BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

13.2 - Attachment 4

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FROM ARTISTS AND CREATIVES FOR ARTISTIC TREATMENT OF BYRON SHIRE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE (PUMP STATIONS)

Introduction

This document outlines the background and details for developing artistic treatment concept designs and installation on Byron Shire Water Infrastructure – specifically sewer pump stations.

Byron Shire Council are calling for expressions of interest from individuals or consortiums of artists interested in submitting concept designs for artwork on several sewer pump stations in the Byron Shire. These art installations are considered an opportunity to showcase local artwork and also provide an opportunity to express some of the community core values and key messages to locals and visitors alike. A copy of the destination brand guidelines have been provided to assist with understanding the community core values and key brand messages which may be appropriate, or may trigger some other creative ideas.

Proposals including artwork concept designs  may be submitted for one or more sewer pump stations across the Shire, as outlined below.

The Public Art Assessment Panel will be overseeing the artistic process as governed by the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria and Public Art Policy.

This is one of two briefs. This brief includes the artistic treatment to Sewer Pump Stations around the Shire and the second brief is for artwork on two large water reservoirs.

Background

A: Public Art on Water Infrastructure in Byron Shire

Many of Council’s water assets are the subject of graffiti and other damage. It has been identified that public art may be a solution some way towards the problem with the aim of achieving a tidier, more beautiful Shire and a chance to showcase local artists work.

Council have invested significant resources in developing the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan as outlined below. Beautifying the Shires water infrastructure supports the Masterplan and efforts to improve the town centre.

There are several sewer pump stations around the Shire that could benefit from artistic treatment as listed in the table below. In the initial year, expressions of interest should focus on high profile stations, with a spread across the Shire and perhaps include two of the bigger stations and two smaller ones. The type and style of artwork is open to discussion and may include murals or other paint or media treatments, sculpture and or landscape art.

The budget allocated to this project for 2015/16 financial year is $20,000 and submissions will be expected to outline which pump stations will be included by the artist. The intention is that over several years, most of the pump stations will be artistically treated in a staged process, as budget allows.

With each pump station reflecting the immediate local area, eventually, the water infrastructure across the Shire will become a public art collection or public space gallery interpreting the surroundings.

Photos of some of the sites are provided below (taken in July 2015).

SEWER PUMP STATIONS
Bangalow
1001	Pacific Highway
1003	Lismore Road
Brunswick Heads
2001	South Beach Road
2008	Sports ground
2010	Bayside Way
Byron Bay
3001	Bangalow Road
3002	Tennyson Street
3004	Milton Street
3005	Childe Street
3006	Marine Parade, Wategos
3007	Broken Head Road, Suffolk Park
3009	Clifford Street, Suffolk Park
3017	High School
3018	Cemetery Road
3020	Armstrong Street South, Suffolk Park
3029	Beach Road, Broken Head
Mullumbimby
4000	Station and Train Streets
4004	Palm Avenue
4005	Pine Street

Examples of sewerage pump stations

Wategos Pump Station

Old Bangalow Road Pump Station (near Eden Garden Centre)   Byron Bay High School Station

Suffolk Park                                                                                        Broken Head Road

Byron Bay Rec Ground                                                                      Byron Bay Rec Ground

Bayshore Drive near Depot

B: Primary Brand: Byron (Don’t Spoil Us, We’ll Spoil You)

Byron Shire Council developed a new identity/ brand for Byron Shire, which aims to attract appropriate visitor markets, extend visitor length of stay and encourage visitor dispersal throughout the Shire. The Visual Identity Guide for the Byron brand is attached. The brand was developed with considerable community consultation and is based on the community core values (listed in the Visual Identity Guide).

A communications strategy to implement the brand seeks to, over time, change the visitor type by overcoming the Byron Bay party-town image and attract visitors to Byron Shire that respect and love the Shire as much as the locals do.

The brand is simply ‘Byron’. The brand essence is: “Byron Shire has an energy, an attitude, and a sense of community. It’s the people who live here and love this place, that make it what it is. It’s the musicians, the elders, the artists, the plumbers, the farmers, the surfers, the healers, the councillors, the millionaires, the buskers, the writers, the greenies, the capitalists, the misfits.”

C: Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan

The Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan is almost finalised. The Masterplan will provide the framework for a completely revitalised town centre while ensuring Byron Bay’s character is preserved and enhanced.

Byron Bay is a town where the community have strong values and beliefs that has created a culture where sustainable practices and alternate ways of living, play a crucial role in the way our community chooses to lead their lives. This culture is a key ingredient that defines Byron Bay and will be harnessed, preserved and celebrated in the development of a town centre masterplan.

When completed, the Masterplan will promote the town’s natural environment, relaxed atmosphere, spiritual and cultural diversity, health and well-being experiences, innovative enterprises, and provide a consistent image for Byron Bay. This will help to attract appropriate visitor markets, extend length of stays and encourage visitor dispersal across the Shire. More importantly, an innovative place making strategy will provide a vibrant and diverse town centre for the resident population to enjoy - a place to be reclaimed.

