£6,000 is offered for an artist-designed, interactive piece of play equipment for Davigdor Infant School in Hove. The funding has been made available through ‘percent for art’ funding from a housing development near the school and through the fundraising efforts of The Friends of Davigdor Infant group.

Davigdor Infant School is a very popular and highly oversubscribed school in central Hove. The school recently became a four-form entry infant school and now has 360 children between 4-7 years of age. The school has a vibrant and highly culturally and linguistically diverse school community.

The art commission calls for a permanent piece or series of pieces of play equipment to be installed in the school’s playground. This commission is the second phase of an ambitious redevelopment of the school’s outdoor space. (Phase One is being installed in the October 2011 half term).

This second phase is aimed at children who are likely to be unable to enjoy much of the Phase One equipment due to physical disabilities. The commission calls for an inclusive structure or structures which should be multi-sensory in particular including movement, sound and/or textural elements that are interactive and can be accessed by all. It should take account of environmental and sustainability issues, using recycled materials as much as possible.

We want the piece to invite and inspire children and to encourage curiosity and investigation whilst also provoking creativity and imagination.

Community, access and participation are at the heart of the school’s work and any project must promote these values and they are looking for an individual/organisation who will be able to deliver this project in close collaboration with staff and pupils

The commissioned artist will also deliver a series of workshops with Reception (4-5 year old) and Year 1 (5 – 6 year old) children to develop, explore and experiment with the ideas and materials used in the final structure.

Two site visits are offered at the school on

• Tuesday 8 November from 2-3pm and
• Thursday 10 November 2-3pm

If you would like to attend either site visit please call Lucy Jefferies on (01273) 292536 or email lucy.jefferies@brightonhove.gov.uk clearly stating which day you would like to attend.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 22 November at 5pm

For more information,photos, or to download a brief, please click here.