DCN Creative Research Artist Fellowships

Call for Expressions of Interest
Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 9th November 2016

1. Introduction

Currently under construction at Little France in Edinburgh, a major new hospital building will be shared by two distinct acute services, the Department of Clinical Neuroscience (DCN) and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC).

Ginkgo Projects are seeking Expressions of Interest from creative practitioners based in the UK and Europe for three artist fellowships with the DCN. These will form part of an existing Art and Therapeutic Design (ATD) programme.

The programme framework has been developed in collaboration with both the NHS project team and charitable funders (Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation) led by Ginkgo Projects Ltd.

The aims of the project are to promote and showcase the working activity and research interests currently found within the DCN through a programme of dynamic art/science commissions.

Innovation and design development using current research practices is key to each fellowship within the programme. This project seeks to build relationships between artists, staff and external research partners to demonstrate best practice and contribute to on-going dialogue with respect to the benefits of creative practice in clinical environments.

The three fellowships are as follows:

A: Language & Cognition Fellowship
B: Music Fellowship
C: Design Fellowship

The ATD programme is founded on supporting and promoting the experience of patients as they navigate the physical and emotional experience of arrival, waiting, treatment and staying in hospital, as well as the experiences of staff as they make the move to a new working environment.

Construction work is well advanced and completion is planned for the autumn/winter of 2017, with the occupation phase until Spring 2018.

2. The New Hospital Context

The ATD programme is being delivered in the context of the new hospital environment. The ethos set by NHS Lothian states that:

‘The new build on the Little France site will bring together two distinct services, that of Children & Young People’s Hospital and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCN) for adult patients. The ethos of the new building will be different for each of these groups of patients and their families, as well as staff and visitors to the building however the new build should be iconic in its development and portray a positive image for NHS Lothian.

There are some common themes relevant to the building for both groups of patients:-

• each should have its own identity within an integrated clinical facility, where the safety of all users is paramount. It will provide appropriate, discrete environments for all patients, both children & young people and adult patients, each with their own clear visual, and spatial identity
• will be spacious, light, colourful and comforting and not feel like an institution
• the patients will be at the centre of the new hospital and all processes within it
• will ensure privacy and dignity for all patients
• will have easy access to healing outdoor and green space
• will support families as they care for their children/young people and adults in their healing process
• patient pathways for both patient groups should be separate wherever possible
• building should have a character and presence that contributes positively to the local community’

Further information on the new building and its overall design can be found by clicking here.

3. Project Outline

The overall aims of the ATD programme is to develop a series of projects and initiatives that build upon the core design to further provide opportunities for artists and designers to work with the project design team, users and wider interest groups to create projects that promote a real sense of grounded and connected art and design practice that draws out the uniqueness of this building within its social, cultural and physical contexts.

Innovation and design development based on current research practice in relation to the therapeutic nature of each is key to each project within the programme. We aim to demonstrate best practice and to contribute to on-going dialogue and practice in the development and realisation of this programme through working with a wide range of partners.

Areas that are core to many of the projects include:

• Creating a sense of place
• Meeting stress with dignity
• Distraction in support of clinical provision
• Participation and personalisation

The three DCN fellowships are designed to build relationships and creative capacity between the hospital and wider city communities. It is anticipated that much of the development work will take place off site however we expect both temporary and permanent work to find a place both within the existing DCN at Western General and/or the new building at Little France.

Three fellowships are proposed between January 2017 and January 2018, with the possibility of extension until March 2018.


A. Language & Cognition Fellowship

Socially-engaged fellowship for an interdisciplinary writer or creative practitioner to work with people with neurological conditions to explore and showcase areas of growing understanding and connectivity between the patient experience and aspects of scientific research practice. The resulting work may be developed as a cross art form body of work that explores, showcases and reveals some of the complex narratives found within the DCN and its partner organisations. Exploration of the differences between biological and artificial neural networks and the emerging realm of neurofiction are areas of curatorial interest.


B. Music Fellowship

Practice-based fellowship in music therapy, health and wellbeing, music and cognition. The fellowship’s activities will be undertaken with DCN clinicians, patients/families and relevant academic arts/music institutions. The sonification of a patient’s journey from diagnosis through treatment to recovery has the capacity to personalise time spent at the DCN and improve mental wellness. In addition, the potential opportunity exists to celebrate and preserve the acoustics of the unique spherical Dott theatres at the existing DCN through composition and performance, as they are decommissioned.

