Makers Market Open Commission 2025
Artist Commission Brief
Makers Market Trail at B.ARTS
Event Date: Sunday 16th November 2025 Location: B.ARTS, 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke, ST4 7RB
Overview
B.ARTS is seeking an artist/s to create 5 unique objects/artworks that will form a discovery trail around our building during our Makers Market on Sunday 16th November.
Visitors will be able to pick up a sheet of photographs of the 5 items and tick them off as they find them, encouraging exploration of the building and engagement with our story and heritage.
We're looking for someone who'd like to help us make a trail exploring some of our former work from this time of year. We want to encourage our visitors to get to know B.ARTS through our heritage and archive material.
Artist/s Commission
• Create 5 objects/artworks to be placed around B.ARTS for visitors to find.
• The trail should:
• Lead people around different parts of the building.
• Connect in some way to the heritage, stories, and identity of B.ARTS* (this could include its history, past projects, the building itself, or the people who’ve shaped it).
• Celebrate making, the handmade and/or community performance
• Be accessible, family-friendly, and visually engaging.
What do we mean by B.ARTS archive?
• In our archive we have some physical items like posters, videos, photographs, books and leaflets and you can find information from our social media and our website
• Have a look at our website and social media for more information, we’re open to multiple interpretations of what this means
• If you’d like to have an informal conversation or speak to us in advance about this please get in touch
Workshops
The commission includes one public-facing workshop. This could:
• Involve participants in developing ideas for the trail items.
• Support research into B.ARTS’ history and heritage.
• Enable participants to contribute creatively to the making process.
Fee
• A set artist/s commission fee (£800) which will cover:
• Design and making of the 5 artworks.
• Delivery of 1 workshop with participants.
• Materials and installation.
Timeline
• Sunday 5th October 2025 – Deadline for Artist confirmed and begins planning.
• October–early November – Workshops with participants, design, planning and making
• Week commencing 10th November 2025 – Installation of the trail (must be fully installed by Saturday 15th November).
• Sunday 16th November 2025 – Trail will be fully installed and enjoyed by participants during the Makers Market.
How to Apply
Please send either:
• A short expression of interest (max 1 side A4), OR
• A short video (2-3 minutes) telling us about your ideas
This should include how you might plan to integrate the theme into your planning/final design, how you would approach the public workshop, and any ideas for what form the artwork might take.
And please include:
• Up to 5 images of relevant previous work.
• A simple budget breakdown (how you would use the fee, including materials).
Deadline for applications: Sunday 5th October 2025 at 5pm
B arts are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from anyone. Our aim is to become a truly inclusive organisation with a workforce and audience as diverse as the communities we work with.
If you need any additional support completing your application or have questions regarding accessibility, please contact Kath Stanway.
Submissions should be emailed and any questions should be sent to:
kath.stanway@b-arts.org.uk
07544 814720 (call or text)