The Project

As part of the https://www.theharris.org.uk/harrisyourplaceinformation/ - Harris Your Place project, we are exploring The Global History of Tea through a display on the second floor of the Harris, when we reopen in Spring 2025.

We have partnered with both experts in the field and community groups to uncover the global and often uncomfortable histories of tea and its impact on the world. We aim to shine a light on these histories in an honest and open way. Tea, our nation's favourite drink, has a history that spans countries, continents, and oceans. Originating in East Asia, tea has been consumed for over 2000 years in China. It was popularised in Britain by Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II, and subsequently became a commodity of mass consumption with significant financial and cultural impacts globally, notably through the rise of western colonialism. The demand for tea also fuelled the transatlantic slave trade and the production of sugar in the West Indies.

We are looking to work with an emerging or established comic artist/illustrator to create a comic book that will enhance our Global History of Tea display, improving the visitor experience and highlight specific stories in an interesting, inclusive and accessible way. The development of the comic book will be informed by research done with the Harris staff team and volunteers, and with experts in the community. We would like the artist we recruit to be based in Preston, Lancashire or the North West. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.

Our Goal

To produce and print a 12-page comic book that will have a limited print run (number to be confirmed). Some of the illustrations will be used as printed panels displayed in the cases alongside the objects.

The artist will research the narratives with the Harris team and research the narratives with community partners and other experts

Key Dates

Start:1st August 2024

First draft: October 2024

Final artwork deadline: 30th November 2024

Fee

£2,500 - paid in two instalments.

We would like the artist to:

• Research the narratives with the Harris team

• Research the narratives with community partners and other experts

• Provide a first draft of the designs for review in October 2024

• Provide the final artwork for the deadline of November 2024

We will support the artist by:

• The Harris' project leads offering 3-4 virtual catch-up and support meetings.

• The Harris' curators providing access to the collection during the research and development phase of the project

• To create a comic book that will enhance our Global History of Tea display

• Help to improve the visitor experience and highlight specific stories in an interesting, inclusive and accessible way.

• The development of the comic book will be informed by research done with the Harris staff team and volunteers, and with experts in the community

• To create the artwork to allow us to produce and print a 12-page comic book that will have a limited print run (number to be confirmed). Some of the illustrations will be used as printed panels displayed in the cases alongside the objects.

Please submit to the email address shown after clicking "apply":
- A summary of your practice (maximum of 250 words or a 2-3 minute video)
- Examples of previous printed and/or published work
- Brief description of how you might approach the work, including style(s)

The Application Process:
Applications will be reviewed by the Harris project leads and community partners. This will be followed by an informal interview for the shortlisted artists on week commencing 5th August 2024.