Tales of the City - Brief Analysis

        The final brief which I selected as part of individual practice is the Cheltenham Illustration Awards Tales of the City competition. As with most of my previous briefs, there is a degree of freedom in this project, calling for emerging and established artists to consider the role of the city, and creating either a single illustration or a series of illustrations which tell a new story about a city. What inspired me about this brief was that unlike WeTransfer, this wasn't just about looking to the future, but also about uncovering the past and inspiring the imagination. The tale need not even be true, allowing the artist to invent a fictional narrative, about a real or fictional city.

What Problem is identified by the brief?

Tales of the City is this year's brief for the Cheltenham Illustration Awards, who are looking for submissions which can form part of an exhibition and annual, with the theme of cities (real or mythical) and the stories that surround their past and present.

What Is the brief asking you to do about it?

The requirement is to create an illustrated outcome. That could be a single image, or a series of illustrations. Although the brief is set by the Cheltenham Illustration Awards, there is nothing to indicate in the brief that the city in question must be Cheltenham It could be anywhere you wish, as long as the focus is upon narrative and visual storytelling.

What is the brief trying to achieve?

The aim of the brief is to attract a body of work suitable for exhibition in Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, and other venues. The work will also be published in an annual which will be distributed to educators and publishers, providing an ideal platform to display your work to industry professionals and other artists.

Who will benefit?

The Cheltenham Illustration Awards, as well as any venues showing the exhibited work, will be given credit for supporting emerging and independent artists, while the successful artists will also benefit as this brief will allow their work to be viewed publicly at an exhibition, but also be more widely distributed via the published annual.

What is the message?

The aim is to focus upon narrative and visual storytelling, telling a new Tale of the City, perhaps providing a new perspective or insight into a place that people already feel they are familiar with. The brief also suggest that the illustrations explore the relationship between man and the city, and whether the city brings isolation or unity. I like this dual aspect of the city. Perhaps I shall explore this contradiction through my illustrations. This is particularly apt for my home city York. While small, it has a big history, with many dark and disturbing stories, which I feel would be ideal candidates for illustration.

Who is the audience?

The brief does not specify an audience, but given that the published annual will be distributed to educators and publishers, I can assume that at least part of the audience will be affluent, adult professionals, but perhaps also students. The exhibition may attract other artists and illustrators, ranging in age from late teens to 60+. In short there are a wide variety of people who may see the successful illustrations. This could be an advantage, as the judging panel may select a variety of work to appeal to different tastes. For the purposes of my illustrations, which will explore the dual nature of the City of York, I am aiming at an audience of 18 - 30, who may have heard of York but be unfamiliar with its murky past. I hope to exploit any interest this demographic may have in darker stories.

How will the message be delivered?

The only mandatory requirement for this brief is that the outcome be illustrated. There do not seem to be any limitations on how the illustration(s) may be viewed or displayed. I aim to keep the format simple, which will allow the work to be used in books, posters, online etc as and when required. Although this brief and its emphasis on visual storytelling may be an ideal candidate for a story board, which could later be transformed into an animation or other form of moving image.

Can you foresee any problems in responding to the brief?

The main issue with this brief would be ensuring that my work stands out. As I am not an illustrator, I am not really aware of current trends and fashions in the industry. I can only interpret the brief and respond in a way that I feel suits my chosen city. York is not a loud, brash city, but rather an elegant, quiet, historical place, so it would not be appropriate, in my opinion, to respond with modern styles and bright colours. To do so would undermine the stories I hope to tell.