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Glowmobiles... illuminated Art Cars

Commission brief for artists

What are ART CARS?

'A drivable installation - any vehicle which has been re-imagined, re-styled, re-modelled, or completely metamorphosed by an artist into a transport of delight' Michael Trainor – Curator, Art Cars 2007

Art Cars is art on the move. It's an opportunity for artists to bring freedom of expression to the world's most prevalent consumer item. There are 32 million cars in the UK alone and virtually everyone is a standard production model. Walk the Plank created the first Art Car Parade in the UK in Manchester on 8^th September. See www.artcarparade.co.uk for more information, or check out FlickR for images.

What is Glowmobiles?

It's the New Year's Eve event in NewcastleGateshead, which will see a dazzling array of illuminated Art Cars and other illuminated vehicles from bikes to buggies appear at various locations, beginning in Gateshead's Saltwell Park and ending with a Parade to Newcastle's Civic Centre for a finale event with fireworks. Glowmobiles is part of the Winter Festival 07.

The Winter Festival is a major event which is curated and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative's culture¹⁰ programme, which, through creative partnerships with cultural organizations, the retail sector and the night-time economy, animates NewcastleGateshead during December, celebrating its unique iconography with an exciting, high quality programme to wow local people and visitors alike and encourage them to enjoy the city together.

And what are the Glowmobiles commissions?

18 vehicles were originally commissioned for Manchester and Blackpool, most of which will be coming to NewcastleGateshead. Walk the Plank are now working with NewcastleGateshead Initiative to commission two or three new vehicles especially for New Year's Eve's Glowmobiles event.

What Can I Propose?

You can propose anything you like as long as you can produce it in the horribly tight timescale, and it is street legal (see page 2). We are looking for everything from subtle and beautiful interventions to subversions of the very nature of the car/bike/scooter/van in society.

Art Cars are a distinct concept where the artistic intervention is integral to the vehicle rather than the vehicle being solely the mode of supporting the work. Here are some examples of what are NOT Art Cars:

Example 1 - a flat bed lorry supporting a group of dancers (no matter how attractive) is a 'carnival float' rather an Art Car.

Example 2 – a Toyota Supra with custom orange flame paint job, front spoilers, neon under-lighting and a model draped over the bonnet (no matter how attractive) is a 'custom car' rather than an Art Car

Example 3 – A 1948 Austen 7 occupied by a man in a de-mob suit and a lady in a pencil skirt with an authentic picnic hamper (no matter how attractive) is a 'vintage' or 'classic' car rather than an Art Car.

HOWEVER this does not prevent an Art Car from incorporating elements from any of the above. (See 'Things you may wish to consider' section later in brief)

What Budget is available? We are looking to commission two vehicles, with budgets of £4k - £6k each. Please state clearly when making your submission what budget you are requesting to carry out your proposal.

Does it have to be a car? No – the ART CARS concept could cover all manner of vehicles from push bikes through mobility scooters to articulated lorries. NewcastleGateshead are keen to make Glowmobiles a distinctive event by encouraging all forms of transport, in particular those that look at "greener approaches"...wind-powered, solar-powered, electric or pedal-powered, for example.

Does it have to be 'Street Legal'? Yes – we expect to commission vehicles that are street legal, meeting standard vehicular Tax, Insurance and MOT requirements. It may be that the vehicle has optional add-ons which render it temporarily not street legal (eg, for the duration of a performance which requires a giant horn to be attached to its roof) but it must be able to drive around the UK without needing to be on a trailer when it's not lit up. An Art Car can be 'Street Legal' and therefore drivable anywhere provided it has passed an MOT and has insurance and you have paid the relevant level of road TAX – general information about what is required for an MOT can be found at www.direct.gov.uk under motoring.

Does it have to light up?Yes, illumination is key to the commission, and the successful artists will demonstrate how they intend to realise their idea so that it lights up successfully. Although EL (electroluminescent wire) is an option, it does look better in very dark environments, which isn't the case with cities at night, so you may wish to think further. Your Art Car may incorporate light - static or animated - in its design internally as well as externally.

