VILLAGE Green will be casting its spotlight on the work of a group of visual artists from around the UK, in its first ever ArtistVillage.

The idea is the brainchild of Southend-born artist Jon Kipps, who is curating the project, and will see eight selected artists camping out in Chalkwell Park - the base for Village Green - and also creating their work on site in a communal marquee studio, in the week leading up to the main event, in full view of the public using the space.

During this time they will also be open to the children who attend the Village Green: Next Generation schools' day, which will take place on Friday July 8.

Six artists have already been invited to take part in the Artist Village 2016, however, Metal is looking for two more to apply via the open submission process to join the group. The initiative has been supported by the Arts Council.

Jon explained: "This is a great project where eight visual artists will get the chance to spend time in Chalkwell Park, developing new work which will then be experienced within the outdoor festival context of Village Green 2016."

Village Green festival's director, Sean McLoughlin, added: "The idea is that dog walkers, park users, whoever, can have a chance to go up to the artists and see what they are doing, chat to them and interact. It's about breaking down barriers. Village Green is fantastic opportunity for emerging artists to present work to an audience of over 25,000 festival goers in an environment completely different to the traditional white cube setting."

Participating artists' work will respond not only the natural features of the park and infrastructure of the festival, but will also consider the way audiences are able to encounter and interact with them.

Echo:

Cool Diabang from France/Senegal is one of the artists coming to Chalkwell Park this year. Photo credit Nicola Jane.

The opportunity to apply is open to all artists based in the UK, working in any discipline. The work created, where appropriate, needs to include some level of community engagement, whether through research, collaboration or the sharing of skills through workshop activity. Potential commissions should focus around "collective experience, landscape, scale, perception, temporality, sound, community, colour or the many other themes that connect to the idea of a festival."

In addition to working on their creations within the Artist Village, which will be open in the park from Monday July 4, the artists will also attend a week long Culture LAB scheme held at the end of May, where they can develop their ideas with specialists and their peers.

Selected artists will receive a fee of £1,350 to realise their work for Village Green.

Village Green is held on Saturday July 9, with headlining acts including Billy Bragg and the Stereo MCs.

To apply visit metalculture.com/open-call-village-green-artist-village-2016

Tickets for £10 are on sale now, via metalculture.com