N56 to Road Scheme Public Art Project

Permanent Artwork with Engagement

Stage 1: Briefing Document & Application Deadline: 4pm on Monday, July 20th, 2020.

1. Commission / Nature of the Work

This public art commission is funded by the TII as part of the N56 Dungloe to Glenties Road Scheme. As is detailed in the Further Information, appended to the end of this brief, a key focus to this project was to provide a sustainable link in the form of a cycleway along this section of the N56. The focus was to provide a link that would promote cycling in the area and provide safer alternative means of travel for locals, and tourists who visit annually. The commissioners request that the central theme of this Art Project is focussed on the developed cycleway. The work might acknowledge the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ or the ‘Gweebarra Bridge’ as these focus on providing connectivity to the west of . The brief asks the artist/s to note the following:

 The artwork should be sculptural and permanent in nature. The constituent materials of the artwork will need to be of a robust nature and capable of withstanding the prevalent weather conditions which characterise the site’s exposed location. It should be relatively maintenance free.  The commissioners would like for there to be some engagement with key stakeholders during the process, for example, local cycling groups, walking groups, community groups, local & summer schools, businesses in close proximity to the proposed location. The commissioners would like to consider suggestions from the artist on what form this engagement will take, but examples might include; o an artist talk or presentation; o a remote studio visit/tour; o a workshop which may or may not have an input into the creative process; o stakeholders attending or being involved in the official opening ceremony; or o another suitable suggestion from the artist.  A commitment to Health and Safety policy is essential.

The following information is appended to the end of this Stage 1 Brief to assist the artist: 1. Application Form 2. Site Location Map 3. Location for Arts Installation 4. Further Information Relating to the Brief and the N56 Road Scheme

2. Site Location

The Commissioners wish that the work be sited in the vicinity of, Gweebarra Bar, Meenagowan, , . Please see the Site Map and Photographic images, as attached. The commissioners will consider an alternative location along the scheme should the artist so wish.

3. The Commissioning Process:

The Commissioners will employ a Two-Stage Open Competition Process to select a suitable practitioner(s) to deliver the Commission. It is open to all interested professional artists at any stage of their career or experience. Selection will be based on the information supplied and how that establishes the competence of the artists to carry out this commission. i. Stage 1

Artists are invited to express their interest in being considered for this project at the first stage of this commission. Interested practitioners are invited to submit the following to the Commissioners: A. Completed application form; B. Curriculum Vitae; C. A brief Artist’s Statement, including:  An outline (1 page) of the initial ideas and concepts of the how the artist proposes to engage with the commission. Drawings may be included but are not a requirement. No designs or detailed proposals are required at Stage 1.  Images / details of recent relevant works / projects.  Nominated location for the art installation. D. A sample selection of recently completed Public Art Commissions.

Stage 1 - Selection Criteria

Previous Works 50% Outline Concept 40% Suitability to this brief 10%

Site Visit:

There will be no formal site visit during Stage 1, however, should they wish to do so, all applicants are free to view the site when completing their Stage 1 application; any queries can be directed to Paul Patton, Donegal National Roads Office, T: 074 97 24500 E: [email protected]. Completed Stage 1 Submissions should be lodged by Email to: [email protected], or by Post to the below address by 4pm on Monday, July 20th, 2020. C/O: Paul Patton Donegal National Roads Office, Drumlonaghar, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal.

Please take note of the following:

 Submissions by fax will not be accepted.  All materials submitted should be clearly labelled with the applicant’s name and contact details.  Late submissions will not be accepted

The closing date for receipt of Stage 1 completed application form together with supporting documentation and material is 4pm, Monday, July 20th, 2020.

ii. Stage 2

From the completed Stage 1 applications; a shortlist of artists will be selected by panel jury. This panel, whose decision is final, has the right to clarify any issue which may arise in the course of selection. Those successfully selected for Stage 2 will be invited to submit a more detailed submission. This will involve the provision of a Visual Representation of the proposed Artwork, a Statement by the Artist outlining their Artistic Vision behind the work, a detailed Description of the proposed work including Materials to be used, Maintenance Schedule and a detailed Project Budget and programme. The Visual Representation may be in the form of drawings, a model or maquette, computer generated images or photographs. As part of the evaluation of Stage Two proposals, applicants may be invited to outline their proposals in the form of a presentation to the Selection Board. For Stage Two Submissions, the Commissioners will pay the Artist a premium of €500, upon delivery of their proposal by the date and time suggested.

