Arts Organisations – Apply for the Targeted Placemaking Project on the Liverpool Loop Line, near Alder Hey Hospital. The commission includes the delivery of community engagement activities with young people and the wider community.
The engagement sessions will feed directly into the design of new artwork which will be constructed and installed around the Alder Hay ramp project. The project will include a paid internship for two young people (16-18 year olds) and artist/s hired to undertake the design and build, managed by the partner art organisation.
This project is a part of a wider infrastructure improvement project they are undertaking along the existing National Cycle Network Route (NCN) 62 on the Liverpool Loop Line, near the Alder Hay Children’s Hospital where we are reconstructing the ramp from Springfield Park to the traffic-free path. The current path is narrow, overgrown, includes barriers and is dangerously steep- making it difficult for many potential users to access the Liverpool Loop Line. The improvements that they will be undertaking will open up this vital travel corridor by creating a longer, wider and shallower access path at East Prescot Road, as well as removing barriers, installing rest places and building a new retaining wall
The Targeted Placemaking Project will complement the ramp works and surrounding landscaping, reflecting the themes and creative approaches that emerge through engagement. It is possible the resulting artwork would be a series of works leading to/from the ramp along the route, but we are open to what the final works may be from engagement and partner expertise.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust have a vision to make walking and cycling accessible to all, creating healthier places and happier lives through safer and cleaner travel spaces. One of their proudest achievements is the UK-wide network of signed paths and routes for walking, wheeling, cycling and exploring outdoors – The National Cycle Network. We continue to work towards improving the network and promoting it to allow more people to choose active travel for their day-to-day journeys. This project will directly support this mission in engaging with the local community, involving people in the project and this part of the network and creating engaging permanent artwork, building a sense of place and connectivity.
Anticipated timeframe – October 2026 to September 2027:
- Selection and recruitment of local arts organisation [October 2026]
- Selection and recruitment of young interns [October – November 2026]
- Delivery of 6+ creative workshops and events [October 2026 – March 2027]
- Recruitment of artist/s [November 2026 – February 2027]
- Engagement findings brief [March – April 2027]
- Additional engagement sessions to refine or select final artwork design [May 2027 – June 2028]
- Artwork design completed [June 2027]
- Gain approvals from structural engineers and Walk Wheel Cycle Trust engineering team [July 2027]
- Fabrication of artwork (as required) [July 2027 – August 2027]
- Installation and launch [August – September 2027]
- Final brief and feedback to Walk Wheel Cycle Trust [September 2027]
Example Budget breakdown (total budget non-negotiable but breakdown will be agreed with selected partner organisation):
| Item | Cost (Including VAT) |
| Partner services (inclusive of intern recruitment and supervision, delivery of 6+ workshops/engagement sessions, artist recruitment and management, and overheads) | £20,000 |
| Engagement costs (e.g. materials, room hire, printing, promotion) | £3,500 |
| Artist Fees | £5,000 |
| X2 youth interns paid at real living wage (13.45 for 90 hours (80 hours + 10 hours paid holiday)) | £2421 |
| Construction and installation costs | £22,000 |
| Launch/celebration event and promotion | £1079 |
| Contingency | £6,000 |
| Total | £60,000 |
Past Targeted Art Projects
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formally Sustrans) have run the Targeted Art Programme since 2021 in Scotland. The aim of the programme is to use the National Cycle Network as a platform for voices within the community and better connection to the wider community. In 2021 we ran a project for Black History Month, and in 2022 the focus was on Disability History Month. For the first 3 years we hired artists directly, but in 2023 we realised projects can be more impactful when local arts organisations are involved from the start. In 2023, 2024 and 2025 we partnered with arts organisations and included youth internships. You can read about our 2023 project Shapechangers, our 2024 project in Bingham and Irvine (2024), and our most recent project, back in Bingham, here.
They are keen to hear from you and hope that you will consider applying!
If you are interested in applying for the position of Partner Art Organisation then please send the following by midnight on Monday 19th October 2026:
- A brief response to the budget and timeframe
- Initial thoughts on engagement activities and outputs (1-2 A4 pages)
- 3 examples of past projects with an engagement focus
- Your organisation’s Safeguarding Policy
- Evidence of your Public Liability Insurance (no less than £5,000,000)
They aim to respond to you within 2 weeks and may ask for a short video meeting.
If you have any questions, contact: cosmo.blake@walkwheelcycletrust, or by phone on 07708835171.