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Landscape artists are being invited to apply for three new public art commissions that will celebrate and respond to the Isle of Wight National Landscape as part of a major cultural programme next year.
Applications are open now via Curator Space, with the deadline set for midnight on Sunday 14th December 2025.
A celebration of the Island’s landscape
The commissions form part of CAN YOU HEAR US?, a six-week Island-wide programme of arts and culture taking place in Autumn 2026.
The Isle of Wight National Landscape covers around half of the Island and sits within a national network of 46 designated landscapes that support conservation and enhance natural environments for the public good.
The Island also holds UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, highlighting the balance between people and the natural world.
Commissioned artists will have the opportunity to work with local communities, exploring everything from wildlife and heritage to geology, stories, and traditions.
About CAN YOU HEAR US?
The programme will run from 11th September to 24th October 2026.
It will include performances, music, film, carnival, craft, food and community celebrations across towns and villages.
The aim is to “celebrate everything the Island is, to nurture creativity in every corner, and to make sure art and culture are part of daily life for everyone.” The focus sits on pride, participation and possibility, connecting local voices with a wider national and global audience.
Three commissions available
A total of three commissions are available for artists who can:
Commission 1: Appuldurcombe House
The first commission invites artists to develop a site-specific work at Appuldurcombe House and its surrounding landscape.
The commission will support ideas that explore and celebrate the less-told stories of this significant location.
© IW National Landscapes
The commission amount is £16,000, with shortlisted artists each receiving £200 to further develop their proposal.
Artists must include at least one live public event at the site and a research and development phase alongside English Heritage’s conservation and landscape teams.
The commission welcomes all art forms, including installation and sculptural work, though artists must follow specific site conditions such as not inserting structures into the ground and protecting original flooring.
Commissions 2 and 3: South and West Wight
Two additional commissions will take place at locations across the South and West Wight.
Artists are invited to put forward proposals for sites from a list that may include the Needles New Battery, Brighstone Forest, St Catherine’s Oratory, Compton and others.
These commissions will focus on temporary or time-based public events rather than permanent installations.
Each of these commissions has a value of £10,000.
How to apply
Artists should submit an Expression of Interest that outlines their proposal and approach.
Further details and guidance are available from Isle of Wight National Landscape and Isle of Wight Creative Network.
Applications close at midnight on Sunday 14th December 2025.
CAN YOU HEAR US? is made possible through Arts Council England's Place Partnership Funding.
