#OctopusStory Open Call for Artists Proposals

To assist with the further development of the #OctopusStory project we are now issuing an open call for artists to contribute to the final show at Portsmouth Cathedral as part of the We Shine – Portsmouth festival of light. We have a great team of creatives already onboard and this will be an opportunity to work with this group to produce a spectacular immersive experience for the city of Portsmouth. The call for proposals includes three elements: the design and construction of a large octopus and the contribution of three medium-scale installations all of which is fully detailed in the call for proposals which you can download below.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL CALL FOR PROPOSALS HERE

Project Background

Portsmouth is a city surrounded by the sea. Changes to the health of the ocean have an impact on the city, from pollution to rising sea levels we are as affected as the creatures that live in the water.

A nine-month long project is working with people across the city to produce a large-scale immersive audio-visual installation and theatre performance inspired by the ‘Octopus Medicine’ poems by Becci Louise. This will encourage audiences to develop a connection with the ocean, both as an otherworld and an eco-system upon which our own, terrestrial lives, thoroughly rely.

In November 2022 the flagship event of the project will take place at Portsmouth Cathedral. Over 3 days immersive theatre, video projections, soundscapes and performance will take visitors on a journey to an undersea world full of magic and mystery.

Project Requirements

The project is issuing an open call for proposals to respond to one or more of the requirements for a giant octopus and three separate installations.

The work will be installed inside Portsmouth Cathedral. Performances will last around 50 minutes. During the three performances there will be around 200 people in the building. The work needs to be suitable for all 200 people to experience in the time available without noticeable queuing.

The Cathedral will be open for services and may be open to the general public during the day. The proposals must be robust enough to deal with people touching it or be designed to avoid this. If barriers are included to prevent people touching the artwork this cannot compromise the aesthetic of the proposed work.

Portsmouth Cathedral is a listed building and a place of worship. Installations cannot affect the fabric of the building and must be respectful of its primary purpose.

The project has no specific requirement in relation to the materials used and welcomes creative ideas that take a broad interpretation of ‘installation’.

It is recommended that you read the short poem book ‘Octopus Medicine’ by Becci Louise to inform your proposal. The book can be purchased from our CROWD FUNDER or borrowed from any of the libraries in Portsmouth.

The expected fees shown for each item are to help you produce appropriate proposals. The project budget is exceedingly tight and the amount available is less than the total maximum fees. The project considers cost as important as the creative idea. You can submit differently priced proposals for any requirement (e.g a lower cost and a more expensive option).

Applicants will be selected based on the best overall combination of proposals that falls within the budget available.

There is an under-investment in arts in Portsmouth. The project has a preference to award the work to people based in this area subject to finding suitable creative ideas within budget.

The project will have riggers on site for the installation of artwork who can help with the set-up of anything that needs specialist rigging.

The project is working with a lighting company that will illuminate the Cathedral, octopus and installations. Any audio in your proposal needs to consider there may be an ambient soundscape in the Cathedral as part of the overall event.