Commission for public engagement artist

The role of the engagement artist is to work with the main artist(s), who we will appoint separately.

The engagement artist would be responsible for facilitating and strengthening the research that goes into the new artwork. You will also need to provide a creative resource for the lead artist to capture local perspectives and histories.

Public engagement is central to this project. Through workshops and creative activities, you would facilitate dialogue with local communities. This could include market traders, city centre shoppers and car park users. 

You will need to ensure that the final artwork reflects Chelmsford’s unique sense of place and resonates with those who use and value this space.  

We anticipate that engagement activity may draw out:

• personal and community stories connected to Cornhill and Chelmsford
• everyday experiences of the space as it is used now
• heritage knowledge or under represented histories of the area
• ideas, feelings, or aspirations about the future character of Cornhill
• visual or creative material that can inspire aspects of the final artwork

In addition, you would benefit from mentorship and professional development opportunities provided by the lead artist.

We welcome engagement that is inclusive, accessible, playful, informal or curiosity driven. Ideally, you should enable contributions from people who may not usually participate in cultural projects.

About the artwork

The artwork will transform the Cornhill area, creating a distinctive feature that:

• enhances the design and character of the public realm
• provides a sense of connectivity and orientation
• celebrates the site’s heritage and identity
• fosters civic pride and ownership

You can also find out more about the artwork commission.

You can also view the following links for reference:

• https://citylife.chelmsford.gov.uk/posts/explore-chelmsford-s-hidden-histories-through-unique-public-artworks
• https://www.culturechelmsford.org.uk/chelmsford-cultural-strategy
• https://ignitechelmsford.org.uk

We will appoint using a competitive interview process. The shortlist will include up to five artists, followed by an interview.

To be eligible for this commission, you will need to:

• be based in Essex
• demonstrate your experience in community engagement and participatory practice 

Timeline

• Deadline for expression of interest: 5pm on Thursday 9 April 2026
• Interviews: Wednesday 13 May 2026
• Design development with permanent commission artist(s): June to August 2026

Budget

• Artist fee: £4,000
• Public engagement production/materials budget: £2,500

These figures do 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 a summary CV and/or link to your website to applications@kathandcompany.co.uk.