COMMISSION FOR PERMACULTURE DESIGNER AS PART OF CREATIVE PROJECT WITH ENCOUNTERS ARTS 2011

Introduction to the Project

Encounters Arts is collaborating with Arts Admin at Toynbee Studios, Central London and Dartington Arts in Devon to create A Patch of Ground a high quality participatory arts and growing project working with an inter-generational group of local residents. A Patch of Ground explores the themes of people, place and planet and is inspired by permaculture principles. The project runs weekly from the end of April and culminates in September with an exhibition and public performances at both sites.

A Patch of Ground took place in 2009 in Liverpool at the Bluecoat as part of Liverpool’s Year of the Environment and 2010 at Darts (Doncaster Arts) in 2010.

See here images and more background:
http://www.encounters-arts.org.uk/perf/performance.htm#patch
http://www.encounters-arts.org.uk/perf/patch-images.htm

As part of this project we would like to work with a local permaculture designer/ grower to create a herb and vegetable growing garden at Toynbee Studios where project participants can learn about how to cultivate salad, herbs, veg. and fruit and some of the principles of permaculture during the project period of five months - April to September. The designer will also provide support to the Project’s Permaculture Apprentice. The garden should be inspired by best practice permaculture and organic growing techniques and a creative exploration of design possibilities within the limitations and opportunities of the project duration and the available space.

The food growing element is integral to and intertwined with the Patch of Ground creative process where up to 25 people come together every week to eat, cook, reflect, create and garden together.

Background to London Project Partners

Encounters Arts have been pioneering creative approaches to engagement and involvement since 2003, by producing intimate and immediate participatory interventions that inspire creativity, dialogue and exchange between people of all ages and cultures. Encounters tailor-make projects for each context enabling people through different creative processes to create new stories to live by on individual, local, city wide and global levels. These stories are then retold to a wider community through exhibitions, public art, performance, publications and special events. See website for additional info: www.encounters-arts.org.uk

A Patch of Ground was devised by Encounters Arts director Ruth Ben-Tovim working with Associate Artist Anne-Marie Culhane. Anne-Marie has worked for sixteen years as an environmental artist, performer and community activist and has trained in Permaculture Design.

Artsadmin is a unique producing and presenting organisation for contemporary artists working in a range of artforms. At its Toynbee Studios home, Artsadmin has established a centre for the creation, development and presentation of new work and space for artists and audiences to experiment. At the heart of all Artsadmin’s activity lies a belief in the power of innovative, risk-taking and inspiring work that continues to search for new ways of questioning the world we live in.

The Permaculture Association is a supporting partner in this project.

More detailed Brief

Each weekly, three hour session starts with the group meeting in the garden for up to an hour to see what has changed and to undertake any tasks that are required. This gives the opportunity to demonstrate practically and talk each week about different aspects of the growing process and eventually…taste the fruits of their labours! It is intended that the garden provide some of the food/herbs for the weekly meal that the group cooks for each other and for the performance at the end of the project.

The permaculture designer will:

Design the growing space making an innovative design that maximises the potential of the space
Source materials for the project build - where possible recycled/reused/locally resourced and minimal impact
Oversee installation of any infrastructure such as composting, system(s) and rainwater harvesting working with volunteer assistance
Provide a mix of perennial and annual edible plants - purchased as plants and also growing from seed
Facilitate some of the growing sessions and provide ongoing mentoring support to the Permaculture Apprentice who will assist with the project build and attend every session

This will include:

Meeting with the project team to ok the design and budget and provide some documentation of design process as a project resource (drawings, design methods etc)

Liaising with the project team at Toynbee Studios regarding the installation of infrastructure and for all on the ground support and Anne-Marie Culhane at Encounters who will manage the growing aspect of the project and its integration with the rest of A Patch of Ground

Essential requirements:

The candidate should be really excited about this unique creative opportunity in terms of their own practice and learning and should be excited by working as part of a diverse and creative team. They need to be experienced, adaptable, flexible and a good communicator with confidence in taking on a mentoring role. Ideally they will live within a short distance from the project site. The main design and installation work will take place in March-April 2011. Project runs April-September.

Budget:

Design & installation fee £700
Sessional & mentoring work £400 (includes delivery of 8-10 sessions)

Materials budget available up to £500

To Apply:

Please send by email:
1. Information on two most relevant designs you have undertaken in the last 5 years – with any drawings/supporting written information and documentation/budgets as PDFs.
2. a CV
3. Up to one side of A4 on: What interests you about this project,; your experience of communicating permaculture ideas to different people and what you feel are the possibilities and limitations of this project within a creative/artistic context?

to mail@amculhane.co.uk

If you would like an informal chat about the brief contact Anne-Marie on 01208 871767

We will shortlist two candidates who will be invited to Toynbee Studios for an informal interview and discussion regarding the site.

Deadline for Applications: 20 February 2011. Interviews will take place first week of March.