[spectre] The Northern Way Virtual Gateway Commission

[Taylor Nuttall]

*NEW COMMISSION – INVITATION TO TENDER*

*The Northern Way Virtual Gateway Commission*

*The Northern Way*, working with Arts Council England to deliver the 
£10m ‘Welcome to the North’ public art programme, wishes to commission a 
truly innovative and original virtual artwork ‘Gateway to the North’.

Tenders are invited from organisations seeking to work with a named 
artist(s), individual artists or collaborating artists for this major 
commission.

The emphasis of this new commission will be on its virtual long-term 
presence, although it can also include physical manifestations that make 
a link between the real and virtual, and is open to a range of artforms 
and media including: sound, software art, blogging, performance and 
events, online worlds and mapping systems eg Second Life, GoogleEarth. 
The proposals will need to include a web-based accessible platform and 
applicants are also welcome to consider the use of a number of other 
distribution and presentation platforms such as podcasts and videocasts; 
CD and DVD; mobile phones and locative media.



The commission will:

    *

      Make connections across the three Northern regions

    *

      Reference and conceptualise the North through its geographical,
      social, cultural and economic landscapes

    *

      Provide an opportunity for all users to engage with the commission

    *

      Provide a platform which is accessible to local, regional,
      national and international audiences

    *

      Represent or consider the North in all its diversity.



The proposal will also need to include a detailed education programme, 
evaluation programme and PR/marketing.

            *The commission must be completed no later than the end of
            March 2008.*



            The commission is open to artists in the UK and beyond.

            Full details and specifications are available from: Kath
            Savage on 01924 486 212 or _kath.savage at artscouncil.org.uk
            <mailto:kath.savage at artscouncil.org.uk>_

            *The closing date for applications is 14 September 2007, 12
            noon.*

            Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview to
            present their proposals.



*The Northern Way* a unique collaboration of regions and cities from 
across the North of England, led by the three Northern Regional 
Development Agencies: Yorkshire Forward, Northwest Regional Development 
Agency and One NorthEast.

This is a 20 year strategy to transform the economy of the North of 
England. Success will be determined by the bridging of a £30 billion 
output gap between the North and the average for England.

More information about Arts Council England and the Northern Way can be 
found at _www.artscouncil.org.uk <http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/>_ and 
_http://www.thenorthernway.co.uk/_