“I have chosen not isolation from the social conditions, but to deal directly with social conditions whether by physical implication, as in most of my building works, or through more direct community involvement,”

— Gordon Matta-Clark

1 — The Context:

The challenges in 2025 faced by Peterlee, Stanley and the North East, echo those of 1970s New York. Both are shaped by the legacies of economic decline and uneven access to cultural opportunities, where community identity and connection require rebuilding.

Yet, in these moments of adversity, creativity becomes a powerful form of resistance and renewal. Place Lab continues this tradition by offering a platform for artists to work with local residents to reimagine their shared spaces and strengthen connections. By fostering collaboration and experimentation, this commission is an invitation to create something transformative, rooted in the everyday lives and aspirations of Peterlee’s people.

Central to this commission is the role of food - not only as a theme but as a tangible, participatory element of the work. Artists are encouraged to integrate actual food and consumption into their projects, using meals, cooking or shared dining experiences as a medium to engage, connect and build relationships with the community, though it is not a strict requirement as long as the work responds to the wider work of Gordon Matta-Clark. Whether through communal meals, interactive cooking events or food-inspired performances, the emphasis is on how food can act as a bridge between people, ideas and places.

By embracing experimentation, food as a creative medium, and reimagining what cultural engagement can look like, this commission aims to create moments that feel meaningful and relevant to local people while pushing the boundaries of artistic practice.

2 — The Commission:

Place Lab Peterlee and Stanley forms part of the wider Place Lab programme, focuses on artistic activity deeply rooted in the people and landscapes of Peterlee and Stanley. Place Lab forms part of Into the Light Durham, a place-based creative collaboration driving long-lasting growth in County Durham.

These specific commissions draw inspiration from the work and archives of Gordon Matta-Clark, particularly his commitment to collaborative, community-focused creativity. Inspired by the ethos of Gordon Matta-Clark and his collaborative artist-run restaurant FOOD, this commission reflects on how shared experiences around food can act as powerful catalysts for connection and transformation. His work blurred the boundaries between art, community and the everyday, inviting people to engage with art as a lived, shared experience.

This project is being developed in partnership with No More Nowt, as Home Producers of the Place Lab Peterlee & Stanley programme and East Durham Trust, and will be delivered in collaboration with Jessamyn Fiore, co-director of The Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark. As part of the commission, selected artists or organisations will connect directly with the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark in the U.S. to help inform and inspire their work. The project is rooted in the spirit of the Fluxus and Gutai movements and the "happening" ethos of the 1960s, offering the opportunity for live performance and experimental, participatory approaches, but we fully welcome applicants who explore visual art, mixed media and any other artforms. 

You can find out more about Matta-Clark’s practice in the guidance document downloadable below or by visiting here:

Gordon Matta-Clark: Works 1970–1978 | David Zwirner 

Much like Matta-Clark’s vision of reshaping spaces and experiences, this commission invites artists to reimagine Peterlee and Stanley’s landscape and community through creative interventions. It’s an opportunity to explore how art can transform everyday life, build connections and celebrate the unique spirit of a place.

This commission is an invitation to challenge traditional ideas of what an ‘exhibition’ or ‘performance’ can be. Inspired by Gordon Matta-Clark’s ability to transform the everyday into something extraordinary, this commission encourages artists to prioritise people and shared experience over conventional artistic frameworks.

In this spirit, the focus shifts from presenting art in challenging or exclusive contexts to creating accessible, welcoming and participatory encounters. Whether it’s through communal meals, interactive installations or collaborative performances the emphasis is on bringing people together, sparking conversation and fostering connections. Artists are encouraged to think beyond a gallery setting or a stage and consider how their work can resonate in the spaces and lives of County Durham communities.

By embracing experimentation and reimagining what cultural engagement can look like, this commission aims to create moments that feel meaningful and relevant to local people while pushing the boundaries of artistic practice.

3 — What Were Looking For:

We are seeking creative practitioners, collectives or organisations to work in and with Peterlee and Stanley to:

• Build meaningful connections with local communities, responding to their everyday realities, histories and aspirations.

• Use the resources, archival material and expertise provided by the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark as a creative springboard, connecting his artistic legacy to the context of Peterlee.

• Explore innovative, Fluxus-inspired approaches that may include live performance or other experimental forms of artistic engagement.

• Deliver activities that foster co-creation and empower local people to explore their place through art.

Artists are encouraged to ground their ideas in Peterlee and Stanley’s specific context, engaging with its post-industrial identity and its residents’ aspirations for the future. We welcome work that bridges artistic experimentation and accessible community engagement.

All commissions are required to deliver work in both places (a minimum of once in Stanley and once in Peterlee), subject to practicalities. There will be room to scratch, test or trial the activity in a live context, before featuring as part of a community.

All of the commissioned activity will be showcased at a food-based event in partnership with East Durham Trust. 

3.1 — Information event

These commissions will be supported by a Seed Swap - an informative event that takes place virtually on Zoom where the project team will provide further context for artists interested in a Food Commission. Jessamyn Fiore, Co-Director of the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark, will offer an in-depth look at the work of Gordon Matta-Clark and their socially-engaged practice.

This will be a perfect opportunity to ask any questions of the Estate, as well as from NMN.

This will take place on Monday 28th April, 6pm — BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

If you have difficulty using this email trigger link, please just email hello@nomorenowt.org with Subject title as; ‘Booking: Food Commission Seed Swap, Mon 28 April, 6pm’.

4 — Key Details

• Budget: £4500 (inclusive of artist fees, materials, travel, access costs, VAT, etc.).

• Total commissions available: x3

• Delivery Period: 

• 15th April 2025 - Commissions open. 

• Seed Swap (information session & artist practice sharing)
  Monday 28th April 6pm - with Jessamyn Fiore & The Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark and NMN.

• 5pm, 12th May 2025 - Application deadline.

• June 2025 - August 2025 - Making work / community engagement.

• 1st September 2025 - 14th September 2025 - Showcasing events.

• Key Event: The final presentation of the commissioned work and/or process documentation will be part of an exhibition at the Arts Cafe, Communuty House, Peterlee and showcased at community event co-designed by East Durham Trust and Place Lab Peterlee & Stanley, featuring a community meal.

• Artists/organisations will be expected to:

• Deliver a minimum of 3 days of contact time in Peterlee and Stanley.

• Actively collaborate with local residents and partner organisations.

• Create work that connects with Peterlee’s and/or Stanley’s specific identity while engaging in experimental, community-rooted artistic practice

5 — Who Can Apply

We welcome applications from artists at all stages of their careers.

We are particularly interested in hearing from artists with living, working or with connections to County Durham or who reflect its diversity in terms of gender, race, sexuality, lived experience and disability.

6 — How to Apply

To apply, submit a proposal (maximum 1,000 words or a five-minute video/audio file) including:

• Your core artistic idea and how it relates to the commission themes of people, place and experimentation, as well as the context of Peterlee/and/or Stanley and how the work might respond to Matta-Clark’s work FOOD, his wider body of work and knowledge gained from working directly with the Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark.

• A proposed timeline, budget, and breakdown of activities.

• A brief biography (max 200 words) of your experience and relevant work.

You can include examples of work or links as appropriate but please ensure they are relevant and selective to this commission call-out.

Submit your application to hello@nomorenowt.org by 5pm on 12th May 2025.

Please note: We are unable to offer advice on any specific commissions and will prepare a list of FAQs as questions come in around the commissions. The final update of the FAQ’s will happen on 7th May 2025.