The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New artwork to brighten up buildings
Culture chiefs have announced an ambitious art competition aimed at “reanimating” two of Perth’s best known buildings.
New displays will be installed at the AK Bell Library and Perth Museum and Art Gallery.
The campaign by Culture Perth and Kinross – the group in charge of the city’s museums and libraries – wants the designs to reflect the Fair City’s rich heritage.
It is hoped the art will make the buildings more inviting and help bring in visitors.
A spokesperson said: “Culture Perth and Kinross is keen to reanimate areas of the service’s two key buildings in order to positively signal and reassure potential service users and passersby.
“To meet this aim, we intend to commission a series of artworks at the AK Bell Library and Perth Museum and Art Gallery at specific locations at each site.”
The striking artwork, which would brighten up historic columns at Perth Museum and doors at AK Bell Library, would help the service recover after months of disruption caused by Covid-19.
The successful artist will have full autonomy in creating and presenting the ir des igns , and delivering and installing their artwork, organisers said.
A similar contest was held by Culture Perth and Kinross to find art for a huge blank wall on Mill Street.
The new temporary artworks will be in place for no more than five years.
The spokesperson added: “We were assessing proposals for delivering ambitious and striking artworks at these locations which are evocative of a positive and forwardlooking sensibility after the societal disruptions and uncertainties of the preceding months.
“The commission should provide an attractive addition to buildings which should be emblematic of civic and community solidarity.”
Throughout the project, Culture Perth and Kinross will work with the artist to document their progress through means such as installation time- lapse footage and filmed interviews.
Applications will be shortlisted this week, with the successful artist being chosen on Friday.
The organisation aims to have the project completed at the two venues by December 11.
To meet this aim we intend to commission a series of artworks