Artist Commission: Remembrance: Now, Then, Always

This commission brings together artists and community participants to explore the evolving meaning of remembrance today. In collaboration with the Gravesend Poppy Appeal, the project seeks to honor the legacy of those who have served while re-interpreting remembrance for present and future generations.

We recognise that remembrance is not static – it is lived, felt and expressed differently across communities, cultures and generations. This project will culminate in a public exhibition at St Georges Arts Centre accompanied by meaningful community engagement activities.

We are seeking artists (individuals or collectives) to develop new work that responds to the ethos of remembrance today. Artists will be expected to:

·       Create original work for exhibition of any medium including (but not limited to) installation, sculpture, mixed media, photography, painting suitable for the exhibition space

·       Engage with the local community, cadet & youth groups through workshops, conversations or co-creations

·       Respond to archival materials, lived experiences, or contemporary perspectives on remembrance

·       Collaborate with project partners to ensure sensitivity and authenticity

·       Fill the exhibition space in its entirety

The total fee is up to £2,500

The total available commission is inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, workshop delivery, preparation time, and documentation costs. Artists should provide a realistic outline of how they would allocate the budget in relation to the scale of the proposed activity.

Project Aims:

·       To reinterpret remembrance in a modern context while respecting its historical foundations

·       To create intergenerational dialogue around memory, service, sacrifice, and legacy

·       To engage communities in the creative process

·       To create a thought-provoking exhibition that resonates emotionally and intellectually

A core element of this project is community engagement. Artists should propose ways to involve the community, such as:

·       Creative workshops with schools, veterans or cadet groups

·       Oral history or storytelling

·       Participatory artwork sessions

·       Informal gatherings

·       Digital or a form of interactive elements

S   All submissions should be emailed to artsandculture@gravesham.gov.uk

     Submission deadline: 23:59, Monday 6th July.

     The final work will be presented in an exhibition at St George’s Arts Centre from

     Tuesday 3rd November – Sunday 15 November.

     Installation will be on Monday 2nd November with deinstall on Monday 16th November