ARTIST COMMISSIONS

Untold stories of Burmantofts and New Hello

We are so pleased that you’re interested in these commissions. If you don’t already know This commissioning approach is a model that (if us – East Street Arts are a creative social successful) we would look to repeat with other enterprise and charity. We create space neighbouring communities. for making art, social events and learning opportunities to make our cities better places We encourage applications from LGBTQIA+, to live and work. Disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic artists. Self-definition is at the sole discretion Our work can be seen on buildings, the high of the individual. We are happy to make street and in neighbourhoods. We are here reasonable adjustments to the application to support artists as we believe they have process, the way we work and our working the talent, energy, ideas and determination to environment to adapt to the needs of artists change our worlds. experiencing access barriers. If you would like to have a conversation about access, just get in This is an opportunity for two artists to work touch – our contact details can be found at the together with local groups in Mabgate, Lincoln end of this information pack. Green and Burmantofts on a pilot project exploring the rich history of Burmantofts If you’re interested, read on and apply! We can’t ceramics and its relationship to New Briggate wait to hear from you. and the City Centre in partnership with the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) Cultural Consortium and Historic . Cover image: Burmantofts pottery in the Jonathan Silver Both artists will be selected by representatives collection at Salts Mill, Bradford from the HAZ Cultural Consortium which is made up of East Street Arts, The Grand Theatre, Opera North, The Churches Conservation Trust, North Bar, North Brewing, Age-uk and Civic Trust.

The commissioned artists will have two If you are an artist different but collaborating roles within the pilot project and will work with a community of who loves research people to identify the key themes and elements and history or are of this heritage story that will influence the final work. a natural educator

The Artist-Researcher role will be Artist in who enjoys working Residence with Leeds Civic Trust and will delve in the public realm into the history and archives of Burmantofts pottery and ceramic tiles, and it’s connection and being rooted and presence on and around New Briggate, including in The Grand Arcade and Grand in communities Theatre. then one of these The Artist-Educator role will use this historical commissions might research as well as the plans for the future of New Briggate (capital developments and be right for you. regeneration ideas) and through production of some physical and digital intergenerational heritage activity packs and taster workshops ask participants to respond to and design their own ideas for the Future Briggate. The Maps of Burmo 1800 - 2000 JW

Tiles made at Burmantofts Context

East Street Arts is leading a cultural consortium centre, only a short walk from New Briggate, to of organisations based on or near to New explore the history of Burmantofts Pottery and Briggate on the North side of the city centre of its influence on and New Leeds which is part of a national programme Briggate. called the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ). With physical changes happening on this street, the Burmantofts Pottery produced internationally HAZ programme is all about bringing people renowned ceramics from 1859-1957. together to explore the culture and heritage of Once located on the site of the urban New Briggate, so that its history is not lost, it’s neighbourhoods of East Leeds (Burmantofts, users can still connect with it, and stories are Lincoln Green, Mabgate), home to East Street not left untold. Arts headquarters, there lies a history as diverse and defining as its current residents High Streets Heritage Action Zones – untold stories of earth, clay, industry and migration. This pilot project will create activity Historic England is working with local people packs of the hidden history of Burmantofts and partners through grant funding and Pottery and Ceramics which feature across sharing our skills to help breathe new life Leeds and beyond. into high streets that are rich in heritage and full of promise - unlocking their potential and Burmantofts ceramics met its end when the making them more attractive to residents, company could no longer sustain its high-end businesses, tourists and investors. The High manufacturing after a wave of mimics flooded Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme, backed the market. Now, Burmantofts Ceramic pieces by government funding, aims to help with the are sold throughout the world on the antique recovery of local high streets from regenerating trade - and rarely, if ever, connected back to the historic buildings to helping to engage local neighbourhood itself. communities through art and cultural projects. Mabgate, Burmantofts and Lincoln Heritage Green New Briggate dates back to the 19th century For two years, East Street Arts have - the street was a development of Briggate collaborated with a cluster of culture and and in 1878 the Grand Theatre was built. The community-led groups and organisations in name Briggate means ‘road to the bridge’ – a Mabgate, Lincoln Green and Burmantofts mixture of the Old English word for bridge, and to kick start the process of developing a the Old Norse gata, meaning way. As well as Neighbourhood Plan. It will be the UK’s theatre the street has housed a fascinating mix first culture-led Neighbourhood Plan – of shops, X-rated cinema, afro-hairdressers, placing social histories, culture and personal trams and buses over the years. New Briggate experience at the heart of planning and is now the entrance and gateway to the city development processes. centre of Leeds - the start of the (usually) busy and bustling retail, tattoo parlours, takeaways, On the periphery of an ever-expanding bars, clubs and culture - The Grand Theatre, city centre, this project will pay particularly The Howard Assembly Rooms and Opera North close attention to the people who live all reside on this street. But it is also home to and work in Mabgate, Lincoln Green and a more transient community of people using Burmantofts. One of the most diverse areas the frequent bus services, taxi ranks and take- in Leeds, the residents who live here and the aways, and includes sex-workers and people neighbourhood’s deep-rooted history are under who are homeless. Within this eclectic history threat of erasure and displacement. lies hidden stories which we want to unearth, reveal and retell, making it relevant to today.

