Oriel Myrddin Gallery Commission: Call for Artwork Proposals
Deadline: 19 January 2025
Oriel Myrddin Gallery is excited to announce a commission opportunity specifically for global majority* artists. We are seeking proposals for a new visual artwork in any medium that gives a platform to celebrate the contributions of global majority people in Wales, recognising your impact on Wales’s history, culture, and identity.
Oriel Myrddin is undergoing a huge transformation, and this commission will be part of the permanent collection when we re-open in 2025.
* We use the term global majority to acknowledge that people of Black, Asian, and other non-white ethnic backgrounds represent the majority of the world's population, challenging the Eurocentric view that they are a minority. We recognise that terminology evolves, and while we have chosen this as an umbrella term, we are committed to being respectful of how each individual wishes to be identified.
Who Should Apply:
You should apply if you are a visual artist who identifies as being part of the global majority (Black, Asian, Indigenous, mixed-heritage, and other non-white ethnic groups). We particularly encourage applications from artists with connections to Wales or if your work explores themes of Welsh culture, identity, and the intersection of global majority experiences within Wales.
The Commission:
Budget: £10,000 (to include materials, time, travel)
The commission should result in a new visual art piece, which can be in any visual medium. This includes, but is not limited to, painting, sculpture, photography, or craft (e.g., ceramics, textiles, metalwork, woodcraft).
IF commissioned, you will be invited to tour the redevelopment of OM to discuss an appropriate home for the commission in conversation with the OM team.
The completed work will be permanently exhibited at Oriel Myrddin post relaunch in 2025.
Timeline:
If you have any question or would like to know more, you are welcome to email us at OMEducationQueries@carmarthenshire.gov.uk with the subject line: “Oriel Myrddin Gallery Commission: Questions” we will endeavour to share all questions (anonymously) and answers to those questions publicly.
Deadline for application queries: 20 December 2024
Publication of Q and A’s: 6 January 2025
Application deadline: 19 January 2025
Successful applicant notified: week of 27 January 2025
Completion of the commission: 30 May 2025
Installation date of work: Post summer 2025
How to Apply:
To apply, please submit:
A written proposal (maximum 500 words) outlining your concept for the artwork, how it aligns with the theme of celebrating global majority people in Wales, and the impact you aim for the work to have. Or if you prefer you can send an audio or video recording of the above of 12 minutes or less. (If you are submitting your application in this format, please email a link rather than an attachment. The production quality of your recording will not influence your application, but your response must be audible and clear to the panel).
Artist statement and CV (maximum 2 sides A4).
Portfolio (up to 10 images) showcasing previous relevant works.
Budget breakdown for how the £10,000 commission will be allocated. (This should include e.g. fee, materials, expenses etc.)
Submission:
Applications should be submitted to OMEducationQueries@carmarthenshire.gov.uk with the subject line: “Oriel Myrddin Gallery Commission: Call for Artwork Proposals”
Once you have submitted your proposal, you should receive an automated response confirming we have received your email and prompting you to complete an Equal Opportunities questionnaire.
Selection Process:
Proposals will be reviewed by OM staff and a panel of curators and advisors, with the successful artist notified by the week of 27 January 2025. There is no interview, we will be simply looking at your proposal. Selection will be based on originality and a new approach, relevance to the theme, and feasibility of the project within the allocated budget and timeline.
The panel will assess the work against the following criteria.
Originality – new approaches to this work
Relevance – work that clearly relates to the theme and is recognisably about the contributions of global majority people in Wales, and your impact on Wales’s history, culture and identity.
Feasibility – show in your application how the work can be made within the timeframe and the budget of £10,000.
The selectors are:
Catherine Spring – Oriel Myrddin Gallery Manager
Helga Henry – Cultural Sector Consultant
Cinzia Mutigli – Artist and Co-Director of G39
Marva Jackson Lord - Digital Collagist & Web Consultant
We very much look forward to receiving your ideas and plans to make a permanent addition to our gallery and celebrate the opening of our wonderful new space.