Louise Buckley, Ranger
   Ashley Pointon, Business Support

   9. Further Information

   The National Trust (NT) is a charity that looks after the natural and historic environment for the
   nation, whose main activities focus on conservation, improving and promoting public access,
   and creating experiences of heritage that move, teach and inspire. We have over 5 million
   members. Over 19 million people visit our pay-to-enter properties and an estimated 50 million
   visit our open access properties. We protect and open to the public over 350 historic houses,
   gardens and ancient monuments and look after 255,000 hectares of land across England, Wales
   and Northern Ireland.

   The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest dedicated funder of heritage in the UK. The
   organisation distributes National Lottery grants from £3,000 to £5million, funding projects
   that sustain and transform the UK's heritage. They also provide leadership and support across
   the heritage sector, and advocate for the value of heritage.

   Runnymede Explored, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to improve visitor
   experience, accessibility and connectivity at Runnymede and Ankerwycke. The project will
   enable our visitors and volunteers learn more about this special place; make the landscape more
   accessible and engaging; support improvements to community health and well-being; and
   improve understanding of, care for and response to heritage. It will achieve these through
   improvements to physical access to the site including new paths, landscaping and ferry jetties
   at Runnymede and Ankerwycke; increased volunteering, events and community activity
   opportunities; an archaeology project; and further research and interpretation.

Selected Images of Runnymede

The Jurors, by Hew Locke

Writ in Water, by Mark Wallinger

Langham Ponds (Site of Special Scientific Interest)

Aerial view of Runnymede

John F Kennedy Memorial

The Magna Carta Memorial