Stage 2 - Selection Criteria

Artistic Merit Quality and innovation of concept Integration of project into the Road Scheme and surroundings Relevance to the subject and adherence to brief Demonstration of the ability to carry out the project Time-frame and delivery terms Value for money Clarity and practicality or the proposal Durability and implications for future maintenance

Site Visit:

A site visit may be arranged during the Stage 2 selection process.

2. Budget

The total funding from TII for this Public Art Project is €64,000. A portion of this budget will be allocated to advertising, administration of the commission and the selection process. It is anticipated that the total budget the artist will have to manage will be approximately €60,000. The artist will be responsible for meeting all associated costs out of the total allocated budget, including but not limited to artist fees, materials, installation, and any other costs related to the artwork inclusive of VAT. If required, Donegal County Council will assist with preparatory groundwork’s and / or design and construction of any foundations or plinths that may be required. However, any costs associated with such work must be covered by the allocated project budget.

3. Selection Panel

The Selection Panel will consist of a senior member of Donegal National Road Design Office, the Arts Officer for Donegal County Council, at least one elected member of the – Milford Municipal District and an independent professional artist; and will be chaired by a senior member of Donegal County Council.

4. Project Delivery Timeline

It is anticipated that the project will be of a 7/8 month period, to commence during Q3/Q4 2020. The final timeline will be agreed and to be confirmed with the commissioned artist at contract stage. The artist should demonstrate their ability to fulfil this timeframe to the best of their ability.

5. Queries

Applicants can make enquiries regarding the commission to Paul Patton by telephone 074 97 24500 or by email [email protected].

APPLICATION FORM

N56 Dungloe to Glenties Road Scheme Public Art Project

Stage 1 – Application Form

Artist Name: ______

Address: (please note all correspondence will be sent to this address) ______Telephone:______Email: ______

1) Artists are asked to submit the following:

a. Detailed Curriculum Vitae b. Artist Statement including;  An outline (1 page) of the initial ideas and concepts of the how the artist proposes to engage with the commission. Drawings may be included, but are not a requirement. No designs or detailed proposals are required at Stage 1;  Details of previous relevant projects or commissions, including visuals, date, cost, time scale to deliver, c. Names of 2 referees and their contact details; d. A nominated location for the art installation.

2) Supporting Information:

To assist in the assessment of your application, supporting documentation should be included and should be clearly labelled on submission. Please confirm the supporting documentation and Number of Items Enclosed in the table below:

Item Enclosed No. of Items CV

CDs/DVDs / USB

Other, please specify ______

3) Please indicate your acceptance or confirmation of the following by ticking the box

Tax Clearance: Confirmation that, if successful, the artist is ready to submit a current Tax Clearance, Certificate /  Access Number, or an Artist Exemption Certificate and to provide required insurances. Freedom of information: Applicants completing this form should note that information provided is for a public works project  and may be disclosed in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act (1997 and 2003). Garda Vetting: As the Commission Brief specifies a degree of engagement with children from local primary schools  on the part of the commissioned artist, the successful artist will be subject to Garda vetting procedures. Declaration I have read the award conditions, agree to be bound by them, and certify that the information in  this application is correct to the best of my knowledge.

4) Declaration I, the applicant, in submitting this application, hereby declare all the foregoing particulars to be true. I also authorise Donegal County Council to conduct reference checks and qualification checks, as required.

Signed ______

Date ______

Completed Stage 1 Submissions should be lodged by Email to: [email protected], or by Post to the below address by 4pm on Monday, July 20th, 2020.

