Artist Brief

In 2027, Moorfields Eye Hospital will move from its current premises near Old Street to a new, integrated centre on the St Pancras Hospital site in Camden. The Oriel project is a partnership between Moorfields, UCL and Moorfields Eye Charity, with the new Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health scheduled to open in 2027. The new centre will enable world-leading eye care, research and education benefitting patients across the UK and globally. It will deliver breakthrough treatments to the front line of patient care and revolutionise eye health, creating an environment where researchers and clinicians can work collaboratively.

Creative Vision

This art commission seeks to deliver the creative programme vision for the new site, which was co-produced by staff and patients in 2025. This vision is underpinned by 5 principles:

Description of artist’s role

Chosen artists will work closely with the Creative Programme Curator to develop a plan for their commission, subject to review by the Creative Programme Committee. This should include 2-3 participatory workshops with different user groups to co-create the final artworks. The artist will also need to meet with staff in the relevant area (supported by the Creative Programme Curator) to develop possible themes and workshop content.

Workshops can use any artistic medium or method (subject to space, budget and health and safety considerations). Final artworks must be able to be printed onto hygienic cladding or window film, to meet infection control and cleaning needs and ensure consistency across the site. Printing and installation are covered by a separate budget, and the artist will not need to install the final pieces.

Location, Audiences and Theme

There are no specific themes required, and pieces do not need to relate to eye health or sight. We envisage that themes will emerge from consultation and workshops, ensuring co-creation of the final work.

We have grouped the pieces so that each artist will be working with targeted audiences. This may involve some artists working on both walls and glass. However, if your work is particularly suited to one or the other, please specify in your proposal.

• Children and Young People’s Hospital: Glass entrance way, and wall murals in waiting areas (co-created with children and young people)

• Staff and student areas: wall murals including staff restaurant and shared education and working space (co-created with staff/students)

• Adult waiting areas: Glass walls/windows on upper floors and wall murals in A&E and pharmacy (co-created with adult patients)

• Stairwells: wall murals on levels 1, 2 and 3 to support wayfinding and improve environment (co-created with a mix of staff and patients)

While the site remains under construction, you can find images and walkthroughs of the centre on our website.

Accessibility and Sustainability

We expect the artist to work with staff to embed inclusive design principles and comply with accessibility standards. We are keen to incorporate multisensory, tactile, auditory and interactive approaches where feasible, and any proposals for doing so will be welcomed.

Designs which use colour, light and space to increase accessibility for a range of vision levels will also be of particular interest.

Moorfields is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. We aim to avoid single-use materials in our creative activities wherever possible, and encourage re-use and recycling in art projects, as well as artworks which draw attention to environmental sustainability. You can read our Green Plan here.

Indicative Timetable

Project management and reporting

The appointed artists will report directly to the Creative Programme Curator with input from the Oriel Programme Manager – Social Value. Artists will also work closely with the Creative Programme Committee and its task and finish group on new commissions.

Draft and final designs must be approved by the Creative Programme Committee and Oriel Design Advisory Group, to ensure that they are in keeping with the building and inclusive design principles. Planning approval or consent is not required.

Final artworks must be supplied as high-resolution digital files suitable for production. Artists may be required to liaise with the appointed fabrication and installation supplier during technical development and preparation for print.

Contractual arrangements

The appointed artists will be responsible for consultation and participatory workshops and design and creation of artworks only, and the work will be carried out in one contract stage.

Fabrication and installation will be managed by a separate supplier.

Insurance

The artist is expected to hold public liability insurance of up to £5 million.

Evidence of insurance must be submitted on appointment, before signing the contract.

Copyright and Ownership

The artist will retain copyright of the artwork and grant Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable licence to use the artwork and images of it in perpetuity.

Any models or preliminary drawings will remain the property of the artist unless donated to the collection. All background IPR (archive material, photographs etc) will remain the property of Moorfields Eye Hospital and/or its partners.

Please send your submission, clearly marked with the title of the brief, by email to sarah.chaney1@nhs.net by 5pm on Monday 30 November.

Submissions should include:

1. A short response to this brief, no more than one side of A4, outlining why you are interested in this commission, your experience of participation, and your initial ideas for fulfilling the brief

2. Examples of your artwork (no more than 10 images, which should be jpegs of an emailable size)

3. An up-to-date CV and contact details of 2 referees: recent commissioners or professionals with whom you have collaborated

The closing date for expressions of interest is 5pm on Monday 30 November.

Submissions will be judged on the following weighted criteria:

1. Artistic quality and experience (40%)

2. Participation and engagement experience (20%)

3. Fit with building and audiences (20%)

4. Sustainability and social value (20%)

We will be shortlisting during the week of 30 November.

A short list of 8–10 artists will be chosen for interview, which will take place during the second two weeks of December. Only one commission will be awarded per artist.

The same evaluation criteria will apply to the interview, at which we will expect you to tell us more about your ideas for the project.

For more information or to discuss this brief in more detail, please contact Sarah Chaney, Oriel Creative Programme Curator, on sarah.chaney1@nhs.net