Artists, Artworks and Resources
Who may enter, Forms of Art exhibited at MG and What the project offers
Who may enter
There are no specific restrictions in terms of artists to include in the MG project. However, artists who live in Reading or work in Reading or have any connection with Reading are particularly encouraged to participate.
About the number of artists involved, it can vary depending on the applications that MG receives. Ideally, the project goes for a collective project involving up to 5 artists.
Artworks exhibited at MG
Artists are free to develop pieces using a wide range of media, such as:
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Video art
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Printings
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Drawings
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Small sculptures
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Large pieces (i.e. mannequins accommodated on 1 or 2 seats)
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Audio files
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Short texts on screens
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Performing pieces (i.e. an artist producing his/her piece on the bus).
Being exhibited on a bus, artworks need to be in compliance with the current Health and Safety requirements applied by Reading Buses as they:
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Must be safe for sharp edges, secure to the vehicle and consider impact in collision or slip/trip/fall;
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Must remain safe and legal and must not impede the use of the bus in public service;
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Must maintain transparency or translucency of windows;
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Must avoid flashing lights.
About where to intervene on the bus, there are a series of privileged areas that can accommodate an artwork on the double-decker. For instance:
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2D pieces can be located:
1) Internally, on:
- cove panels;
- ceiling panels;
- seat backs;
- pulpit panel;
- side walls;
- staircase walls;
- rear wall/window downstairs.
The standard size for a cove panel printing is 35cmx20cm; a larger size can be accommodated by arrangement.
2) Externally, on:
- body sides within the legal restriction of not covering the perimeter of the entire windows of the bus (around 30% of each window can be covered);
- advertisement panels:
1) left side panel;
2) right side panel;
3) rear panel.
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3D pieces can be allocated on:
- a plinth to be allocated downstairs, dimensions 30cmx28cmx10cm;
- a plinth to be allocated upstairs dimension 50cmx25cmx45cm;
- the rear shelve downstairs, dimensions 50 cmx90cmx70cm;
- the rear shelve upstairs, dimensions 25cmx180cmx10cm.
It could also be offered the space of one pair of seats on the upstairs decker and could remove seats as required, dimension 110cmx88cmx40cm.
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Video art can be run on:
- a screen, dimensions 30cmx37cm;
- a screen, dimension 8cmx90 (only for text).
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Audio files can be run on speakers or downloaded on a smartphone via the WIFI storage of the bus;
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Performances may also take place on the bus.
(N.B. All the measures presented are expressed in Height x Width x Depth.)
All that said, artists are free to suggest a different space where to install/perform the piece/s they intend to propose and this will represent an element of the selection process.
In the case of 2D/3D pieces, Reading Buses advises using a resistant and durable material, like vinyl or plastic, as it needs to be appropriate to the peculiar space of a bus. At this regard, 2D/3D artworks can be produced inside Reading Buses' laboratory and artists are allowed to use printers (printer for vinyl and 3D printers) in collaboration with the company's technicians.
Resources offered by MG
MG gives the opportunity to showcase artworks from talented artists without asking any fees from the Artists. The selected Artist/s will receive a grant of £ 300 (total amount to be split between artists if more than one is selected). Moreover, they will have access to a set of peculiar and 'non-monetary' benefits, such as:
- Having printed and distributed postcards and booklets showing their works;
- Producing the piece selected by the panel in the ReadingBuses laboratory
- Using tools unusual for studio artists, like a 3D printer;
- Being part of 1/2 workshop where to meet and discuss with the audience;
- Exhibiting their original artworks at Jelly, now located at the Broad Street Mall.