Donegal County Council C/O Paul Patton Donegal National Roads Office, Drumlonaghar, Donegal Town, Co. Dhún na nGall.

Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 4pm on Monday, July 20th, 2020.

Please note that applications received after the closing date and time will not be accepted.

SITE LOCATION MAP AND PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES

Images of Cycleway Along N56 Scheme

Site Location Map

Location of Gweebara Bar

Proposed Location of Artwork – Green area in front of the bar

Proposed Location of Art Work – Green area in front of the bar

FURTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE BRIEF AND THE N56 ROAD SCHEME

1. Background This section of N56 in the North West of Donegal encompasses the parishes of Glenties, Lettermacaward and Dungloe. The distinctive regional character of this unique rural area is defined by the and culture, its recognition as an area of outstanding natural beauty and its high population density.

There are many important sites along this stretch of the N56, including Narin beach, Crohy Head, Kilcooney . The area plays hosts to numerous annual festivals which provide stream of entertainment for all tastes and age groups, a key example being the world famous ‘Mary from Dungloe’ pageant. Tourism is key to many businesses in the area, so the provision of good infrastructure, amenities and facilities is critically important.

The European cycle route network is a project of the European Cyclists Federation (ECF). The aim of the ECF is to promote and co-ordinate the creation and operation of a complete European cycle route network. The N56 Dungloe to Glenties Road Scheme forms part of the ‘’Donegal Cycle Route’’ which encompasses a 200km scenic route, see image 1 below, that follows class 2 & 3 cycle routes as much as possible, but there are sections where there is no alternative but to use the National Road.

Image 1 200km National Cycle Route

Donegal County Council has developed this section of the N56 to include a cycleway to provide a safe mean of transport for locals and tourists.

‘’The N56 serving the south, west and north-west and north of the County is a second critical element of the County's National Roads network. As well as providing a vital transport corridor for the residents and businesses of the area, the road also aligns significantly with the Wild Atlantic Way tourism route.’’ (Donegal Development Plan 2018-2024)

2. Similar Schemes

Similar schemes can be found throughout the country, along with ongoing projects that are currently driving the development for additional greenways and cycling routes. Currently there is a working cross- border partnership between Donegal County Council with City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) known as the ‘’North West Greenway Network’.

This projects goal is to develop 46.5km of cross-border greenway between Derry to , Derry to Muff and to Strabane. A greenway is a dedicated cycling and walking route that provides a wide variety of green infrastructure benefits including improving air quality, sustainably connecting people to the area and as an economic driver, through leisure and tourism.

Other schemes that have been developed and have provided much needed boosts to the local economy are the Waterford Greenway, the Great Western Greenway and the Comber greenway. The Irish National Cycling Policy Framework (2009) estimated that for every €100 million invested in Ireland, return of €400 million could be obtained. Bicycle- friendly towns are cleaner, healthier, quieter, safer and more liveable.

‘’A high quality and sustainable transport network is a crucial element in driving growth and development across all areas of social, environmental and economic development. The transportation network is particularly fundamental in attracting investment, developing the tourism industry, addressing climate change and in creating sustainable places and communities.’’ (Donegal Development Plan 2018-2024)

3. Objectives

The focus of this scheme was to update the road network along this section of the N56 to a TII Type 3 Standard carriage including a separate cycleway along the entire length, concurrently improving accesses to businesses, promote tourism and promote a sustainable economic environment. The objectives of incorporating the cycleway into the scheme were as follows;

 Safety - Type 3 Standard Carriage, improved vertical and horizontal alignment, reducing the number of direct access, separated cycle facility.  Social – Improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing and encourage people to incorporate active travel.  Environmental – Develop high quality routes that will encourage people to commute via sustainable means.  Economic – Develop routes to facilitate modal shift, to improve access to current cycle routes that will promote tourism in the area and act as a key economic driver. This will provide a much-needed boost to the local community and economy.

The in this area currently have a high rural population density and they rank amongst the highest in the . Data collected from the 2011-2016 census period highlights the impact of out-migration from rural counties with results indicating that Donegal experienced an overall population decline of 1.5%.

