Calling all sculptor and artists, Design Brief for Sporting Sculptures

DESIGN
BRIEF

SPORTING
SCULPTURES PROMOTING MUSSELBURGH

RACECOURSE AND THE OLD GOLF COURSE
BACKGROUND

Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council
have been awarded grant aid from East Lothian Council and Awards For All to
commission an Artist/Designer to design and create two sculptures to promote
the sport of horse racing and golf  which
will enhance tourism not just in the town, but also throughout East Lothian.

SCULPTURE
ONE

Musselburgh racecourse is one of the oldest
in Scotland.  More that two decades ago
National Hunt racing was introduced to the racing calendar, which complemented
the existing flat racing.  In more recent
times the racecourse has gone from strength to strength.  It has won several accolades, including one
of the best small racecourses in Britain.  Visit Scotland
has also highly praised and highly rated the venue over the last two
years.  Certain race meetings have been
so successful in recent times that the "Ladies Day" meeting in June is
completely sold out months in advance.

SCULPTURE
TWO

The history of Musselburgh's Old Golf
Course is second to no other golf course; it is the oldest playing golf course
in the world.  The British open gold
championship has been held on the Old Course six times between 1874 and
1889.  The historical golfing
achievements in Musselburgh are absolutely breathtaking in sporting success,
with no fewer than five local men winning eleven opens between them.  Musselburgh is often referred as being the
cradle of golf in the same spirit as St
Andrews is recognised as the home of
golf.  The first open held in Ayr in 1860 was won by Willie
Park Snr. from Musselburgh.

PROPOSED SITE

The sculptures are to be sited at entrances
to the east and west of the town.  It is
planned to place one sculpture on Levenhall roundabout and one on Newhailes
roundabout (subject to local authority approval).   It is therefore anticipated that the
sculptures will be no more than three metres high.

THE COMMISSION

Artists/Designers are being invited to
submit designs for either one or both sculptures. The designs should reflect
the two areas as outlined above. The selection panel are looking for designs
that are original, innovative and thought provoking, in as much that the
observer will  recognise the significance
to Musselburgh and East Lothian of the sport of golf and horse racing.  Consideration must be given to the design and
the type of materials used with regard to public health and safety and to the
possibility of vandalism.  It is planned
that the maximum publicity for the sculptures and the Artist/Designer will be
pursued.  Articles and features will be
progressed not just in the local and national newspapers but in various
sporting magazines.  This commission
therefore could represent an ideal opportunity for an emerging artist/designer
to enhance their career.

MATERIALS

All materials must be non combustible with
no sharp or pointed ends.  The sculpture
must be robust, strong and safely constructed as well as being well secured to
its base and the ground.  Providing that
the aforementioned criteria are all met there is no restriction to the type of
materials that can be used.  All metals
must be galvanised and finished with a good high quality paint that would last
for 15 years.  Any proposed lighting must
be carried out by a registered electrical contractor and carried out to the
satisfaction of the local authority.

HEALTH & SAFETY

It is essential that at all times full
consideration is given to health and safety and in that context that standards
are maintained to the high level as required by the local authority.  Contractors and sub contractors must meet all
of the appropriate industries governing body's standards.  All contractors must have all appropriate
insurance in place. Evidence of this will be requested.

Confirmation regarding the weight of the
sculpture and the manner in which it is to be secured will be required.  Therefore once the Artist/Designer has been
selected, to enable the commission to proceed to the detailed design
development as outlined in Stage Two below a report from a consulting engineer
would be required, stating that the loading on the base and manner of fixing is
satisfactory and safe to proceed.

PROGRAMME

The anticipated programme for the
commission is :

Stage One  - Submission of Concept Design:

Concept Design proposals for the artworks.

A written outline of materials and
production costs.

Stage Two  - Fabrication and Installation :

Detailed design development ( required for
planning consent)

Detailed programme for implementation

Method statements for fabrication /
installation

Management / undertaking of installation

Preparation of maintenance schedule for the
works

BUDGET

The total budget for two sculptures is
£22,000.  However, if the estimated costs
are likely to exceed the budget for the chosen design then consideration may be
given to a small increase in this figure.

If an Artist/Designer decides to submit a
design for only one sculpture, the budget will be restricted to £11,000
maximum.

Your total budget outline must include the
following:

  • The design,
  • The cost of fabrication including materials and production
    costs,
  • The delivery and installation on site including any ground
    works and lifting equipment.
  • The lighting.

The design and professional fees, sketches,
drawings (as planning approval is necessary, your drawing must be suitable to
submit to the local planning authority) should include VAT where
appropriate.  The Community Council will
pay the fee for the planning consent.

TIMESCALE

It is planned that all of the work must be
under construction by mid March 2009 and completed as near to the end of March
as possible. Timescales will be agreed with the Artist/Designer. As planning
consent will take about two months (subject to any objections) it is unlikely
that the successful artist/designer will get confirmation to proceed before
beginning March 2009.

GENERAL

The full committee of the Community Council
will select the most suitable two sculptures to be commissioned having
discussed the practicalities first with East Lothian Council.

Full payment for the sculptures incl fees
will be paid on completion of all the work on site, subject to the
Artist/Designer completing the project to the satisfaction of Community Council
and East Lothian Council .

If further information is required please
contact Mr Alan Hay of Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council on 0131 665
5812.

SUBMISSION
REQUIREMENTS

Interested Artists/ Designers are invited
to submit designs and full costings for the sculptures. Artists/Designers are also
requested to submit relevant background information (CV, artist statement,
images of work, details of relevant past projects).

All submissions must be returned by 12 noon on Monday 12 January 2009.  Please send your submissions to : Lesley
Smith, Principal Arts Officer, Brunton Hall, Ladywell Way,
Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 6A