Submitted by Tricia Harnett on Wed, 29/05/2024 - 11:56
We are seeking an artist to help us on our Wonderful Wetland Wildlife Project at the Museum of Zoology
Deadline to apply: 9am on Monday 3rd June 2024
We are looking for an artist-facilitator to work with the Museum of Zoology to develop and deliver a series of workshops with local schools inspired by the natural world to create an art installation in the Museum of Zoology to be on display over the school summer holidays. To celebrate this artwork on display, we would also be looking to deliver activities for a public event during the school summer holidays.
Background
The Museum of Zoology has been commissioned by the Centre for Landscape Regeneration in the University of Cambridge to deliver a primary school outreach programme in fenland areas, engaging pupils with their local wildlife and changing habitats, and with the collections at the Museum. This project is working with 8-11 year olds (years 4,5 and 6) in four schools in Cambridgeshire, working with a total of eight classes. During the project, each class will experience three different sessions: first out in school with the Museum of Zoology exploring the wildlife in their school grounds; second in the Museum looking at local wildlife in the collections, and third with an artist back in the classroom, where the students will use their experiences to inspire the creation of artworks to go on display in the Museum of Zoology over the school summer holidays.
Format
For this project, we are looking for an artist-facilitator to lead the final outreach sessions in the schools, and create the installation for display in the Museum. Workshops would last 1-1.5 hours, working with one class at a time. The artist-facilitator would be leading these workshops, but museum staff will be present to assist as well as teachers/school staff. We have the following dates in the diary from the schools involved with the project for the delivery of these workshops:
1. Monday 17th June working with one class
2. Monday 8th July working with 2 classes
3. Tuesday 9th July working with 1 class
4. Thursday 11th July working with 4 classes
The installation will be going into a long table case on the mezzanine of the Museum. We would like this display to be a colourful celebration of fenland wildlife. The shallow nature of the case and viewing point from above means that two-dimensional artworks would work best for this display. It is essential that materials used are as sustainable as possible. This is a project about working to save biodiversity, a theme which runs through all aspects of the work. Materials should be sustainably sourced, appropriate for use by children, and recyclable. However, care does need to be taken to not include materials that might bring in or encourage museum pests (e.g. avoiding food items/natural objects that may be harbouring insect larvae etc). Museum staff will work with you on making sure plans are appropriate for the audience and display space.
We would be looking to install the artwork the week commencing July 15th, with a celebratory event for children and their families on July 20th .
To celebrate the installation with our museum visitors more generally, we would like to include a family activity day in the school summer holidays with input from the artist facilitator linking to the artwork on display. We have the date of Tuesday 13th August pencilled in for this event, but if this is not suitable we can discuss alternatives either the week commencing August 12th or week commencing August 27th .
Other Information
We are looking for an artist with experience working with primary school children, and has an interest in the natural world and human impacts upon it. As you would be working with children, offers will be subject to appropriate DBS check.
Fee
£2400 excluding materials, for which there is a separate budget of £400, and travel. Fee is calculated at the rate of £300 per day on the basis of delivering workshops in four schools (4 days), a family event in the school summer holidays (1 day), plus time for meetings, preparation for sessions, and creating and installing the display (3 days).
Send a proposal
To apply for this freelance opportunity, please send us a proposal for this project, outlining the materials and construction and how you would work with the schools to create its content. We would also like to know about you so please also send a CV with information about your experience and links to any previous projects, and two referees we can contact about your work.
The deadline for submissions is 9am on Monday 3rd June. We will aim to contact short-listed candidates week commencing 3 June with any questions etc. and appoint shortly afterwards. For further information, please contact Senior Learning and Engagement Coordinator Roz Wade on rcw30@cam.ac.uk
