We're looking for an artist to engage with a growing, multi-generational community shaped by an increase in new housing and seasonal visitors attracted to the two-mile sandy beach and distinctive Pebble Ridge along a key stretch of the South West Coast Path.
Artists from South West England and across the UK are welcome to apply. What matters most is your fit with the brief and selection criteria, and your willingness to spend time with the people and places of Westward Ho! to create work the community can connect with and feel proud of.
Public realm experience would be a strong advantage, especially where work has been developed through high-quality creative engagement. Community involvement in the design process will be essential. Projects should embed sound environmental thinking throughout.
The selected artist will work with Westward Ho!'s community steering group and creative participants to develop an original, context-specific public artwork for the village. The process is expected to take up to two years in the first instance.
Ambitions of the community steering group
Create a place-making centrepiece for Westward Ho! - something that gives local people the same sense of recognition and pride that residents in the neighbouring town of Bideford feel when crossing the bridge and seeing the town's lights.
Make it bold, joyful and distinctive, but rooted in the character of Westward Ho! and welcoming to all generations, including the village's older residents.
Focus on one standout artwork, possibly sculptural and potentially interactive, with lasting impact and the durability to withstand coastal weather and public use.
Embed environmental thinking throughout the design, materials and delivery.
Draw on Westward Ho!'s changing moods, from bright summer energy to rugged winter coast, alongside its rich local stories and history.