Guru Nanak Sikh Academy & Colt Data Centre Art Competition

*Consultancy is working with Colt DCS (Data Centre Services) to oversee an art competition with students from the Guru Nanak Sikh Academy to be the creators of a new public artwork. The winning artwork design will be featured on the façade of a new Colt Data Centre located near the Academy at the Hayes Digital Park. 

A group of Year 9 CreaTech students from the Academy has been chosen to participate in the competition and gain professional experience in developing and pitching for a significant permanent public artwork. The competition began with presentations from Colt DCS, studioNWA architects, London Borough of Hillingdon, and Contemporary Art Society *Consultancy. 

*Consultancy also hosted three mentoring workshops for the students, led by artist James Lambert. These workshops took place throughout June and supported the students and student teams to develop their ideas for the competition. Students were encouraged to make proposals that respond to concepts of technology, pixelation, digital connection and communication. 

In late September 2024, the students will present their artwork design proposals to a Steering Group that includes representatives from Colt DCS, studioNWA, and London Borough of Hillingdon, as well as artist James Lambert, with CAS *Consultancy chairing the group. The Steering Group will then select three finalists to present to the London Borough of Hillingdon in October for the selection of the winning artwork design. StudioNWA will collaborate with the winning student or student team to refine the artwork design for final integration into the building fabric. 

More about the project here:

CAS*C have been hired by Colt DCS (Data Centre Services) to manage the commission process for a permanent artwork for their new data centre in Hayes. This commission is run as a public art competition for students of the nearby Guru Nanak Sikh Academy in Hayes. The winning student or student team will have their artwork design translated by the architect onto the facade of the building.  

CAS*C has been responsible for running the competition, including developing the competition brief and appointing a professional artist to mentor students through the process. We are also running the selection process which involves a Steering Group Meeting (Sept 24th) where the students will present their proposals, and 3 finalists will be selected. These finalists will present to London Borough of Hillingdon (LBH) (Oct 2nd) who will select the final winner. 

Since June, CAS*C has worked with GSNA to develop and coordinate the competition. This included a kick-off event with presentations from CAS, Colt, LBH, and studioNWA architects; three artist mentor workshops; and one CAS*C lead workshop to support the students in preparing their proposals.