Commission brief: WOW! Fest 2026 – Stories of the Arboretum
Live Mural (Modular Installation)
Festival Dates: Friday 3rd July – Saturday 4th July 2026
Walsall Arboretum, UK
Deadline: Monday 25th May 2026 (12 noon)
OVERVIEW
WOW! Fest 2026 is a vibrant outdoor arts festival celebrating dance, performance and community in Walsall.
As part of this year’s programme, we are commissioning an artist (or collective) to create a large-scale live mural
(modular installation) rooted in the stories, memories and lived experiences connected to Walsall Arboretum.
Inspired by learning from WOW! Fest 2025, this project aims to deepen the connection between people, place and
heritage, transforming the festival into a meaningful and shared expression of Walsall’s identity.
The mural will be created live during the festival, shaped by community contributions gathered
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
• Celebrate Walsall’s heritage through community storytelling and visual art
• Capture and preserve intangible heritage – memories, experiences and local identity
• Create a participatory artwork that invites public contribution
• Strengthen connection to place, particularly Walsall Arboretum
• Produce a high-quality, visually engaging mural with a life beyond the festival
THE COMMISSION
We are seeking an artist to:
• Develop a creative approach for a live mural inspired by community stories
• Engage with material gathered from schools, community groups and the public
• Create a large-scale artwork live during WOW! Fest 2026
• Work in an open, public-facing environment, engaging with audiences
• Design the work to be accessible, inclusive and visually impactful
• Contribute to the legacy of the artwork beyond the festival
THE ARTWORK
The mural will be created across two freestanding structures:
• Two walls, each 400cm (W) x 180cm (H)
• Built from modular panels, allowing the work to be transported and exhibited after the festival
• Installed outdoors within the festival site (arboretum annex area)
• Created live over two days in a public setting
We are looking for work that is:
• Illustrative and visually engaging
• Cohesive across both walls
• Rooted in people, place and lived experience
• Led by visual storytelling (text can be included but is not essential)
Artists are invited to propose how they will approach working across a modular format and how the mural may evolve over the two days.
LIVE MAKING & AUDIENCE INTERACTION
This is a live, durational artwork created in the heart of the festival.
• The artist will work in view of approximately 2000 visitors
• Audiences can engage informally during the making process
• Conversations may influence the evolving artwork
We are looking for an artist who is comfortable:
• Working in a busy outdoor environment
• Speaking with the public
• Allowing the work to remain responsive and evolving
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Stories will be gathered through:
• School workshops and education outreach
• Community groups and local partners
• Social media submissions
• On-site engagement during the festival
The selected artist will:
• Attend selected outreach sessions (where possible)
• Respond to stories gathered by the WOW! Fest team
• Be present during the festival to listen, connect and respond in real time
You are not required to lead workshops, but your presence and engagement are key to the project.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
• Artist Fee: £3,200 (inclusive of materials and artist time)
• Support provided:
–One assistant during festival days
–Production, coordination and installation support
• Location: Outdoor site within Walsall Arboretum
• Weather: Covered working area or contingency provided
Artists should consider:
• Outdoor working conditions
• Use of durable, weather-appropriate materials
• Safe and accessible working practices
LEGACY
After the festival:
• The mural will be exhibited across Walsall (libraries, community cafés and other venues)
• The work will be documented and photographed
• The artwork must be modular and transportable
We welcome proposals that consider:
• How the work can continue to live beyond the festival
• Creative approaches to documentation and storytelling
The artwork will be owned by Autin Dance Theatre.
Copyright and future use will be agreed at commissioning stage.
ELIGIBILITY
This opportunity is open to:
• Artists based in or connected to Walsall / Black Country / West Midlands (desirable, not essential)
• Artists with experience or interest in:
o Community or participatory practice
o Visual storytelling and public art
• Artists comfortable working in public-facing environments
Experience in mural-making is preferred but not essential.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please send:
1. Portfolio
Relevant examples of your work (murals, illustration, participatory or community-based work)
2. Short Proposal (300–500 words)
Tell us:
• How you would approach this commission
• How you would respond to community stories
• How you would work live during the festival
(No need for finished designs—ideas and approach are enough.)
3. Optional
• Accessibility requirements
• Additional supporting information
📩 Submit to: hello@autindt.co.uk
📅 Deadline: Monday 25th May 2026 (12 noon)
SELECTION CRITERIA
We will select an artist based on:
• Quality and strength of artistic work
• Approach to storytelling and visual interpretation
• Experience or interest in community engagement
• Clarity and feasibility of proposal
• Ability to work in a live, public setting
• Connection to Walsall / Black Country (desirable)
TIMELINE
• Deadline for submissions: Monday 25th May 2026
• Artist appointed: Early June 2026 (TBC)
• Community engagement period: June 2026 (TBC)
• Festival & live mural: 3–4 July 2026
• Post-festival exhibition: TBC
ACCESS & EQUALITY
We are committed to making this opportunity accessible.
• We accept written, video or audio applications
• Information can be provided in alternative formats on request
• Access support is available throughout the process
We strongly encourage applications from artists from underrepresented backgrounds, including:
• Global Majority artists
• Disabled artists
• LGBTQ+ artists
• Artists from working-class backgrounds
If you have access needs or would like to discuss the opportunity, please contact:
📩 hello@autindt.co.uk
FINAL NOTE
This is an opportunity to create something alive, collaborative and rooted in real stories – a mural shaped by the people of Walsall, created in the moment, and shared long after the festival ends.