There is a focus to promote tourism via greenways & cycle routes which have proven to be a success in other areas of the country and in Europe. This will provide opportunities in the area for business start-ups; promote tourism along with providing local communities a safe mode of sustainable leisurely transport.

This section of the scheme is also located along the ‘’Wild Atlantic Way’’ corridor and is situated within communities, that operate as attractions for tourists. Donegal is Irelands second largest Gaeltacht area and represents 23.4 per cent of the total Gaeltacht population. By providing a safer cycle route along the section of N56, it aims to improve access to existing cycling routes, address the need to promote sustainable mode of transport and finally, improve employment and social opportunities by enhancing attractive means of transport for tourist in the area.

‘’County Donegal is dependent on the continued quality development of its road network to provide connectivity into, within and throughout the County for the local population to live, socialize and work as well as for economic, commercial and tourism development. To this end the network of regional and county roads play a significant role in providing permeability and access to all areas of the County.’’ (Donegal Development Plan 2018-2024)

The Donegal Development Plan focuses on providing a sustainable network ensuring connectivity to all areas within Donegal.

4. Promote Cycleways The new N56 Dungloe to Glenties Road Scheme is the first in Donegal to provide a combined footpath/cycleway running along the full length of the carriageway. This was an opportunity to provide sustainable linkages in a safe manner between towns and villages. The main objective was to maximise the potential for a local, regional and all-island walking and cycling network.

Through the provision of this to the locals and tourists who visit annually, we aim to promote the culture of cycling in the area. We are providing an easier mode for existing cyclists to stay safe from road users, along with encouraging the uptake and changing public attitudes to cycling.

‘Cycling contributes to improved quality of life and quality of the public realm, a stronger economy and business environment, and an enhanced environment’ (National Cycle Policy Framework).

The aim is to make cycling a normal way to get about especially for short trips. A bicycle can be a choice for all ages. This will provide a happier and healthier population that in turn provides a fitter and more alert workforce with consequent benefits on the health service.

5. Tourism: Wild Atlantic Way

In 2014 Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, T.D. officially launched the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ route. Along this route there are 157 discovery points, 1000 attractions and more than 2,500 activities. Donegal alone has approx. 210 activities, 89 sightseeing & attractions and 3 signature points.

This has brought a positive effect to the North West and has promoted business growth along with business start ups. This will help deliver and promote a sustainable economic environment in Donegal.

The cycleway provides tourists alternative modes of transport between Dungloe and Glenties, which allows them to explore in a safe manner.

6. Connectivity: Fibre Broadband

The location of the art piece has been strategically located close to the Gweebara Bridge which was developed in the late nineteenth century. This was at the time considered one of the biggest engineering feats of the county. This provided connectivity between towns and provided a link for people of Dungloe to make their way to the markets in Glenties.

Connectivity between communities has been important for generations in the North-West and to this day, there is a drive to provide sustainable links for local communities and tourists. Connectivity between communities is imperative for areas to strive, but there is also a need to provide alternative means of connectivity that will allow local businesses to reach a global audience.

Open Eir are rolling out high speed fibre broadband to more places in county Donegal than anywhere else. Over €32 Million is being invested in upgrading the broadband network that will provide an opportunity for business growth in the area. This will drive growth locally and the upgrading of the road network will coincide with this growth.

This area was strategically selected as it will provide locals and tourists the opportunity to stop, view and appreciate the completed piece.

7. Conclusion – The Story Reflected Through Art As such, Donegal County Council wishes to commission a public artwork that will reflect connectivity and access between communities. We especially invite proposals that focus on and respond in an imaginative way to the newly developed cycleway that connects Dungloe to Glenties. We believe this is a pioneering project which connects rural towns in a sustainable way and contributes greatly to the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

‘’To set the coordinated framework within the County to deliver a connected place, enable economic growth, facilitate measures to deliver on high quality of life, guide population growth within an appropriate settlement structure and to cooperate effectively within the regional context.’’ (Donegal Development Plan 2018-2024)