Countryside and Hyde have announced an open call opportunity for an artist to commission a new piece of public realm artwork at Rochester Riverside, their £419m flagship regeneration scheme.
This creative commission will decorate areas of the public plaza at the new development of up to 1,400 homes on the River Medway.
Artists are being asked to develop and submit unique and imaginative design ideas for vinyls or graphics that will be erected within the station underpass and above the entrances to the underpass. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals to showcase their talent and work closely with Countryside, Hyde, Medway Council and Homes England, supporting Medway’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid.
The new artwork will be carried out as part of the improvement works to the pedestrian underpass at Rochester Station, improving not only safety but also the overall attractiveness of the area. The public artwork will be commissioned by an artist whose designs should encapsulate the following:
- An attractive and engaging piece of art that the local community can admire.
- A design that enhances the local character whilst integrating with the surrounding environment. The artwork will form part of Medway Council’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid, so should embrace Medway’s ambitious new Cultural Strategy.
- Artwork that is safe to members of the public, resistant to vandalism, durable and does not require excessive on-going maintenance.
The budget for the project will be £30,000 (which includes artist’s fees, materials, fabrication and installation), and the deadline for submission is 5pm on Monday, 20 September 2021.
Find out more and download the full artist's brief. To submit your proposals please email: RochesterRiverside@secnewgate.co.uk.
Medway is home to a range of talented creatives
Cllr Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, said: “Medway is home to a broad range of talented creatives and I would encourage local artists to get involved with this fantastic opportunity. Becoming UK City of Culture 2025 would create a legacy of opportunities for residents, particularly our children and young people. I look forward to seeing the finished artworks.”
Helping to create a sense of place
Andrew Usher, Managing Director, South London, Countryside, commented: “From the River Medway-inspired artwork lining the public plaza and river walkway to our restoration of the famous dockside blue crane, public art is at the heart of Rochester Riverside. Helping to create a sense of place and elevate the development above the norm, we’re excited to continue this through the new public art commission to transform the station subway.”
Medway is a hotbed of creativity
Guy Slocombe, Chief Investment Officer at Hyde, added: “Medway is a hotbed of creativity and so we’re looking forward to receiving submissions from both local artists and those from further afield, giving new talent a platform to shine. This new public art will support Medway’s aspiration to become UK City of Culture 2025, and we can’t wait to see the designs come to life.”
Rochester Riverside is the region’s flagship regeneration project, delivered by Countryside and Hyde over 12 years. A new mixed-tenure community of up to 1,400 new homes is being created, along with a new primary school, nursery, hotel, 2.5km river walkway, commercial units, parking, green open spaces, play areas and landscaping.