Makespace Oxford is looking for a locally based artist to work with us on visually activating the new civic space for communities on George Street, due to open in 2027.

As part of this commission, we are looking for a local artist/designer/illustrator to create a series of illustrations that will complement the broader community engagement of the project led by Makespace Oxford. We would like you to respond to the project findings of the community engagement and the strategies' key question:

"What could a civic space that creates the conditions for joy, learning, creativity and connection look like?".

This is broken down by asking some of the following questions as part of the engagement with communities:

How would you redraw/ reimagine Oxford?
How would you describe Oxford city?
Where do you go to find connection and community?

The artwork is to be used to attach a visual identity between this project over the next three years before the site is delivered in late 2027 (expected), working with the Community Architect and alongside the Community Advisory Board to inform a planning consent, with expected submission due in June 2024.

One of Makespace’s key community engagement principles is that the “engagement” (usually used to describe a fixed temporary period of consultation) is the foundation of the space's future use, which will be prototyped within Makespace’s engagement activities across the city between now and the activation of the future civic space for communities of Oxford.

To Apply:

Please provide us with examples of your work from 3 relevant projects with images and project overviews, plus a supporting statement of no more than 500 words in response to the brief and question:

In relation to the George Street space and for the facilitation of community engagement: How can community-based art transform our relationship with place and the opportunity of space?

Feel free to apply with video/audio submission if you feel more comfortable with this format.

Makespace Oxford aims to be a diverse and inclusive organisation. We want to be accessible, welcoming and truly representative of Oxfordshire. We have zero tolerance of behaviours that threaten equality and inclusion. We champion diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workplace and in our communities. We aim for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and actively welcome global majority applicants or applicants with other protected characteristics.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Makespace’s arts programmes or the George Street Project, please email georgestreet@makespaceoxford.org to be added to our mailing list.