October 31, 2011 
North Norfolk Exhibition Project (NNEP)
Salthouse 12 at Cley
The North Norfolk Exhibition Project committee (NNEP) invites artists and architects who are from or have a connection with Norfolk to submit ideas for their annual Open exhibition. The invitation will be for new works to be sited in and around the immediate vicinity of Cley Church during July 2012. The exhibition will be comprised of site specific, three dimensional works, which will be sensitive to and work with the architecture and daily use of the C14th century, St. Margaret of Antioch church which sits in the Glaven Valley in the village of Cley next the Sea.
There is also an additional opportunity to create new works for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s (NWT) land between the Salthouse car park to the East, Cley car park to the West, the shingle bank to the North and the bird sanctuary to the South. It is envisaged that this exciting new site and collaboration between the NNEP and the NWT will provide new opportunities for experimental, robust installations which will also be exceptionally sensitive to the habitat of the locality.
The Open exhibition has been held for 11 years at Salthouse Church where it has enjoyed great popularity with the public and enthusiastic participation of regional artists. It is felt that the exceptional light and space in Cley Church and the distinctive landscape of the coastal marshes guarantees that it will enjoy even greater popularity with both the public and the participating artists.
The 2012 exhibition will be selected and curated by Isabel Vasseur, working with the assistance of NNEP and NWT and with the support of Arts Council England, North Norfolk District Council, Norfolk County Council and sponsors.
An illustrated brief will be provided for all those who would like to submit proposals for the 2012 Open. It will describe the physical and thematic context, the timetable of the project and the assistance available to realise individual works. Completed proposals will need to be returned by 12th January 2012.
To obtain an art and architecture brief for the 2012 Open please contact NNEP at:
Old Forge House
Church Road
Felmingham
North Walsham NR28 0LQ
Or use the contact form here.
BRIEF FOR ARTISTS AND ARCHITECTS
for PROPOSALS FOR THE 2012 NNEP OPEN
1. Thank you for your response to the “Call to Artists” for the 2012 Open in North Norfolk. This brief will attempt to enlarge on the original description of the “Call to Artists”, specify the scope of the project and the means by which artists and architects can submit proposals.
There are two locations for the 2012 Open:
St Margaret of Antioch church Cley next Sea, parts of the churchyard and church land adjacent to it.
The Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) controlled, two mile shingle path which lies one mile from the church, running between the marshes and the sea’s edge between Cley and Salthouse.
It would be preferable if artists were familiar with this area of North Norfolk but it is not essential. It is however a condition that the submitting artist must demonstrate an association with Norfolk.
2. Cley Church and its Immediate Domain
2.1 Introduction:
Churches and Cathedrals have of late, hosted and embraced an enormous variety of art forms not for liturgical reasons but in such a way where they can be enjoyed for their own sake. On occasions it can just be because there is no other suitable building to perform or exhibit an exhibition in, but so often it seems to also be a mutual desire to celebrate the buildings and the human creativity which the church exemplifies.
The theme for the 2012 North Norfolk Open is to use the form of St Margaret of Antioch church as the very subject of the exhibition. The premise for the exhibition will be that it is entirely composed of works which are site specific. By definition this will mean that the majority of work will need to be three dimensional whilst eliminating the need for the church to imitate a gallery. We would particularly like to involve architects in this project either in partnership with artists or singularly.
The Church has also kindly made the land which surrounds the church available for installations of temporary work and these like those in the interior of the church should be extremely sensitive to their setting in both meaning and form.
2.2 Physical Context of Proposals for St. Margaret of Antioch Church
The main areas available are:
At the West end of the nave which includes the font there is floor space measuring 15m x 8m allowing for more than one standing work, depending on scale.
With the especially constructed frames 3 dimensional works can be suspended above the nave at 3.5m high (8m wide) or at either of the side aisles (5m wide) at the same height. Works should not weigh more than 250Kg or hang lower than 1.5m thus allowing room for people to walk below.
There is additional space for large scale 2 dimensional pieces in the spaces between the windows of the side aisles and the columns of the nave.
There are also small niches which once held statues of Saints or similar above the nave columns.
The areas outside the church include a small paddock to the South of the grave yard, encircled by a flint wall.
A ruined South Porch could be offered as an alternative location for three dimensional works.
The Ruined South Porch
The Nave looking toward the Chancel
Niche above the Nave Column
Images of these locations and others can be found on the web but the enclosed illustrations show three of the sites described.
Cley Next-the-Sea Church St. Margaret.
3. The Cley to Salthouse Coastal Path
3.1 Introduction.
This location has been made available to the NNEP by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) and is the first partnership of this kind with these two organisations. It provides a particularly exciting opportunity for architects and also artists to respond to an exceptional and very beautiful landscape. The path runs between two conveniently placed car parks and can be reached from Cley beach road and by footpaths from Cley, Walsey Hills and Salthouse. It meanders between the man made shingle bank, there to keep the sea away from the marsh and water meadows and the turf, small ponds and inlets of the marshes. It has views of the great variety of birds that visit this site throughout the year and is within hearing and view of the North Sea a few meters away.
3.2 Theme
The challenge of this site is to design and build a temporary hide (as in bird hide) or even a den from the materials provided by the NWT which will consist of wood and reeds gathered from their numerous sites throughout Norfolk and wool, in its natural state, from NWT’s sheep. Those making proposals will need to be aware that the position of the installations will have to be agreed by NWT so as to avoid disturbing the wild life and those enjoying it and installations will have to be checked by a structural engineer for the soundness of the basic structure and tolerance to the weather conditions and the use of the public.
The illustrations below can be augmented by going to The Norfolk Wildlife Trust which provides further images of the area.
The beach from the top of the shingle bank
Looking west from the top of the shingle bank
N.B. It is hoped that this theme can be employed for outreach and education purposes where different communities will have an opportunity to build their own interpretation of a hide or den.
4. The Proposal
The proposal will take the form of:
Drawings or a collage of the basic idea with details of its scale, construction, where you imagine it will be located in one of the settings described in this brief and the means of installation.
Your understanding of the cost and your ability to cover it. As mentioned above the NWT can provide both reeds and timber from its extensive holdings throughout Norfolk, and wool from its sheep. Other in kind support is also being sought, and advice and assistance on applying for grants will be available.
Partnerships between a number of artists or a combination of artists and architects are encouraged.
The entire proposal should fit onto no more three pages of paper no larger than A1. The NNEP will not accept models at this stage.
It will be a great advantage if you are able to visit the two sites described.
It would be appropriate if you send copies of your originals and not the originals. In very exceptional cases, proposals will be returned if SAE sent.
Please enclose a non-returnable handling fee of £5. Cheques should be made out to North Norfolk Exhibition Project.
If you are in principal able or are interested in participating in the out reach and education programme please indicate this on your application.
NNEP was set up by local artists and is run by artists. Exhibiting artists and architects are expected to take responsibility for invigilation for two days, either by doing it themselves or finding someone who can substitute for them. There will be a number of volunteers available.
The deadline for proposals is 12th January. (NB: the date has been changed from the Call). Successful applicants will be invited to meet the Curator at the church on Sunday 19th February.
Proposals and handling fee should be sent to:
NNEP
Old Forge House
Church Road
Felmingham
North Walsham Norfolk NR28 0LQ
