Open Call: “Can You Hear Us?” – Landed Public Art Commissions

“Can You Hear Us?”, a six-week celebration of creativity and culture taking place across the Isle of Wight in Autumn 2026. From spectacular performances in a Big Top town hall, to music, theatre, film, food, craft, nature connection and carnival, the programme will celebrate and amplify artists, schools, communities and over 20 partner organisations.

A total of three commissions will be awarded to artists that:

• Encourage communities to connect with the environment through the 5 Pathways to Nature Connection (senses, emotion, beauty, meaning, compassion)

• Showcase the IW as a contemporary, ambitious, and progressive place

• Celebrate and explore the natural and built heritage of the IW National Landscape

• Provide opportunities for young people to be actively involved in the commission.

Commission 1: Appuldurcombe House
An artistic site-specific response to Appuldurcombe House and surrounding landscape. We are looking for ideas that sensitively explore, celebrate and uncover untold stories of the built and natural environment at Appuldurcombe. For more information about this site, please visit: Appuldurcombe House | English Heritage.

• Commission amount: £16,000

• Shortlisted applicants will each receive £200 to develop their idea.

• All art forms will be considered.

• Artists are first invited to submit an EOI which should include a short proposal considering the guidelines.

• Proposals must also include at least one live event or public happening at the site, creating a one-off shared experience that animates the commission, inviting audiences to engage directly.

• Proposals must include an R&D phase in which artists will work alongside the conservation and landscape teams at English Heritage.

• Please note: no onsite facilities (e.g. toilets, power) are available, so proposals must account for this in their planning – a separate budget is available for this provision.

Commissions 2. & 3: Locations TBD

Two further commissions will take place at sites within the IW National Landscape, with a focus on the South/West of the Island. Artists are invited to propose a site from a list of potential locations – e.g this could be held at the Needles New Battery / Rocket Launch Site, Brighstone Forest, St Catherine’s Oratory, Compton, and others).

• Commission amount: £10,000 each.

• Due to access and security restrictions, these commissions cannot be permanent installations. Proposals should take the form of live, temporary public happenings or time-based events.

• Should respond to the site’s environmental, historic, or social context while involving the public directly.

For further information please visit: HERE.
To apply, submit via CuratorSpace HERE.

“Can You Hear Us?” is made possible through Arts Council England Place Partnership funding.