Artist Till Lukat Selected as Illustrator of the Cover of the Bristol 650 Book

Till Lukat has won the competition to find the cover illustration for the upcoming Bristol 650 book, which will feature a collection of newly commissioned essays about the future of Bristol.

Bristol Ideas received applications from 33 local artists to design the cover of the Bristol 650 book. From these, three were selected to move forward to a shortlist, from which Till Lukat was named as the winner.

The Bristol 650 book will be designed, printed and published by Bristol Books, with 1,000 copies being given away for free at the Bristol Ideas Festival of the Future City in October 2023. The book is being funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Throughout 2023, Bristol Ideas is running Bristol 650, a project which marks the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming an independent city and country. As part of this project, Bristol Ideas has commissioned a collection of new essays about the future of Bristol

Topics included in the Bristol 650 book include:

• A city for all ages

• A city learning from the past to build a good future

• A city which takes the past seriously and does something about this

• Beacons across the city

• Culture for all

• Fairness

• Good quality public housing

• Just transition

• Local green action making big change happen

• People having time for more than work

• Social change and justice

• Social mobility

• The future of work

• The soul of the city

• Vibrant high streets

• Vibrant nightlife

Manson’s Bristol 650 Miscellany Quiz

Manson’s Bristol 650 Miscellany Quiz

Look about you and see if you can find the answers to these questions.

Start by standing in front of the City Hall.

Happy hunting!

1 What mythical creatures adorn the roof of the City Hall?

a)  Hippogriffs          b) Unicorns          c) Dragons

2 Bristol is twinned with seven cities around the world. Name three:

3 There is a statue of Rajah Rammohun Roy outside the Central Library. He is called the ‘Father of modern India’. Where did he die?

4 Is the Central Library open on Sundays?

a) Yes          b) No

5 The archway to the left of the Central Library was once the entrance to what?

6 Bristol Cathedral has been a place for prayer for how many years?

7 The statue outside the Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel is of whom?

a)  Queen Elizabeth ll          b) Queen Boudicca          c) Queen Victoria

8 Our mini van, affectionately known as Rhodri, was built in which year in the 1960s?

When you’ve answered these questions come to the Bristol Books stand and receive a sticker and bookmark.

Join us for a Party On The Green

Our vintage mini-van will be at College Green where you can browse and buy our books when Bristol Cathedral and partners present Party on the Green, a day of live music and festivities on Sunday June 18.

The free event will see Bristolians bring a picnic and join communities for a Sunday full of food and festivities in the heart of the city, as part of this one day. Starting at 10.30am with Bristol Cathedral’s ever-popular Sunday morning service - only this time on College Green! - there’s a jam-packed schedule of activities right the way through until 5.00pm.

The Bristol Books stand will feature a fun family quiz on some of the historic sights around the green, compiled by Bristol Miscellany author Michael Manson. Pop along for a chat and to get a new book!

St George’s Bristol has programmed a not-to-be-missed music stage featuring local legends Troyka, Mohamed Errebbaa, Kat Lyons, China Bowls, Kalan Chng.

Activities will be available throughout the day from the very best of Bristol’s institutions including Bristol Cathedral, the SS Great Britain and We The Curious. First Bus are also partnering with the event to enable families and groups to travel into the city at a discounted cost.

More information here.

Catch up on A House Through Time in Bristol

BBC’s A House Through Time series from 2020 is currently being repeated on BBC4 (also available on BBC iPlayer). The show, featuring David Olusoga, resulted in Peter and Sue Cullimore writing their book, Saints, Crooks and Slavers. after their house was shortlisted to feature on the programme. In the end, their house wasn’t the one chosen but it inspired them to become house history detectives themselves.

David Olusoga holds a copy of Saints, Crooks & Slavers

Illustrate the cover image for the Bristol 650 book

Throughout 2023, Bristol Ideas is running Bristol 650, a project which marks the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming an independent city and county. 

As part of this project, Bristol Ideas is bringing together a collection of newly commissioned essays about the future of Bristol. 

The book will be designed, printed and published by Bristol Books and 1,000 copies will be given away free at the Festival of the Future City in October 2023.

Bristol Ideas wishes to commission a locally based artist to create an illustration for the cover of the book. 

A full timeline for the project is provided below, but the project will be working on a quick turnaround, with the appointed artist providing an initial design in early June and supplying the final illustration in July 2023.

Illustration brief

We are keen for the cover illustration to reflect the content of the essays and their future-facing focus. All essays focus on the future of Bristol, but the essays are wide-ranging in terms of subject matter. Topics covered include:

• A city for all ages

• A city learning from the past to build a good future

• A city which takes the past seriously and does something about this

• Beacons across the city

• Culture for all

• Fairness

• Good quality public housing

• Just transition

• Local green action making big change happen

• People having time for more than work

• Social change and justice

• Social mobility

• The future of work

• The soul of the city

• Vibrant high streets

• Vibrant nightlife

Bristol Ideas can provide draft versions of the commissioned essays to help the appointed artist develop their illustration.

Illustration format

The cover illustration for the book will need to be 170mm x 240mm (portrait) +6mm bleed around all edges. Bristol Ideas will provide a template for the cover to the appointed artist, including the title text so that the illustration can take this into consideration.

The artwork will need to be supplied in the following formats: High resolution JPG, TIFF or Vector format such as Adobe Illustrator file and supplied at a minimum 600dpi.

Timeline

• Application deadline – 23 May

• Artist appointed – 30 May

• Artist provides initial sketch for feedback from Bristol Ideas and Bristol Books – Early June 2023

• Final illustration completed and supplied to Bristol Ideas and Bristol Books – July 2023

• Book distributed at Festival of the Future City – 17-19 October 2023

Fee and copyright

There is a fixed, non-negotiable fee of £500, which will be paid in full on receipt of the final artwork.

The artist will retain copyright of their work and Bristol Ideas may not use it for commercial purposes. 

Bristol Ideas may use the work as required within Bristol 650 and in wider Bristol Ideas activity, including for marketing purposes and linked programmes. As the National Lottery Heritage Fund is providing financial support to the Bristol 650 programme they may also wish to use images in marketing and reporting material. 

Application procedure

To apply, please send us:

• A short explanation of why this commission is of interest and the particular contribution you can make

• Two examples of previous work, demonstrating your style

Applications must be received by noon on Tuesday 23 May. Please send material to Amy O’Beirne info@bristolideas.co.uk (email direct or use WeTransfer).

The chosen artist will be notified on 30 May.