WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY OPENS FOR ARTISTS!
Christmas art trail in need of recruits
ARTISTS are being recruited to transform city centre shop windows into a Christmas art trail.
Arts group Appetite and Stokeon-trent City Centre BID are commissioning the masterpieces for an illuminated ‘Window Wanderland’ trail.
It is part of a national project to celebrate public spaces with vibrant art and creativity.
Ten city centre shops will be taking part in the trail which will feature a map for shoppers to rediscover the city centre.
BID and Appetite will be paying artists £700 for an estimated threeand-a-half days’ work. There will be an extra £300 for materials.
Appetite normally organises the Big Feast cultural events in the city centre at the end of August but this year’s was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stoke-on-trent City Centre BID manager Richard Buxton said: “We’ve truly missed the exhilaration and excitement that Appetite’s The Big Feast brings, so the BID is delighted to be backing their new Covid-safe seasonal specials this autumn and winter.
“Appetite has an enthralling flair in delivering unique artistry and creativity to our city centre and beyond, and this new Window Wanderland project will be no different. We look forward to unveiling this as part of an exciting programme spanning art installations and captivating performances to visitors of all ages.”
The creatives will need to design their own installation that is ‘visually exciting, artistically adventurous, vibrant and high quality’. The art will need to be family friendly and in their own artistic style – but the shop owner will need to agree on the final design.
It follows the successful Our Front Door project, which saw more than 20 doors painted in Hanley to brighten up the city centre.
Artists will need to apply for one of the 10 slots by October 26 via email to Appetite at askus@appetitestoke. co.uk. The email will need to include a CV and covering letter, images of work and 200 words on what ideas you have for the project.
The Window Wanderland trail will be launched in late November or early December.
■ For more information, contact Appetite producer Kat Boon via kat@ appetitestoke.co.uk or call 01782 381373 with any questions.