The Museum of Farnham is seeking a creative studio or artist-led team to develop a piece of immersive audio that connects the house’s past lives and its future, following a £1+ million programme of conservation and essential repair works.

Artist Specification:

We are looking for applicants that have experience working with and developing successful immersive audio projects, or similar projects, either in a museum or equivalent public space. The successful applicant should be able to deliver both creative and technical aspects of the project.

The opportunity:

The Museum of Farnham is based in a Grade I listed Georgian Townhouse, built in 1718 for hop merchant John Thorne. During its 300+ year history, it has been a private residence, a school for young ladies and boys, a dentist and a base for a unit of the Canadian Army during WW2. It has housed the museum since 1961.

Drawing on research already conducted by the Museum team, this project will explore the story of Willmer House and its residents, both past and present.

We are looking for the final experience to:

• Increase awareness of the significance and importance of Willmer House and the museum within the local community
• Entice new audiences to the museum and engage the wider community
• Demonstrate the importance of historical conservation and restoration in preserving local heritage

The final experience will be accessible:

• On site, in at least five of the museum’s public spaces
• Potentially online (depending on the chosen delivery method), for remote audiences year-round

The work should be engaging, accessible and designed for a broad audience, including visitors, local communities and younger digital users.

What you’ll create:

You will design and deliver an audio experience, featuring a minimum of five stops (each around 2 minutes in length) which audiences can explore in a non-linear way. The final piece needs to be versatile and take in to account the Grade I listing of the building and the possible restrictions this may incur.

The final experience might also include:

• Interpretation panels featuring archive photography and visual storytelling (produced in collaboration with the Museum team)
• Soundscapes
• Location-responsive content accessed via QR codes

We are particularly interested in ideas that are story led, respond creatively to place and memory, and that connect physical and digital exploration.

Production will involve a mix of on-site research and community engagement in Farnham with the Museum team and remote digital development.

Budget:
Fee: £15,000 (+VAT)

(Inclusive of all costs including practitioner fees, recording, installation, production, hosting and maintenance for 5 years)

The arts practitioners/company will be responsible for finding and working with all necessary personnel for this audio commission including writers, recording engineers, sound designers, actors/readers/performers, post-production, installation, final set up and delivery. These suppliers must be agreed in advance and in conjunction with the Museum and Farnham Maltings.

In addition, the Museum and Farnham Maltings will offer contacts, advice and, where possible, access to rehearsal/storage/office space if required.

How to apply:

To apply please submit:

• A proposal (max 3–4 pages)
• Budget breakdown
• Your proposal should outline your creative approach, digital format and delivery timeline.

You should return your completed project proposal and budget plan form to:

Museum Manager, Lauren Wayland lauren.wayland@farnhammaltings.com with the subject line: ‘Willmer House Audio Proposal’.