Search launched to find North East artist to create work in response to lockdown life

Creative people are being invited to put themselves forward for the £1,500 project, which is being financially backed by Arts Council England to help support independent artists after galleries and art shops were closed due to the crisis.

The project is being led by Sunderland-based Norfolk Street Arts, with the successful artist to be given the cash and a four-week deadline to produce the work for their own exhibition themed around Covid-19.

The artist will need to be able to transport their pieces to the gallery to install it and take it down after the month-long private exhibition.

It will be one of a series of commissions hosted by the venue and is open to people from across the region, not just on Wearside.

Vincent Todd, director of Norfolk Street Arts, said: “We’re so pleased to have been able to secure this grant from Arts Council England, helping us to support some of the talented people working in the region’s creative sector, which has been one of the hardest hit in the current crisis.

"Our organisation has had to make significant changes in light of Covid-19, as we too have had to close our doors, alongside many others.

"We have been able to find new ways to work thanks to this grant, enabling artists to reach new audiences.

"We have taken the step of digitally mapping all of our new exhibitions, turning them into online showcases of each artist’s work, ensuring audiences are still able to access some of the fantastic work being produced by our region’s talented creatives.

“This is our second of four £1,500 commissions of this kind, each with a different theme.

"We hope these commissions will make at least some small difference toward helping our region’s creative economy at this difficult time.

"For some, the payment could be a real lifeline to supporting them in continuing with their work and inspiration during this most challenging period.”

Interested artists interested have until 5pm on Friday, August 21, to complete and submit their application, which is available by emailing [email protected].

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