PROJECTS
Drawing out Hilbre Archipelago
We are excited to announce a 2nd call for proposals for the Independents Biennial 2025, focusing on Hilbre Island, the largest island within the Wirral Peninsula Archipelago. We invite national and international artists to submit proposals that address one or more of the 3 categories below:
1. Workshops
There will be a workshop space available in the Trinity Buoy Masters House, recently acquired by HCLT (Hilbre Community Land Trust). Workshops should address a focussed theme. Please see a suggestion of themes below or suggest an alternative on how you would approach this site. Please indicate the number of participants for this activity. Due to the site being a nature reserve the requirement for a light environmental footprint requires consideration. Island facility access is limited to tide times (see below for link to tide times). Please indicate a charge for your workshop for our advertising purposes and the age range it would be appropriate for.
2. Exhibitions
Please provide an exhibition focus and outline of how you work will evolve and relate to Hilbre and/or one of the themes below. Please include images of your work. Please indicate how you anticipate hanging your work so we can advise accordingly. There is wall, floor and window space. If it is an outdoor installation, please provide supporting images to demonstrate how this might work.
3. Event
This might be participatory, relevant to an existing activity that takes place on Hilbre, a Talk, performance or other. Please provide a clear outline of what you intend to do and how many would feasibly view this. Please specify whether this is to be indoor, outdoor and preferable time of day am, pm or eve. Indicate how long your event takes and provide supporting images or document with your proposal.
ALL proposals need to identify your thematic focus, provide 150-word bio and 500 word proposal outline, time frame, resources anticipated, and facilities anticipated.
Thematic Focus
We encourage explorations that highlight the island’s ecological diversity, cultural heritage, and the interaction between its inhabitants—both living and non-living. Potential thematic foci include, but are not limited to:
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Ecological Interconnections: Investigating relationships between species and their habitats.
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Cultural Heritage and Community Narratives: Engaging with the history and stories that shape Hilbre and its communities.
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Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency: Highlighting practices that support ecological balance and resourcefulness.
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Time and Tides: Exploring the effects of changing tides on the island and its ecosystems.
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Engagement with Nature: Encouraging outdoor participation and interaction with the island’s environment through art.
Funding and Logistics:
Note that there is no artist fee. Artists are responsible for securing funding to support their activities. We will provide letters of support for accepted proposals. Amenities: Hilbre offers basic facilities including a compost toilet and solar electricity. You’ll need to coordinate access based on tide times; check here for relevant schedules: Here
Preparation: Participants are encouraged to be self-sufficient and resourceful. Guidance on suitable clothing and preparation is available. There is a workshop area with an open hard area immediately in front of double doors. There are domestic rooms in the Trinity Buoy Masters House available for exhibition spaces. These are basic and rundown and need to be treated as a non-traditional exhibition site. Your exhibition will have some assistance in setting up but will need to be largely selfsufficient.
SUBMISSION DATE: 07/02/2025
We look forward to receiving your proposals and working together to illuminate the unique story of Hilbre Island during the Independents Biennial 2025!
For submissions and inquiries, please copy us all in: