Youth-Led Mural Commission – Isle of Wight
Artswork in partnership with the Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service (YJS) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, is looking to commission a local professional creative to work in collaboration with children supported by the YJS, to create a mural for the cell at Newport Police Station in which children and vulnerable adults are held.
Context
The Young Cultural Changemakers Programme is putting creative place-making power in the hands of young people. Young people across the southeast are empowered to lead on significant creative projects in their local area, transforming their lives and those of their neighbours. Working with local communities and with a range of partners, we are listening to the views, experiences and ideas of children and young people and supporting them to explore creative ways to make change happen in their areas.
Artswork has collaborated with the Isle of Wight YJS on a number of youth-led projects, in line with Child First principles, focusing on the children’s developmental needs, rights and potential, while striving to divert them from the criminal justice system.
In a previous collaboration, children supported by the YJS, co-created a ceiling design for the cell at Newport police station in which children and vulnerable adults are held. That design was ultimately installed elsewhere at Newport Police Station, but Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary recognise the potential benefits of having a mural co-created by children in the cell itself and have generously co-funded this opportunity.
The aims of the project are to support the YJS’s work reducing reoffending, by giving the children involved in the project an opportunity to ‘give something back’ and be proud of their achievements, while at the same time learning new skills, acquiring digital badge qualifications and potentially improving employability. By creating a calming and ‘friendly’ space, that feels less hostile, it will also support the vulnerable children and adults going through the system.
Brief
The chosen artist will work with children supported by the YJS at five regular weekly sessions on Wednesdays 12.30 – 2pm during the school summer holidays to develop a design for the cell walls. The design should:
- Engender calm and reduce anxiety
- Be non-triggering
- Be developed in workshop sessions in such a way that the final installation can be completed in a single weekend
- Use design/paints/varnishes that minimise the risk the mural being defaced and can withstand regular cleaning
The chosen artist will work with the children to paint the mural they have co-designed over two days in September 2026 (dates to be confirmed).
The artist will support the children to achieve digital badges in areas such as Communication and Teamwork.
Up to £3,650 is available for this work, to include the artist’s time, materials, installation costs, travel, expenses and VAT. In putting forward their proposal, it is for the artist to determine how the budget is allocated to deliver the proposed project.
Deadline: 10:00 Thursday 9 July 2026
Download the full call-out and project information here incuding artist specification & timeline:
Submit a Proposal
To apply please send a short (2p A4 maximum) expression of interest responding to the Artist Specification above and a CV which can include up to 5 images or a link to a website.
Applications must be received by email to petarainford@artswork.org.uk by 10:00 Thursday 9 July 2026
Please refer to the full project details and application process in the document above.
Find out more about the work we have been doing on the Isle of Wight