The artists will work with residents in Burmantofts, on the Inner East side of the city Context cont.

The Roles Who will be involved Artist-Researcher Partners: • HAZ cultural consortium (ESA, The Grand, As the Artist-Researcher you will work closely Opera North, Church Conservation Trust, with Leeds Civic Trust and lead on researching North Bar, North Brewing, Age uk and the history of Burmantofts and its connection to Leeds Civic Trust) New Briggate, as well as leading some creative • Leeds Museums, Libraries and Archives community consultation and interviews with • The Leeds Library Burmantofts residents to uncover unknown and untold stories. Participants: • Shakespeare Primary School You will ask residents what do they know about • Bridge Community Church Burmantofts Pottery, what do they know about • Burmantofts Senior Action New Briggate? How do they use it? What would • MAFWA theatre they like to see there - past, present and future. • Leeds Asylum Seeker Network You will then use these findings to co-create a digital and physical resource - to be determined Audience: with the participants. This could include images, • Residents and users of New Briggate facts, music, songs, stories, interviews and • Online audiences maps.

This co-created resource will then inform the second commission with an Artist-Educator.

Artist-Educator As Artist-Educator you will use the historical research as well as the plans for the future of New Briggate, (capital developments and regeneration ideas), and through production of some physical/digital intergenerational heritage activity packs and taster workshops ask participants to respond to and design their own ideas for the Future Briggate.

There will be a crossover of artists - passing on the knowledge, sharing, the artist-educator will come into work with the artist-researcher and participants and ensure participants feel confident enough to create their own work. The artist-researcher and participants will be supported by local history experts.

The activity packs will then be distributed to residents, families and older people in Burmantofts. These packs will be co-produced with the HAZ partners and include the co- created resource as well as art materials and soundscapes for participants to create their own artworks (loosely based on the theme of a modern-day blue plaque) inspired by Burmantofts Pottery. Workshops with East Street Arts Process

The pilot will have 5 phases: Phase 4: Activation 1. Research 2. Development • Participants to produce artworks using 3. Production activity packs 4. Activation • Wider engagement/final outcome - a 5. Evaluation physical and digital imprint based on the theme of participants creating a Each phase of the pilot will include contemporary ‘blue plaque’. Asking participation, for example this could mean questions such as ‘What does blue plaque young people becoming investigators to explore mean to you?’ ‘What would be your version themes. of a blue plaque?’. Resulting in a play on the ‘unveiling moment’ - unveil stories that remain true to the people they represent. Phase 1: Research This could be a physical temporary imprint • Site visits and neighbourhood walks with in the style of vinyl stickers on hoardings, residents identifying potential sites that in theatre ‘next show’ display cases, in have resonance and meaning for the the windows of shops and bars. Or a heritage stories and the people we’re digital imprint as part of a growing online working with. exhibition. • Study time with local historian Robert Dyson, The Civic Trust and Leeds Phase 5: Evaluation Libraries on Burmantofts Pottery and the neighbourhood’s history. • Feeding into the evaluation of the project • Studio time and development of co-created resource

Phase 2: Development • Workshops and classes with participating groups testing out the resource • Completion of resource and development of activity packs in response

Phase 3: Production • Production of activity packs • Distribution of activity packs Commissions

Fee: £3,250 per artist (25 days @ £150 per We will aim to get back to you within two day) including travel weeks. Your application will be reviewed by a Timeframe: October 2020 to March 2021 selection panel that will include local residents, Artform: Research, Digital and Public-realm staff from East Street Arts and representatives from the project’s partners. The exact nature of this engagement, including time commitments, can be determined with the If you are interested but need more information artist. Ideally we are looking for artists who are before applying, we would love to hear from committed to social change, have demonstrable you. experience in co-design and co-creation, and an active interest in heritage and ceramics. Please contact: Helen Moore, Engagement Lead East Street Arts will offer a large volume of in- [email protected] kind support spanning workspace, engagement support, producing capacity and guidance where needed.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• A proposal no more than 2 pages that outlines why you would like to work on the ‘Untold Stories of Burmantofts and New Briggate’ commission • A breakdown of your previous experience in research and/or delivering socially-engaged or co-created art projects, no more than 2 pages • You can also submit up to 5 images and a video of your previous work if that helps to illustrate your approach to participation, but this isn’t a formal requirement for submitting an application

If you would prefer to make an application by video or voice recording, it should be no longer than 5 minutes and be provided as a google link.

Applications are due for submission by: 12 October 2020

Please submit your application to: [email protected]

Please title your application email: HAZ (insert role here) Application making space for artists registered charity 1077401 eaststreetarts.org.uk @eaststreetarts

Image: Akeelah Bertram - Bridge Community School workshop at Patrick Studios