Our friends at Navigator North have an exciting new opportunity for one talented artist looking to immerse themselves in the cultural life of Middlesborough’s historic town centre.
In the July 2021 edition of their newsletter, they stated that they had some exciting updates to share as part of their recently launched ‘Celebrating Hidden Middlesborough’ programme, which aims to highlight how the buildings, industries, people, and communities have influenced the broader culture of the town over the years, and how that might offer us alternative ways to think about and use the High Street in the 21st Century.
In an excerpt from their newsletter they write:
“With Tees Valley Arts we are looking to appoint an artist in residence as part of our Exchange Residency. This will begin in Autumn 2021 and run through to Autumn 2022. We’re really looking forward to finding out what might inspire artists and communities to explore this further with us.”
Navigator North
Navigator North go on to talk in further detail about how they are inviting artist applications to a year-long residency scheme exploring the cultural life of a historic centre of the town – Exchange Square, between Autumn 2021 and Autumn 2022.
They explain how the area was the hub of commercial activity during the town’s rise to prominence and remained an important exchange point, either from commerce or transportation with both the railway station and the bus stations located in this district, through until the 1980s.
“More recently the Square has been an important centre for the town’s nightlife with several well-established bars and nightclubs located within the grand former civic buildings.
This residency will focus on researching, relating, and exchanging the histories of the town that matter to the communities living and working within the HSHAZ.”
Navigator North
The proposal will offer the selected artist an opportunity to research and respond to the hidden heritage narrative that exists within the town, connect with communities to uncover and celebrate heritage stories in a meaningful way, become part of a growing archive of responses to the heritage of Middlesbrough, develop exhibition or public realm outcomes in association with Tees Valley Arts and Navigator North (as programme leads), work with the Exchange Researcher in Residence to consider other avenues for dissemination of research, and last but not least engage with the relevant steering panels to help envisage the future of the HSHAZ and ensure that its communities’ stories are reflected (supported by Tees Valley Arts and Navigator North).
Artist Fee: £11,000
If this sounds like it’s the opportunity for you then download the Artist Brief and send your application to info@teesvalleyarts.org.uk by 5pm Friday 30th July 2021!