The Lowry searches for artists to create new site-specific work overlooking MediaCityUK
The Lowry’s Transformations project, worth £20,000 to the winning artist, is now accepting entries for its second year. This year the selectors include Turner Prize-shortlisted artists Jane & Louise Wilson and the director of the New Art Gallery in Walsall, Stephen Snoddy. The closing date for entries is 22 August 2008.
The commission is to create site specific work for the powerful Promenade Gallery at The Lowry, Salford’s hugely popular theatres and galleries complex. The Promenade has an unrivalled aspect overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal and the new MediaCityUK development, which will become home to, amongst others, the BBC in 2011. The search is on for artists to work in that special context, with selected work shown from April 2009.
Artist duo Grennan & Sperandio won the first Transformations commission, creating a series of enormous inflatable “Salford Avatars” which were exhibited at The Lowry earlier this year and provoked much debate within the city.
Mark Doyle, The Lowry’s Exhibition Programmer, commented: “The Promenade is an inspirational space which, we feel, presents a rare opportunity for artists to experiment and test new approaches to their practice. The selected artist will be given time, funding and support to research, develop and realise new work which responds to the unique aspects of the Promenade to positive and dramatic effect. The judges will be looking at the artist’s level of experience, the strength of their proposal and the persuasiveness of their argument for a new approach to their practice at this particular stage in their career”.
Transformations is aimed at mid-career professional artists and has been funded over three years by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. Five shortlisted artists will receive up to £1000 each to develop their proposals and present them to the selection panel in late September. The winner will be announced on 1 October 2008.
Applications for Transformations will be accepted in any medium or material including sculpture, light, sound, installation, painting, text and multi-media. The deadline for submission is Friday 22 August and those interested should log on to www.thelowry.com/transformations for further details or write to Mark Doyle, Exhibitions Programmer, The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ
Posted on Monday, 21 July 2008 under Press Galleries Press