Artists offered £500 for public artwork ideas

Artists with ideas for public artwork in a Devon town could receive £500, the local council has said.

It comes after North Devon Council said it was looking for ideas for decorating Barnstaple, as part of its Flourishing Barnstaple initiative.

A council spokesperson said ideas could range from a single large commission to several smaller pieces.

The total budget is £200,000 and has been funded through the Cultural Development Fund, delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Lead member for economic development and regeneration, councilor Malcolm Prowse, said the project celebrated “Barnstaple’s rich heritage and also offers a creative response to the evolving needs of our community”.

“By engaging with our history and modern identity, the public art installation has the potential to become a valuable landmark, fostering pride among residents and offering a new cultural experience to visitors.”

He added: “I look forward to seeing how local artists capture the spirit of Barnstaple and contribute to its ongoing revitalization through arts and culture.”

Commissions will be awarded through a two-phase application process, with up to 10 artists selected in the first phase to develop their proposals.

The expression of interest phase is to select suitable artists, those chosen to develop their ideas will receive a payment of £500.

Expressions of interest can be submitted until 17:00 GMT on November 18th.

Delivery and installation of the works are expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.