Future Home: Artist Brief

April 2018 (1) Introduction Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) is seeking to commission an artist, maker or designer to create a mobile engagement tool for the smart technologies REPLICATE project, designed to engage people in understanding and imagining future ‘smart’ homes and raising awareness of how we can save energy in our homes. KWMC is a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) digital arts charity based in Knowle West, South Bristol. Since 1996, KWMC has used the arts and digital technologies to support people to imagine and develop ideas about social change, prototype new approaches to addressing people’s needs and aspirations, and share the learning across the UK and beyond. (2) Context / Background

The REPLICATE project (https://www.connectingbristol.org/replicate/) is a five-year European-funded programme, led by Bristol City Council, exploring how different digital technologies could help improve quality of life in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill. Technologies include, smart home appliances, electric bikes and other ICT solutions.

KWMC are leading on the engagement strategies across the REPLICATE project.

KWMC are working with Bristol Energy Network to develop a range of engagement activities around community energy and smart homes. Engagement activities will range from: community events where people can find out more about what ‘Smart Homes’ are to the direct recruitment of households that want to have and test some 'smart energy’ measures (e.g. installation of boilers and controls, solar PV panels, insulation etc) and smart appliances (washing machines, dryers and dishwashers).

The artist commission will form part of the Smart Homes programme engagement plan and will create a useful community and city resource that can be used beyond the end of the REPLICATE Project.

The engagement for the Smart Homes programme will run between now and January 2019.

(3) The Artist Commission The Mobile Future Home commission offers the opportunity for an artist to immerse themselves in the field of smart cities and smart technologies and to create a new work in response to this agenda. KWMC is seeking to commission an artist/designer/maker to create a mobile engagement tool that will engage people in imagining future ‘smart’ homes and raise awareness of how we can save energy in our homes.  The mobile tool must be able to be used / animated by the REPLICATE project team to prompt conversation around the future of smart homes / energy saving and to share information about how people can benefit from the Smart Homes Programme.

The Mobile Future Home: Must be small enough to fit down narrow East Bristol streets, but

large enough to engage at least five people of any age at once Could aesthetically relate to the types of homes people live in now

in East Bristol to help people relate to it May be mobile in its own right (for example pulled by an electric

bike), and/ or be small enough to transported in a small electric van

It should be fun, interactive and make a visual impact on the street will need to be powered by renewable energy if mobile, for

example solar power (not a petrol or diesel) should have space within it for learning and project promotional

materials that help people discover more about smart homes, energy efficiency retrofit options and community energy, these could include: 3D objects, illustrations, photography, 360 video/VR. (Interactive exhibits and learning materials can be provided by REPLICATE partners)

ways for people to leave their thoughts / comments / contacts

The artist could consider a collaborative approach to the design and making of the Future Home, for example through co-design workshops with community members or other local artists.

The artist would need to design and make the mobile tool, help test it at a community event at the end of June 2018, and refine/adapt it to be completed ready for use by the REPLICATE team at further community events in Bristol between July 2018 and January 2019.  We are seeking creative proposals containing details of what the mobile engagement tool would look like, how people would engage with it and how you would use the overall project budget. The commission must culminate in a fully realised mobile engagement tool that can be used as a community resource beyond the REPLICATE project. Materials created should be developed in such a way that can build legacy for future community engagement. The commissioned artist will need to document the evolution of their work in a form that can be shared, for example on web and social media. We are particularly looking to commission artists with skills and experience in some of these areas:

Digital fabrication Design Games and playful approaches to engagement Engaging and collaborating with local people and communities in

socially engaged arts practice; Experience of different research methodologies and approaches,

including ethnography, behavioral science, social design; Creative documentation, including images and stories; Mixing art, technology and community participation.

(4) Fee and Support There is a budget of £10k for this commission, including: artist fees, materials and any other expenses. KWMC will be able to provide producer assistance for the project including: project management, community engagement, technical support, research assistance, press and communications, and studio space, as well as access to and technician support at KWMC The Factory* and connections with the REPLICATE project team and local artists.

*KWMC, The Factory is an innovation space for making, digital fabrication and product design, based at Filwood Green Business Park,

which offers laser cutters, CNC cutting facilities, product design and prototyping services.

(5) To apply

If you are interested in this commission, please make a submission in a single Word or PDF document outlining the following:

Describe your practice and why you are interested in this project in no more than 300 words.

Outline a project or work that you have made which demonstrates why you would be suitable for this commission in no more than 300 words.

Outline what you propose to make for this commission, please include a headline budget breakdown, in no more than 500 words.

Include up to four jpeg images to illustrate your work and/or up to three links to websites that show your work.

(6) Timeline Send your submission to: martha.king@kwmc.org.uk with “Mobile future home” by midnight 17th May 2018. Interviews will be held on 22nd May 2018.

Completion of build ready to use 29th June 2018 (7) Contact If you would like any further information about this project or have any questions, please contact Martha at the above email, or on 0117 903 0444.