Sperrins Sculpture Trail in Northern Ireland Seeks Public Art

Sperrins Sculpture Trail in Northern Ireland Seeks Public Art

Website: http://www.derrystrabane.com/tenders

 Derry, Northern Ireland, Unknown

Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC), in partnership with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council (FODC) and Mid Ulster District Council (MUDC), have secured technical support from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to progress the development of a project entitled ‘The Sperrins Sculpture Trail’.

Budget: $2,200,000 (2M British pounds, total for 3 artworks by the same artist-led team)
Eligibility: Professional artists; international renown preferred
Deadline: 09/06/2019 6:00 PM Central Time

Project Description
It is anticipated that the Sperrins Sculpture Trail project will be developed under the Rural Tourism Scheme as part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (NIRDP). The project will be delivered by an artist- led team. The successful team will be selected through a competitive 2 stage procurement process (see “Selection Process” below). This RFQ constitutes Stage 1.

Upon planning consent, the Artist led team shall undertake, manage and close out with each Local Planning Authority the Planning ‘Conditions’. Although not exhaustive, the ICT element of the Artist led team will include the following consultants as a minimum:

  • Artist
  • Project Manager
  • Quantity Surveyor
  • Planning Consultant
  • Structural Engineer
  • Building Services (Mechanical Engineer and Electrical Engineer)
  • Lighting Consultant
  • NEC3 Supervisor
  • Principal Designer (As defined in CDM Regulations – Refer to Section 7.13)
  • Any other consultant that the Artist deems necessary to complete this commission.

The ICT will then develop the design with the Artist and IST elements of the overall team and shall install the three significant sculptures at the three separate Council sites (locations already confirmed) through to their completion on site.

Artwork Goals
The aim of the programme’s Rural Tourism Scheme is to support investment in natural and built heritage projects that can act as a key driver for encouraging rural tourism and particularly out of state visitors whilst preserving the natural assets of the rural community. Therefore, the priorities for the Sperrins Sculpture Trail project are:

  • To be flagship, iconic, unique
  • Increase out of state visitors
  • Create capital infrastructure
  • Create Jobs

The Sperrins Sculpture Trail project represents a means to drive the development of our natural and cultural assets within the region and to make them accessible to visitors. It is envisaged that the artwork installation will be iconic in nature and produced by an artist of international renown.

Artwork Location Description
The Sperrins Sculpture Trail will consist of three artworks installed at preselected key locations within the Sperrins. The locations are:

  • Cranagh (Derry City & Strabane District Council area)
  • Mullaghcarn (Fermanagh & Omagh District Council area)
  • Ranaghan (Mid Ulster District Council area

Visitors will use stunning walking trails as well as dramatic driving and cycling routes to move between the artwork sites in a way that enables them to immerse themselves in the cultural heritage of the Sperrins.

Site History
The Sperrins region comprises an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is located in the heart of the ancient province of Ulster and spans two counties- Tyrone and Derry. It is Northern Ireland’s largest mountain range — covering an area of some 40 miles, and stretches from the Donegal border in the west, to Lough Neagh in the east and the Atlantic shores in the north.

The natural asset of the mountain range mixed with the unspoilt landscape of 10 summits above 500m (with the highest of the ranges, Sawel Mountain, peaking at 678m), winding rivers, sun swept valleys, natural forests and scenic lakes all translate into a region recognised as one of the most idyllic geographical areas of rural Ireland.

Millions of years in the making, the story of the Sperrins is distinct, carefully crafted and rich in character. Geological features of note, such as the glacial overflow channels of Barnes and Gortin are among the best examples to be found in Ireland while man’s influence on this ancient landscape is illustrated by the existence of a rich vein of ancient monuments and mysterious sentinels including 90 sets of stone circles.

Dominated by romantic landscapes, rich in history and heritage, the Sperrins provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy and experience either a more relaxed pace of life or an adrenalin filled adventure. Here picturesque walking, driving and cycling routes, peaceful picnic sites, a mix of excellent slow and activity based adventures and experiences all afford an opportunity to enjoy a complete flavour of the Sperrins, its traditions, myths and legends.

For further information on the Sperrins go to www.discovertyroneandsperrins.com

Timeline

  • The deadline for submission of the Stage 1 documents is Friday 6th September 2019 at 12 noon.
  • The deadline for submission of the Stage 2 tender is Friday 29th November 2019 at 12 noon.

Selection Process

STAGE 1: PRE-QUALIFYING QUESTIONNAIRE (PQQ) 
This is an opportunity for the artist led team to provide evidence of previous work experience that demonstrates their expertise in delivering projects of this nature. The artist led team are required to complete and submit the documents entitled:

  • Artist PQQ
  • Project Manager PQQ
  • Principal Contractor PQQ
  • Civil/Structural Engineer PQQ

STAGE 2: INVITATION TO TENDER (ITT) 
The PQQ submissions will be assessed and up to 6 artists will be invited to submit a detailed tender proposal at stage 2 of the competition. Each of these short listed artists shall receive a fee of £5,000 upon a satisfactory submission of the Stage 2 tender documentation. The completion of the Stage 2 process shall determine the preferred Artist and their associated Delivery Team for the implementation stage of the sculptural works (subject to funding approval).

How to Submit
Visit the project website to register your interest in the Sperrins Sculpture Trail and request the stage 1 procurement documentation. There are seven documents relating to the tender; applicants should pay close attention to the requirements of the Stage 1 application.