Artist Opportunity: a friendship blanket

The Bothy project group, a partnership between CIRCLE and OneRen, are looking for an artist to work with us to create a Friendship Blanket or Quilt which will take centre stage in our ‘Tranquillity Bay’ Healing Hut.

The Brief

Our ‘Tranquillity Bay’ Healing Hut will be a calm, joyful, inspiring space where you can forget your worries and chill out.  It is based in the grounds of CIRCLE, Glasgow Road, Paisley PA1

We are looking for an artist to work with a recovery group of 6-8 people at CIRCLE.  We will run the project for 10 weeks and there will be a one 2 hour workshop each week.  The workshops will run concurrently at a mutually agreed time between August and Dec 2022.

We are offering £150 per session with up to a £1000 materials budget (to include display mechanism).  Total maximum budget £2500.

Key concepts

Our ‘Tranquillity Bay’ Healing Hut is a space for members of CIRCLE, designed and run by members of CIRCLE and it is important that each project we commission for the hut results in a piece of work with symbolises as many of the following attributes as possible: community, healing, health, belonging, safety, quiet, recovery, commonality, connection, togetherness, breathing space, comfort, invitation, openness, calm, sensory, tranquillity.

Artists Skills

We are looking for an artist with the following skills:

• An ability to work with groups and experience working with groups
• A client focused approach
• Proficiency in one or more of the following skills; sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, tapestry, quilting
• An ability to encourage, inspire and teach others to learn the above skills

Artists Sensibilities

We are looking for someone who is patient, joyful, skilled, friendly and with a good sense of humour.  We would welcome artists with lived experience of recovery.

Outcome

A single high quality bespoke blanket or quilt made by members of the group in conjunction with the artist and which shows the input of all members of the group.  We would also like the artist to help provide a mechanism for hanging the blanket in our hut.

Funders

The project is a partnership between CIRCLE and OneRen. CIRCLE is a unique mental health and addiction service for people looking for a recovery focus. Find out more here.

How to apply

Please send in a CV, a brief statement of why you would like to work on the blanket/quilt and two examples of previous work or link to your website to richard.weeks@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Note: Artists will need to have (or be willing to apply for) a PVG and the informal interview process will take place on a Monday 12-1pm

Deadline: 11.59 pm Sunday 10th July 2022

For more info please contact; richard.weeks@renfrewshire.gov.uk