Commission for public art at Meadows Retail car park
We are looking for an artist working in the public realm to develop concepts and designs for artwork as part of the existing Meadows Retail car park tower.
We are looking for a design only at this stage. We are developing a strategy and public artwork treatment for the site, so we can technically scope and fundraise for the final work.
Your approach should be informed by the site context, as well as discussions with us and other stakeholders.
Public engagement will be integral to the proposal’s development. You will need to work with a range of public and community groups to inform the final design.
The artwork should provide a sense of connectivity and orientation, celebrate the site location, and contribute to civic ownership of the public realm. The artwork will be owned and maintained by us (unless advised otherwise).
The type of artwork we are particularly interested in for this commission is lightworks from the windows within the elevations. It could also be a single work or made up of a number of elements for the elevations.
The work must be:
- safe
- practically achievable without compromising the building structure
- maintainable on a reasonable basis and within the final budget
Meadows Retail car park is a yellow stock, brick-built building accommodating a five-storey car park. It is owned by us and was built in the 1990s.
The west tower of the building is very prominent to the public realm. It is highly visible to pedestrians within the surrounding area, including those approaching from the pedestrianised city core at Springfield Road and from the popular Bond Street retail location.
It also forms a viewpoint for visitors approaching from the south on High Bridge Road. The tower has a number of small windows serving an internal stairway.
The building has the potential to be a marker from the city core for Springfield Basin and the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, a Conservation Area to the east.
At present, the building comes across as somewhat lost in its positioning in the city centre. The building sits next to the Wharf Road Basin Feeder Channel, which is of 18th-century origin and diverts water from the River Chelmer to Springfield Basin. It is of local historical significance, as an essential feature of the navigation.
The building also sits outside of, but right next to, the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Conservation Area.
You can also view the following links for reference:
We will appoint using a competitive interview process. The shortlist will include up to five artists, followed by an interview.
Timeline
- Deadline for expression of interest: 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2026
- Interview date: Wednesday 6 May 2026
- Design concepts developed: June to August 2026
Budget
Artist fees: £7,000
This figure does not include VAT.
How to apply
If you are interested in this commission, you need to submit no more than two A4 pages outlining your interest, relevant experience and what your approach would be to applications@kathandcompany.co.uk. You should also include a summary CV and/or link to your website.