Call for Proposals

Traditionally, grave markers crafted by local blacksmiths have played a vital role in honoring the deceased, offering a sustainable, meaningful, and deeply personal form of remembrance. These markers not only reflected individual identities and beliefs but also strengthened regional cultural heritage through skilled craftsmanship and evolving artistic expression.

Beyond their symbolic value, such traditions supported local economies and environmentally sound production practices. However, modern industrialization and digital memorials have increasingly displaced these customs, threatening the survival of regional craft and identity.

In light of these shifts, we invite proposals that explore new rituals and reinterpret traditional practices—bridging contemporary needs with the enduring values of local craftsmanship.

Who Can Participate?

We invite all metal makers to participate in this call for proposals. This includes blacksmiths, fabricators, casters, artists, designers, students, and trainees.

What we would like to see:

We would like to see new and unique ways to work with and interpret these traditions. Here are some ideas and concepts for memorial signs, markers, or crosses, all resonating around metal and the craftsmanship of local makers:

1. Unique Traditions: Incorporate cultural and subcultural symbolism or rituals, using metal to reflect the heritage and/or beliefs of the deceased.

2. Digitization: Utilize virtual reality or create virtual memorials, integrating metal elements that can be scanned or interacted with digitally.

3. Co-Design: Engage in personalized design, community workshops, ritual based making to create unique and meaningful metal markers in collaboration with local blacksmiths, fabricator and artists.

4. Sustainability: Use recycled or upcycled metals to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability in the creation of memorial markers.

5. Innovative Concepts: Explore new ideas and approaches that address contemporary challenges and needs, ensuring that metal memorials remain relevant and meaningful.

These concepts highlight the importance of metal and the role of local makers in creating personalized, sustainable, and culturally significant memorials.

Process:

·        Deadline 1st December 2025

·        We will select 8-10 concepts to be developed in collaboration with us.

·        Each participant will receive a budget to produce their work within three months, which can be used for production costs or workspace rental.

·        Participants will have a mentor and consultant to refine their concepts and approaches.

·        The production phase will conclude with the shipping of the final work for documentation and exhibition.