Arts-science collaborations

[Please note that the highest or lowest value stated for the contract is for all 4 artists/creative practitioners, and that the maximum amount available for each artist/creative practitioner is therefore £12,000 without VAT (with an expected minimum of £10,000)].

This requirement is for 4 individual artists/creative practitioners, each to work with a different team in Natural England's (NE) Chief Scientist's Directorate to address a brief the respective team has developed on an evidence/research-related topic relevant to their area of work: inspiring collective action on the climate and nature crisis; exploring geology for nature recovery and connection; interpreting DNA research; and translating and learning from scenarios of the future. We are looking for interested artists/creative practitioners who have the experience, skills and knowledge outlined in the evaluation criteria to apply as individuals, and will allocate the 4 successful artists as far as feasible to their preferred pilot using the process outlined in the specification. Each artist/creative practitioner will collaborate with their science team to develop and address the brief, co-creating an artwork/piece. We welcome submissions from any artistic practice (visual arts, music, creative writing, performing arts etc). Together these 4 arts-science collaboration pilots will produce evidence for a research project being led by the NE social science team to address the following research questions: 1. What 'added value' does arts-based research offer to science and evidence processes within NE and beyond? 2. What is needed for successful arts-science collaborations that would generate such 'added-value' within a context like NE? This will involve active participation in 3 workshops, a focus group and a webinar to capture and discuss learning.

Additional information: To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) attached. Your response must be sent to Alexia.Coke@naturalengland.org.uk by 9am on 10 June 2024.

If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to Alexia.Coke@naturalengland.org.uk. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.