Gorey Educate Together National School Co. Wexford
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION: MUSIC
Information Brief
Per Cent for Art Scheme
Funded by the Department of Education & Skills
BACKGROUND
The Per Cent for Art Scheme:
The Department of the Environment established an artistic embellishment scheme in 1986, based on Per Cent for Art. The Office of Public Works had established a similar scheme in 1978. In 1997, the findings of a review of these schemes were published in a report entitled Public Art Research Project – Steering Group Report to Government, the recommendations of which were approved. As a result, all Government Departments with construction budgets implement the Per Cent for Art Scheme.
Gorey Educate Together National School:
Gorey Educate Together first opened in September 2005.
The school is multi-denominational – all children have equal rights of access to Gorey Educate Together. All social, cultural and religious backgrounds are equally respected. The identity of every pupil is given active support.
The school is child-centred – the Board of Management takes decisions based on the educational and developmental needs of the children of the school, over and above other external factors.
The school is co-educational – the children are encouraged to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities. They are empowered to fulfil their potential irrespective of gender.
The school is democratically run – Gorey Educate Together was set up by a volunteer group of parents. Continued partnerships re: school affairs and listening to the voices of pupils, staff and parents are key elements of the democracy that underpins the school.
Arts education is important to the school and arts activities have provided a hub for community development over the past 4 ½ years. Parents, pupils and staff collaborate on an annual entry into the local St. Patrick’s Day parade. Some parents lead or contribute to various visual arts lessons in the classrooms, while others provide musical accompaniment at selected school events. Most recently, staff and parents worked together in preparation for the performance of a Pantomime by the children in 4th, 5th and 6th classes.
Two hundred and fifty 4-12 year olds attend Gorey Educate Together at present (up from twenty-six pupils in 2005.) The expected total enrolment for September 2010 is two hundred and seventy-five children: 2 each of Junior Infants, Senior Infants & First Class; 1 each of Second to Sixth Classes; and 2 Special Classes for Children with Autism.
The school’s permanent building was constructed in two phases during 2008 and 2009. It is situated 1 mile southwest of Gorey town centre. Facilities include: 16 classrooms, learning support & resource rooms, rooms for special classes, library, 3 play areas, gardens, assembly hall and shared PE hall.
THE BRIEF
Gorey Educate Together NS now invites submissions from composers/musical dramatists for the composition and implementation of a work of musical theatre. (Minimum duration: 30 minutes.)
The storyline should be compelling. The presentation should be novel and entertaining. Thereafter, the commissioners are particularly interested to receive proposals that embrace the Educate Together ethos and stimulate positive, inclusive, respectful and supportive school environments.
It is possible that many elements of the work would be geared towards the 8-12 years or 10-12 years age groups, but at least one musical element should be suitable for performance by 4-12 year olds, i.e. an entire primary school cohort.
The pupils’ (or the wider school community’s) experience of the work would be purposeful, and could include opportunities for them to listen and respond, perform and/or compose musical elements, as well as make and/or enact drama.
The work should be informed by the context of this school. Composers/musical lyricists are invited to visit Gorey Educate Together: please telephone 053 9489662 or e-mail info@goreyeducatetogether.ie to arrange same. Photographs and up-to-date school news can be found on the award-winning website: http://www.goreyeducatetogether.ie/ The publication ‘What is an Educate Together National School?’ is available at http://www.educatetogether.ie/
THE BUDGET
The total budget for this commission is €30,000 inclusive of all costs, expenses, VAT, insurance and other charges.
A payment schedule will be agreed with the successful applicant. This can, if required, include phased payments. However, the entire amount will not be expended prior to the delivery and/or completion of the work.
The production element of this commission must be managed by the composer, with the support of the school. There will be no charge by the school re: use of the school piano, use of classrooms for workshops/tuition/practise or use of the PE hall for rehearsals and performance. All other production costs must be included in the €30,000 budget.
Props and costumes, if any, would remain the property of the school.
COMMISSIONING PROCESS
This commission will involve a 1-stage Open Competition process.
A selection panel will assess the proposals and select in line with the criteria outlined below.
Please ensure that information given is sufficiently comprehensive. Failure to provide any of the information outlined below may result in submissions being dispensed with.
Expressions of interest to include:
- Up to date CV (5 copies)
- A detailed written proposal for the commission (5 copies,) including:
Ideas/concepts (characters, storylines, lyrics, etc.), in response to this brief
Basis/sources for the work
Approach to working with the school
Projected duration of the project
Detailed timescale breakdown re: working with the school
- Detailed budget breakdown (5 copies)
- Specific examples of relevant past work (to include audio/visual recordings [CD/DVD formats only] and scores, as applicable.)
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
Standard of submission
Quality and originality offered within the proposal
Suitability of the proposal to the context of the school
Proven track record of the composer/musical dramatist (including work in education)
Value for money
Preferred applicant(s) may be required to meet with the selection panel to elaborate on their proposal. In such cases, actual travel costs (to a maximum of €100) will be payable by the school.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Prior to signing of contracts, Artists will be required to furnish the commissioner with a:
- Tax Clearance Certificate
- Public Liability Insurance Certificate
- Tax Exemption Certificate
- A completed Garda Vetting Form, issued by Gorey Educate Together National School
- Please note that the successful artist will be awarded a contract for services and not a contract of employment.
- No late submissions will be accepted.
- Gorey Educate Together NS reserves the right not to award a commission. In this instance, Gorey Educate Together NS reserves the right to pursue another procurement process.
CONTACT DETAILS
Applications must be posted to:
Raymond Swan, Principal
(Per Cent for Art Commission: Music)
Gorey Educate Together National School
Kilnahue Lane
Carnew Road
Gorey
Co. Wexford
Deadline for receipt of submissions is: 2pm, Friday 1st October 2010
Submissions arriving after the deadline cannot be accepted.
Please note that the school office will be closed from late July – late August 2010.
