Birmingham Light Festival 2026 Legacy Light Artwork in Edgbaston Village

Creative Open Call

Background

Calthorpe Estates is proud to announce that Edgbaston Village, part of our historic estate, has been selected as the 2026 Legacy Partner for Birmingham Light Festival.

Following a successful first year of the Festival, the Legacy Programme aims to progressively illuminate Birmingham at night, all year round, by commissioning at least one permanent light installation each year. In 2025, three permanent artworks were commissioned — you can view them here.

For 2026, the Legacy artwork will be installed in Greenfield Crescent, right in the heart of Edgbaston Village. This is an exciting opportunity to bring a new piece of public art to our community — one that celebrates light, creativity, and the distinct character of Edgbaston.

The continuation of the Legacy Programme has been made possible through the support of Birmingham City Council, using funds from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

What next?

We are looking for an artist to set the creative and visual direction for this project by designing a new permanent light artwork. Once appointed, this artist will work collaboratively with our manufacturing partner to refine and deliver a final achievable design.

We’re seeking a Birmingham based creative who:

• Can demonstrate strong creative vision

• Has an interest in light and a passion for light art and placemaking

• Is a team player with experience of working collaboratively

• Is flexible and able to work to the tight timelines outlined below

The Artwork

We will be looking for artists to respond to one (or more) of the following themes:

• Birmingham – its people, stories and identity

• The natural world – light, landscape and the changing seasons

• Edgbaston’s heritage – its history, architecture and sense of community

An additional source of inspiration artists may want to expand further is the street name, Greenfield Crescent. One idea we’ve discussed is the connection to the moon, its light, cycles and sense of shared experience (connected to the phrase ‘we’re all under the same moon’) that could offer a poetic link between Edgbaston Village and the diverse communities that make up the wider city of Birmingham.

This is just one possible thread of inspiration and we encourage artists to interpret the brief in their own way. Whether your approach is abstract, symbolic or narrative, we’re looking for ideas that resonate with the spirit of Edgbaston Village and spark curiosity and connection.

Artists should also consider how people can capture their work in their own content, at all times of the day, and how their work could serve as a photo opportunity that invites people to share their experience.

The artwork must be sympathetic to the environment it is presented in, the picturesque Edgbaston Village.

Finally, sustainability is one of our key pillars, so we are looking for consideration to the environment at every stage.

The Space

For context, the successful creative will be designing an artwork for the space pictured below. Specifically a wall mounted piece taking in as much of the empty wall space as possible below. You can see the light power source near the CCTV unit.

Light must be at the heart of the concept but light does not need to be the only element of the piece. For example you may propose a metal architectural element to the piece, back lit with light to create a glow.

Or, you may propose a smaller light artwork in neon that is set against a painted mural. Perhaps you might explore shadow or solar interventions.

We are very open to different approaches, these are just two ideas to set the scene of a wide scope.

Technical Insight

We will walk successful applicants through the brief in more detail, including the budget that the manufacturing company will be working to. The artwork should be ambitious but also realistic to deliver in terms of timeline and budget. The below should give you a sense of the parameters.

For the artwork canvas, we’ll be asking you to keep it no wider than five metres and no taller than three metres. It should also be mounted at least two and a half metres off the ground. When it comes to the lighting, only low-power options should be used, and the electrical connection should not draw more than one and a half kilowatts, trying to use as few fixings as possible to attach the canvas to the wall.

The Process

Step 1: Portfolio submission. We are now welcoming portfolio submissions from Birmingham creatives who meet the above specification. You do not need to be an experienced light art designer to be part of this Open Call nor do you need to submit concept ideas at this stage. We will shortlist a number of portfolios and those artists will be invited to interview.

Step 2: Following those interviews, we will select up to three creatives to develop concept designs in whichever medium they feel comfortable. By that we mean – these could be anything from hand drawn sketches to digital designs. Each creative will receive a £500 bursary.

Through this process we need to clearly see your vision for what the artwork will look like, consideration should be given to materials you imagine being used to help us visualise the piece.

Step 3: We will then review those submissions and choose one creative to deliver the final project with our manufacturing partner. This artist will receive a £3,000 +VAT commission fee.

Step 4: The selected artist will then work with our manufacturing partner to develop final designs and technical drawings for sign off. The manufacturing partner will deliver these drawings with creative input from the artist. As a result you do not need to have experience in creating technical drawings or visual renders to be selected. However, you will need to be able and willing to take a collaborative approach. You will need to work closely with our manufacturing partner to develop your idea into something that can be delivered in time and budget.

Want to be part of it?

Applicants should provide:

1. 1. A portfolio showing relevant creative work

   2. A brief written statement (maximum 500 words) outlining your approach, any relevant experience, your interest in the project and particularly in light, and how you would approach working collaboratively with our manufacturing partner. Please read our key pillars before submitting your statement as we are committed to working with creatives who share our vision and commitment to those.

Applications should be sent to:
Alex Nicholson-Evans, City Curator
[email protected]

Timeline

Please read this carefully and only apply if you are available on these dates and able to meet these deadlines.

• Creative Open Call opens: 29 October

• Closes: 4 November

• Shortlisting: 5 November

• Interviews: 6 November

• Up to 3 shortlisted artists appointed: 7 November

• Final concepts due: 24 November

• Presentation of final concepts: 26 November

• Final artist selected: 27 November

• Design development: 28 November – 4 December

• Final sign-off: 5 December

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by Birmingham City Council.

Calthorpe Estates is proud to support the Birmingham Light Festival in bringing this exciting and enduring light artwork to Edgbaston Village, celebrating creativity, sustainability, and the unique sense of place that defines our estate.