Artist Commission: Lost In Music

Artist Commission: Lost In Music

Gloucester Guildhall Closing date: Thu, 14 May 2026

Artform: Combined arts
Role: Creative
Contract: Temporary
South West
  • Part time
  • Under £10K

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 "> published -

Job Summary

Interactive installation and engagement activities at Gloucester Guildhall.

Job Description

Gloucester Guildhall invites proposals from artists, designers, and creative collectives to create joyful, high impact installations and activities that transform Gloucester Guildhall for our annual five day family festival 'Lost In Music' in August, part of the city wide Summer of Sound programme and coinciding with coincide with the city's popular Retro Festival. The installation should be open access, with additional ticketed engagement activities.

Purpose: To immerse people, particularly families, in our amazing heritage through shared moments of music and dance, creating joy, escapism, connection, and belonging, while complementing wider city cultural programmes during the week

Ambition: We welcome playful, imaginative, contemporary, unexpected and sensory responses that explore rhythm, play, sound, nostalgia, movement and the joy of getting "lost" in music. We love the idea of surprising moments in unexpected spaces. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and actively seek creatives that push boundaries and make positive change.

Audience: Family focused but we welcome ideas around activating the installation for 'big kids' for us to widen our engagement across the week.

Dates /Times: 25th - 30th August . Open access 10am-2pm including designated relaxed times. There is also scope for activating the spaces outside these times for different audiences.

Spaces: Gallery, Bluecoat Room, George Hunt Room, cinema (while retaining cinema functionality) and unexpected spaces eg. Lifts, toilets and nooks. See Appendix 1 for more detailed information

Fee: The commission is for £6,000 To cover all costs of the commission, including artist fees, materials travel, and expenses (inc. accommodation).

Job Requirements

We welcome applications from artists, designers, creative technologists, theatre makers, collectives, and practitioners working across installation, interactive arts, outdoor festivals, performance, sound, or participatory practice.

We especially welcome artists from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds, recognising the richness and depth they bring to the cultural landscape.

Criteria for appointment:

Demonstrable experience or passion within your team of working with communities, ability to facilitate conversations and devise work with different co-creative methods.

Response to project purpose, ambition and themes

Demonstrable practical awareness of installation in public and heritage spaces (safety, durability, accessibility)

Demonstrable ability to deliver work of artistic integrity according to milestones and budget agreed.

Job Responsibilities

We are seeking cohesive, high impact interactive installations and activities or that transforms the Guildhall Gallery and adjoining spaces into an immersive 'playground' and/or 'festival' for 5 mornings in the summer. The work should be visually striking, interactive or playable, suitable for families and intergenerational audiences, capable of handling high footfall, and respond creatively to the theme Lost in Music.

The Guildhall Gallery space is a great opportunity for a bold, playful centrepiece. Proposals are also encouraged to extend playfully into smaller and transitional spaces across the Guildhall including lift lobbies, corridors, stairwells, toilets and activate our adjoining meeting spaces.

The commission should include some meaningful community co creation, with opportunities for local children, families, and partners to help shape or activate the work through accessible making, workshops, performances, or playful moments, encouraging adults to play too.

Useful Links

Job Overview

  • Job Title: Artist Commission: Lost In Music
  • Salary: Under £10K
  • Hours: Part time
  • Artform: Combined arts
  • Role: Creative
  • Contract: Temporary
  • Closing date: Thu, 14 May 2026
  • Location:
    South West
    | view on Google Maps

Job: Artist Commission: Lost In Music

Job: Artist Commission: Lost In Music

Organisation: Gloucester Guildhall

Postcode: Gl1 1NS

How to Apply

To be considered for this project, please submit the following:
• A full CV demonstrating your practice and past work produced.
• Images of previous work, or link to website and any other relevant material showcasing your Practice.
• A brief proposal for the commission. No more than 750 words, or equivalent. Please include:
- A clear outline of your idea
- A description of how audiences (especially children and families) could co-create, engage, shape, play, explore, or help activate the work and how many activities would be facilitated over the week
- Rough breakdown of budget ( no word count)
Apply to: [email protected]. Subject line: LOST IN MUSIC – Artist Commission Application