Organizer Information
This open call is commissioned through the Creative Central NCL programme, a five-year place-based regeneration initiative led by Newcastle City Council and funded in partnership with the North East Mayoral Combined Authority and Homes England. The programme is designed to support cultural and creative regeneration in central Newcastle, offering commissions, skills development, and public realm interventions that embed contemporary art into the city’s evolving infrastructure.
The specific commissioning body for this opportunity is Creative Central NCL, a cultural development initiative focused on strengthening the creative economy in central Newcastle through public art, artist commissions, and civic engagement projects. The commission is part of the wider Central Gateway Connectivity project, which aims to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure around Newcastle Central Station while simultaneously enhancing the visual and experiential quality of key urban routes.
Title & Description
Forth Street Tunnel Mural Commission – Public Realm Mural Opportunity
This open call invites visual artists to design and execute a large-scale permanent mural installation within Forth Street Tunnel, located near Newcastle Central Station. The commission forms part of a wider infrastructure and public realm improvement programme aimed at transforming key pedestrian and cycle routes into safer, more visually engaging urban corridors.
The selected artist will be responsible for creating two substantial painted artworks—one on each side of the tunnel—spanning approximately 47 metres in length and 4 metres in height per wall. The intervention should respond to the curatorial theme of Motion, which reflects both the site’s contemporary function as a transport corridor and its historical significance in the development of railway engineering and industrial mobility.
Artists are encouraged to interpret “motion” broadly, including but not limited to locomotion, mechanical movement, cyclical rhythm, human flow, and urban circulation. The tunnel’s high footfall and vehicular visibility position the work as both an aesthetic and experiential marker of movement through the city.
Categories
- Public Art / Murals
- Visual Art
- Large-scale Painting
- Site-specific Installation
- Urban / Environmental Art
- Conceptual / Narrative Painting
Eligibility
- Open to professional artists and collectives
- Strong preference for artists based in or connected to the North East of England
- International applicants may apply, but must demonstrate the ability to work on-site in the UK during the installation period
- Applicants must have experience working at scale and in public environments
- Applicants must be able to meet safety requirements, including working at height certification (e.g., PASMA and/or IPAF)
- Applicants must be available to complete installation between October and December 2026 (approx. 4-week installation window)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total commission fee: £34,000 (covers design, materials, production, and installation)
- An additional £1,000 development fee was awarded to each of the two shortlisted artists for proposal refinement
- Opportunity to deliver a highly visible permanent public artwork in central Newcastle
- Technical and logistical support from the commissioning team
- Assistance with permissions, access coordination, and site logistics
- Publicity and promotional support through Creative Central NCL communications channels
- Integration into a major city infrastructure regeneration programme with long-term public visibility
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a concise application (equivalent to 1 A4 page or a 2-minute video/audio recording), including:
- Artist biography
- Portfolio links or examples of previous work
- Concept summary responding to the theme of Motion and site conditions
- Preliminary sketch, visual reference, or conceptual imagery (optional but recommended)
Shortlisted applicants (Stage Two) will additionally be required to provide:
- Detailed visual proposal
- Itemised budget breakdown
- Technical execution strategy
- Risk and feasibility considerations
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted by email to: info@creativecentralncl.co.uk
Subject line must clearly state: Forth Street Tunnel
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 June 2026
- Shortlisting Period: 10 June – 19 July 2026
- Notification of Shortlist: Week commencing 22 July 2026
- Interviews (Shortlisted Artists): 27 July – 7 August 2026
- Final Selection Outcome: By the end of August 2026
- Installation Period: October – December 2026 (approx. 4 weeks, exact schedule confirmed with selected artist)
Location
Forth Street Tunnel, near Newcastle Central Station, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The commission responds to a highly specific architectural and environmental context. The tunnel walls are constructed from glazed brick, which will be cleaned and primed prior to installation. Artists must consider:
- High moisture levels and potential water ingress through mortar joints
- Breathable paint systems required (e.g., masonry-grade exterior paints)
- Long-term weathering and environmental exposure
- High visibility to pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicular traffic
- Non-continuous composition is permitted (sequences, motifs, or segmented visual systems are encouraged)
Artists may use mobile scaffolding or scissor lifts but must hold appropriate certifications for working at height.
The thematic framework of Motion is rooted in the industrial and transport history of the area, including the legacy of Robert Stephenson and early locomotive innovation. However, interpretations are open and may extend into contemporary readings of movement, flow, rhythm, and connectivity within urban space.