Gilfach Landmark Art Project - Phase 1

11th May 2012

Wildlife Trust Wales Press Release

Background

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust is one of a network of 6 Wildlife Trusts in Wales. We have nearly 1000 members, 150 volunteers offering different skills and many loyal visitors to our nature reserves.

Gilfach Nature Reserve, the farm time forgot, is a beautiful, 400 acre former hill farm off the A470 just north of Rhayader and is our flagship reserve with walks and simple visitor facilities. It is a mosaic of habitats including traditional hay meadows, rocky outcrops, scrub and woodland with the River Marteg tumbling through - a stunning landscape.

Project aim

We would like a landmark that acts as a welcome to Gilfach Nature Reserve at Marteg Bridge, with an emphasis on using local natural materials. It will evoke a sense of place and blend into the landscape. It will probably be functional – for example, incorporating seating, a meeting point, or novel interpretation but with a strong, memorable aesthetic.

The landmark will be part of the re-landscaping of the entrance to our Nature Reserve which includes parking and picnic area. It will raise our profile as a wildlife destination and be an opportunity to inspire people about the natural world.

This project will be in two parts:

·        Phase 1 is an interactive consultation phase and workshops exploring themes, techniques and materials.  The end product will be an exhibition element to be completed by Sept 7^th 2012. This will form part of the celebration of the Cwm Marteg Project and 100 years of the Wildlife Trusts. A fee is payable for this work.

·        Phase 2 will be creation of the installation which will be completed by June 2013 and commemorate 25 years of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust owning Gilfach Nature Reserve. It will provide the landmark at Marteg Bridge. Phase 2 is not part of this tender.

Project Management and timescale

The project will be managed by RWT staff Suzie Fraser and Darylle Hardy. A steering group for the project will be set up. Please get in touch for any further information.

Expression of interest and tender please by Mon 21^st May 2012

·        Please include your fees and costs including materials for doing this short project which will amount to preparation time, at least 2 day’s worth of workshops and putting together a small exhibition.

·        Please include a CV and/or details of other successful projects undertaken.

·        Informal interviews/discussion with interested artists will take place before Friday June 2012.

·        Contract to be signed and project beginning by middle of June 2012.

·        Project finished for exhibition and event on 7^th September 2012.

Phase 1 objectives

Phase 1 is a discrete project, using art as a consultation tool to explore themes, ideas, natural materials and techniques to develop ideas for an art installation at Marteg Bridge.

The end product of Phase 1 is an exhibition of the ideas, materials and techniques that people involved in workshops and the artist have developed. These will be used to consult with the wider Wildlife Trust membership and general public. They will be shown at an event at Gilfach on the weekend of 7^th/8^th Sept 2012 and afterwards at other locations including the AGM on 27^th September 2012. Photos will also be put on the RWT website.

The installation itself at Marteg Bridge is a separate project (Phase 2) but will draw on the work undertaken in the consultation process. We will be applying for funding for phase 2 over the summer and hope it will be ready for a celebration event in June 2013.

People to be consulted

Lots of people have a passion for Gilfach Nature Reserve and it is really important that they are involved in the design of a ‘welcome’ gateway and landmark at Marteg Bridge. There will be a steering group for the project and also a professional landscape architect consulted.

The people to be invited to the workshops will include (perhaps at separate times): staff, Trustees, Tuesday conservation volunteers, other volunteers involved in the running of RWT, local people and families with children. One workshop day will need to be mid-week (possibly a Tuesday) and others at the weekend.

Many of these people have good practical and artistic skills and it is desirable that these are used or developed in a way that involves them in the project.

Volunteer and in-kind time will be used to match-fund the project.

Design brief

The design could incorporate the key vision of the Wildlife Trusts: Gilfach’s role as part of a Living Landscape. Innovative interpretation ideas would be desirable too.

Natural materials, some of which might be sourced from the reserve, are to be used.

The artist will need to:

·        Discuss the concept with staff/steering group/landscape architect, visit the site, prepare and research

·        Run at least 2 days-worth of practical workshops with various volunteers between June and August 2012. These will include doing a skills audit, brainstorming ideas and exploring themes, materials and techniques.

·        Develop ideas and process the workshop outputs into a small exhibition that people can contemplate in person and see on the RWT website, in consultation for a landmark art installation at Marteg Bridge (phase 2).

·        Provide risk assessments and take responsibility for Health and Safety during workshops and their time spent on the project. Carry out best practice at all times and particularly if working with young or vulnerable people.

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust will:

·        Provide the venue for workshops and exhibition space at Gilfach Nature Reserve in the visitor centre and byre

·        Raise the interest and awareness of stakeholders and volunteers

·        Undertake suitable promotion to advertise the consultation, workshops, and exhibition to stakeholders.

The work created by the artist and volunteers will become the property of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust.

Constraints on design

Gilfach Nature Reserve is a SSSI and consent will be required by CCW for the final design and positioning – hence part of the need for the consultation phase. The final installation (phase 2) needs to last many years and be resistant to all weathers and possible misuse.

Darylle Hardy, Cwm Marteg Project                                                 darylle@rwtwales.org

There are currently no comments