Who owns the vehicle? If commissioned, we provide the budget for you to undertake the modifications, additions or other work that you have proposed, you provide the vehicle. The vehicle and all additions/modifications will remain yours after the Parade, on the understanding that you make it available for future Parades, subject to an appearance fee. We anticipate at least one annual event. In 2007 there have been three events. NGI will expect to be credited as original commissioners of your vehicle when it appears at future Art Car Parades.

What support can I expect as a commissioned artist?

We are working with Gateshead College's Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) who have offered workshop space, and access to their specialised tools, plant, engineering and mechanical expertise. So you could base yourself at the College while you undertake the commission, subject to negotiated access agreements that don't conflict with the demands of the students' curriculum.

Community-based commissions, working w/ specific groups

We are also looking for artists who would be interested in leading community-based commissions: for example, working with mechanics from Gateshead College's Centre for Automotive Excellence and/or with the College's fine art students; or with a children's bike club to decorate and illuminate bicycles; or with senior citizens to pimp a few mobility scooters.

What if I have an existing vehicle which might be classed as a Glowmobile if lit up? Given the timescale this is clearly an option. If you do then send us an image, a description, and an idea of your lighting proposal in detail and any transport/travel costs you would incur in participating in Glowmobiles.

Will there be further ART CAR events? Yes, it is our intention to increase the number of vehicles in subsequent UK parades and expand the concept to include other Art Car related activities such as Art Car Boot Sales where artists sell their work, Drive-in Art House Car Movies, etc. We will offer appearance fees for Art Cars commissioned in 2007 to be in subsequent Parades at the discretion of the curator.

Who are the selection panel? The selection panel will include representatives from Walk the Plank, NGI, Gateshead Automotive Centre for Excellence and an independent curator/ commissioner.

Things You May Wish to Consider:

Here is some fuel for thought – they are not criteria, but are just to help get your creative motor running:

• Sustainable power sources....we are particularly interested in commissioning vehicles which are not powered by petrol or diesel – electric, person-powered, solar, rubber band, you name it.

• Sound ideas – your Art Car may incorporate sound or have sound (recording or production) as its principle concept.

• Inside/Outside – Your intervention may be wholly outside, or a mixture of outside and inside the vehicle.

• Moving whilst Moving – you may wish to incorporate some form of physical or filmic animation in, on or around your vehicle.

• Time-based/performance – your Art Car may 'perform' every few minutes, on the hour or in response to external stimuli.

• Body Beautiful – the art may lie simply in the quality and beauty of the applied decoration.

• Weather proofing – how will you ensure that your vehicle looks as good at the end of Glowmobiles as it did at the start, if it is very wet, icy, or very windy?

How Do I Make a Proposal?

All we need from you is:

• Up to 10 Images of previous work referenced with description, location, budget. (These can be printed, slides, emailed as jpegs, or jpegs on a CD-ROM) – they do not have to relate to vehicles or work on vehicles in any way but should demonstrate your track record of producing work.

• Your 'Proposal' – this should consist of a short written description (300 words max) and an 'image' of your proposed Art Car. The 'image' could be a simple sketch, photo-montage, photo of a model, or any visual representation you wish provided it communicates the concept quickly and simply to the selection panel. Please note it must be possible for you to deliver this vehicle for the New Year's Eve event in NewcastleGateshead.

• State the budget you are requesting

• Your contact details including full postal address, telephone and email.

Optional extras:

• Copies of any recent press or publicity that your work has received.

• Any publications which include examples of your work

• Details of your website, or other websites which feature your work.

Deadline for Proposals is 4pm

19^th October 2007

(Do not submit original images or work – no printed matter, images or CDs will be returned to you unless a postage paid self-addressed envelope is included)

Where to send/email your proposal

Glowmobiles - Lisa Coates, Walk the Plank,

The Wheelhouse, 72 Broad Street, Salford, M6 5BZ

Email: marketing@walktheplank.co.uk

What happens next?

If you are successful you will be contacted by telephone to discuss a commission. If you have not heard by 5pm on 24th October then we are sorry, but on this occasion, you have not been short-listed. We will be unable to inform non-shortlisted artists.

We hope you enjoy thinking about it and look forward to receiving your proposals.

This brief and all of its contents are Copyright.

©Michael Trainor 22/02/07 Pop Empires™ Ltd