We're putting out a call to artists to submit ideas for a new artwork as part of a development of 42 new council homes being built in Victoria Road, Portslade.
The artwork will take pride of place in a new public space, next to Portslade Town Hall, which will be provided alongside the homes.
The housing project is one of the largest in our New Homes for Neighbourhoods building programme.
It’s made up of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats, with a range of sustainability features, and is due to be completed in the autumn. All the homes will be let to people on the council’s housing register.
About the commission
The artwork will be a permanent feature and we welcome applications from artists and designers working in all disciplines. We are open to proposals in any medium and are looking for an innovative design which enhances the surroundings.
Portslade Town Hall was formerly the Ronuk Hall and Welfare Institute, part of the Ronuk polish company. This helped to inspire the theme for the artwork ‘Ecologies of Care: Time Flies but the Shine Lasts’, which reflects the wellbeing ethos of the company and one of its old advertising slogans.
The deadline for the open call is midday Monday 7 February 2022.
Find out more about the Victoria Road artwork commission and how to apply
Building for the future
The Victoria Road development will be the first new council housing project in the city with a ground source heat pump system to provide heating and hot water for residents, as part of our commitment to cut carbon emissions.
Other sustainability features will include solar panels and high levels of insulation, along with living walls on some sides of the blocks of flats which will be planted with wild flowers and watered with recycled rainwater.
There will be bird and bat boxes, and bee bricks, to encourage wildlife, plus a communal garden for residents with a small orchard and raised planting beds for community use.
The new public open space will be a separate area which people visiting the town hall, residents, and other members of the public can enjoy.
Benefits for the local community
Councillor Siriol Hugh-Jones, co-chair of the Housing Committee, said: “We are proud of the high-quality and sustainable design of the council homes currently under construction in Victoria Road.
“Along with the new housing, the scheme is bringing benefits for the local community, including a new civic space, and we are pleased to be launching this public art commission for the site.
“We particularly hope local artists and designers will apply and look forward to seeing the ideas for this exciting project.”
The flats are being built on the site of a former housing office and bowls club, behind Portslade Town Hall.
A new sports pavilion has already been built and opened nearby in Victoria Recreation Ground, as part of the project, to provide a new home for Portslade Bowls Club.
Facilities at the pavilion include an outdoor artificial all-weather bowling green, a short mat indoor bowls area, changing rooms, and a kitchen. It also has football changing rooms and a kiosk for serving refreshments for people attending football matches at the recreation ground.