C. Design Fellowship

Practice-based contemporary 3D/visual art/design fellowship inspired by the archives of Professor Norman Dott and other resources, including the existing Dott theatre spaces to create a design application, product or artwork of significance. The result will be applied, used or sited in the new DCN and other institutions as appropriate.

Further information:

Knowledge exchange and dissemination of each fellowship will be central to the project through a series of separately budgeted events and outputs. These may be organised and shared between the fellowship holders and partner institutions. Events running though the programme period will explore, contextualise and develop all the issues and ideas that emerge, and further facilitate collective artist mentoring activity.

A range of documentation, promotion and exhibition formats will be developed by project curator Mark Daniels of New Media Scotland. One intention is to develop an installation and/or performance in the Dott theatres to mark the transfer to the new building. The content developed by the fellowships should also be suitable for integration with other facets of the ATD programme including DCN bedside environments and programmable spaces.

It is expected that the fellowship briefs will be refined and developed through discussion, and that a good level of in depth research, stakeholder engagement and dialogue will be undertaken to develop proposals that are deliverable, but may take an approach previously not envisaged.

There is a current body of engagement work setting out the views of users which should be reviewed by the fellowship holders and used as appropriate to ensure that the user experience is at the core of the creative development process. Ginkgo Projects will manage the interface and delivery of the project.


4. Programme

• Submission deadline: 5pm Wednesday 9th November 2016
• Shortlisting: (attendance not required) w/c 14th November 2016
• Interviews: 23rd & 24th November 2016
• Contracts Issued: w/c 12th December 2016
• Fellowship to be completed by: January 2018 (possible extension until March 2018)

5. Copyright and Ownership

The copyright and all intellectual property rights in the works remain vested in the Artist or the person responsible for the production (as the case may be).

The Artist grants to Ginkgo Projects and NHS Lothian an irrevocable, exclusive royalty free licence to copy, use and to reproduce designs, models and research and supporting information for any non-commercial purpose relating to the works including (but without limitation) the construction, completion, maintenance, promotion, reinstatement, repair, any extension of the works and for dissemination within the NHS as part of the feedback of information to better or enable the NHS to realise improvements in its methods and practice of construction and in the design and procurement of its construction.

Ownership of all submitted material, design, models and research shall be held in favour of the client.


6. Budget

Each fellowship is valued at £40,000 ex VAT including all materials and expenses. This is broken down into fellowship fees and a materials budget to cover production or event delivery costs. This is based on a fee allocation of £30,000 (150 days @ £200 per day) and £10,000 for support, materials and expenses.

As part of the project there will also be access, via discussion and approval, to a shared budget for mentoring, discussions, and for dissemination/publication.

Payment will be made on provision of monthly invoices by the Artist outlining fees and expenses in accordance with the agreed fee proposal.


7. Submission Requirements

Your Expression of Interest should be sent in electronic format only.

You will be notified within 2 days of closing to confirm the receipt of your submission. If you do not receive notification, please contact Ginkgo to ensure your application has been received.

If the fellowship holder brings in other practitioners to work with them on this project, they will act as the main contractor subcontracting and paying the other project contributors.

1. Submissions should be sent in electronic form only to Lucy Harwood by 5pm on Wednesday 9th November 2016.

2. Submission should include:

• An up-to-date CV of the lead creative practitioner;
• If the applicant is a practice or group, please also include a practice or group profile;
• Documentation of previous relevant projects, which can be online;
• Statement setting out your working practice and your approach to the project;
• Statement confirming that you would be able to complete the commission within the timescale stated.
• Confirmation of proposed fee structure or any alternative proposed (including daily rates).

3. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview 21st or 23rd November 2016.

4. Final appointment may be subject to references and checks on insurances, registrations, Disclosure/Protection of Vulnerable Groups.

5. Criteria for selection will be:

A. Quality of previous work and relevant experience (40%)
B. Statement (40%)
C. Fee Structure Proposal (20%)


For submissions:
Lucy Harwood, Programme Manager
lucy@ginkgoprojects.co.uk
07729 599 885


For information:
Mark Daniels, Project Curator
mark@ginkgoprojects.co.uk
0131 650 2750

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