Here’s an idea:

Provide some very creative people with pup tents and invite them to turn them into an artwork to be auctioned in aid of charity.

Then, see what happens...

That was the vision for contemporary artist Cedric Christie’s Blank Canvas Project, which was launched at the 2009 Big Chill festival.

AyDesignWorks was commissioned to project manage the event which involved sourcing and managing suppliers, facilitating the install, running and de-install of the event itself and liaising with the Big Chill crew and the artists from concept to launch. The timeline was tight – the event was conceived in May 2009 and launched that August – so teamwork and clear communication was key in order to make the event the success that it was.

AyDesignWorks was also responsible for creating the logo, website and signage in the run up to the event as well as copyrighting and liaising with press and PR.

Seventeen tents were created by the invited artists, architects and designers, including artists Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread, fashion designer Vivianne Westwood, architects Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners and graphic designer Neville Brody. The results were stunning; seeing the tents installed on the hill overlooking the main stage at the festival was satisfying indeed, as was the interaction and genuine appreciation of the festival goers themselves.  It has to be said, installing artworks in the rain on a hill is not for the fainthearted but working with the Big Chill crew was exciting and rewarding, mud and rain notwithstanding.