D: Byron Shire Council – Supporting Local Public Art

Byron Shire Council support the development of the arts and creative industries as demonstrated in the Byron Shire Cultural Plan (2008 – 2013), the Arts and Creative Industries Strategy for the Byron Shire (2009 – 2012) and a Public Art Policy.

The Public Art Policy states:

·    A centre for arts and culture, the Northern Rivers is renowned for its creative communities and for its beautiful coastal and rainforest environments.

·    Culture is the expression of the history, heritage, customs, arts, recreation, creativity and values of our community. Council seeks to protect the cultural and place values of local areas and streetscapes; to reflect heritage, character and charm, in the interest of the community as whole. This policy will support the engagement of local artists to create public art works and will directly benefit the local community by generating employment, building commitment and sustainability. Furthermore, it creates opportunities for creative learning and information sharing about cultural activities.

·    Byron Shire Council recognises that the daily lives of residents and visitors can be enriched and enlivened through the presence of quality works of art in the Shire. Council also recognises that a collection of such art will attract visitors with shared values.

·    Public Art is one way to recognise local artists and values whilst adding a new dimension to public spaces in the Shire. This policy is designed to support Public Art in Byron Shire within a framework that clearly outlines the practical considerations for management and selection of such artwork. The framework will ensure the distinctiveness and mix of cultural values in each of the towns, rural villages and localities is reflected by Public Art installations. It is to be used by Council staff and external parties such as developers, architects and urban designers for commissioning new works, acquiring existing works, collection management and maintenance.

Council has developed the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria. The commissioning of any artwork by Council is undertaken using the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria. All of the documents mentioned above are available on Council’s website under ‘publications’.

Council established the Public Art Assessment Panel (PAAP) in order to provide recommendations to Council following assessment of artwork proposals. The process of commissioning this artwork will require some liaison with the PAAP as outlined in the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria (specifically section 6).

In assessing each concept the Public Art Assessment Panel aims to ensure that the successful proposal:

1.      is of a high standard in terms of design and technical and structural execution;

2.      is culturally appropriate

3.      requires low level maintenance

4.      does not pose risk or WH&S management issues

5.      best meets the requirements outlined in the project brief and Council’s broader objectives

6.      meets relevant building and safety standards

7.      does not pose any long-term conservation issues

8.      meets the requirements of the project budget

9.      will meet the specified timeframe; and

10.    is assessed on the basis of the guidelines outlined in this document and Council’s Public Art Policy.

The process will include:

1.    Interested artists submit an expression of interest (EOI)/ Proposal, including images of their previous work, a concept design for the project and proposals for the installation of the work.

2.    The EOI of the shortlisted artists will be assessed by the PAAP. This may require the artist to be present to talk to their EOI (to be confirmed).

3.    The PAAP will select a preferred concept design and make a recommendation to Council.

4.    Once Council has endorsed the preferred artwork, the successful artist will be offered a contract agreement which will outline the specific terms and conditions of the project between the stakeholders. (A sample contract is available in the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria Appendix 5)

5.    The artist will undertake the commission.

Objectives of the Engagement

1.    To provide Byron Shire Council with a creative or artistic treatment on selected pump stations from the above table;

a.    Expressing the Shire’s culture, creativity and values of the community in mind (communicating community core values and key messages);

b.    Reflect the immediate local area where the station is located;

c.     Will provide inspiration as viewed from a distance or a fast moving motor vehicle;

d.    Which will deter graffiti and thereby reduce, if not eliminate, the need for regular graffiti removal;

e.    Will have very minimal, if any, future maintenance costs;

f.     Will not obstruct access to pump stations;

g.    Will be of low risk in regards to work, health and public safety.

Scope of Works

The Artist shall provide enough information to address the objectives above, including, but not necessarily limited to the following major tasks:

1.    Provide information as follows in order for the Public Art Assessment Panel to consider the expression of interest:

1.1.  submit a concept design and proposal for the installation of the work for the selected pump stations, outlining which pump stations are part of the submission keeping in mind it is Council’s preference to commence with  stations in highly visible locations, with a spread across the Shire and perhaps include two of the bigger stations and two smaller ones.

1.2.  a proposal of the artwork (ie the type, style and details of materials, etc) (a pro forma is available to use based on Appendix 9 of the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria)

1.3.  a maintenance manual (a pro forma is available to use based on Appendix 6 of the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria)

1.4.  a public art risk assessment (a pro forma is available to use based on Appendix 10 of the Public Art Guidelines and Criteria)

1.5.  submit samples or images of previous work demonstrating your experience on similar projects

2.    If requested, be available to speak to your expression of interest with the Public Art Assessment Panel members (to be confirmed).

3.    If successful, artwork to be installed by the artist according to the concept design approved by Council.

Timeline

EOI’s must be lodged with Council prior to the deadline, being 4pm Friday 15 January 2016.

Milestone	Date	Payment schedule
Proposals to be submitted by 4pm	15 January 2016
Milestone 1 – Commission commences (contract to be signed)	March 2016	50%
Milestone 2 – artwork is installed, practical completion  and project evaluation finalised	27 May 2016	50%

Enquiries to Joanne McMurtry, Community Policy Officer, Byron Shire Council on phone 6626 7316 or via email joanne.mcmurtry@byron.nsw.gov.au