Focal Point Gallery in collaboration with Creative Estuary is delighted to announce the commission of a new, major public artwork in the centre of Southend-on-Sea. This impactful, ambitious, and high-quality public realm commission is intended to capture the imagination of residents and visitors to Southend-on-Sea establishing it as a unique and creative place in the heart of the Estuary. The brief is to create a visually exciting and imaginative artwork that transforms the ‘gateway’ to High Street as approached from Southend Victoria and Victoria Avenue. Currently lacking character or any sense of place, the public artwork will contribute to the identity, understanding, appreciation and enhancement of Southend Town Centre as a thriving public place and thoroughfare between the High Street and the Seafront and wider Estuary.
In November 2021, members of the Southend Creative and Culture Network (SCCN) were invited to propose nominations for artists either based in Southend-on-Sea or South Essex and/or have a connection with the area to submit an expression of interest for this commission. A selection panel made up of local residents and creative practitioners have been appointed to agree on the shortlist from these nominations and then appoint the winning artist.
Selection Panel
Shortlisted artists
Focal Point Gallery will work with the appointed artist once selected to deliver the commission with the aim of having this major new public artwork in place by Summer 2022.
Focal Point Gallery (FPG) supports the production and presentation of new and recent contemporary art that challenges us to think and feel differently about locality, our sense of self and the importance of communities. Our wide-ranging and pioneering artistic programme is relevant to local and national audiences alike, through exploring current concerns that also resonate internationally. Based in Southend-on-Sea on the Thames Estuary, FPG’s activities take place in locations across the region with our reach extended by working collaboratively with like-minded partners.
FPG is located on the ground floor of The Forum building in Elmer Square, 100 metres from Southend Central Station. (Trains are every fifteen minutes from London Fenchurch Street, journey time fifty minutes.)
As south Essex’s only public-funded gallery for contemporary art, FPG receives regular funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and is part of Southend-on- Sea Borough Council from which it receives ongoing support.
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FPG – www.fpg.org.uk
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