Date published: 21 November 2022
Artists from across the country are being invited to help forge and inspire future communities by entering the annual public art prize by Stonewater.
Stonewater has been commissioning public art for 10 years. Following the successful launch of its Blunden Prize in 2021, Stonewater is once again calling for artists of all disciplines to submit their ideas and concepts for creative public artworks.
The pieces will be judged by an expert panel and the winning concepts will become central to the development of five affordable housing schemes across the country over the coming year.
The winning artist will collaborate with Stonewater and its customers to create public art for each of the five developments. They will reflect and celebrate each local area, its history and its community’s ambitions for the future.
Entrants will need to present ideas for a long-lasting, low maintenance piece of art and demonstrate how they would propose working with Stonewater colleagues and communities to develop such artworks.
Jonathan Layzell, Executive Director of Development at Stonewater, said: “We believe that strong communities hold people and places together and often define their success. Nowhere is it more needed than across new residential neighbourhoods, which is why we first began installing public artworks for new developments in 2012.
“A decade on, public art is now a key focal point of many of our developments, creating links to the local area, often inspired by local stories and providing a community asset that is enjoyed for decades to come.”
With a keen focus on sustainability, Stonewater is asking entrants to consider the environmental impact and carbon footprint of their proposed work, whether opting to use local materials, ethical sourcing, transportation or manufacturing.
Jonathan added: “The first Blunden Prize in 2021 was hugely successful, and the winning artists at CODA Workshop have been working closely with the Stonewater development team to see their vision come to life. We’re now excited to see what this year’s entries have to offer and look forward to the difficult decisions of shortlisting and choosing an ultimate winner in early 2023.”
Blunden Prize 2022/23 winners will receive £75,000 and five commissioned pieces of art, with entrants initially asked to deliver ideas and concepts for the Stonewater Calverley Lane scheme in Horsforth, Leeds as part of their submission.
The Blunden Prize 2022/23 is open to artists of all disciplines, with entries closing on Friday 27 January, 2023 at 12 noon.
To find out more and to enter, visit the Blunden Prize webpage.