St Albans Museums is looking for up to 10 artists to create an artistic response to St Albans Clock Tower's 'Commit No Nuisance' door with artwork that we will licence to feature on St Albans Museums' shop merchandise from mugs to tote bags and more!
St Albans Clock Tower and Commit No Nuisance door
St Albans' Clock Tower is the only surviving medieval town belfry in England and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The people of St Albans built the tower, which was completed by 1405 as a symbol of their resistance against the power of the abbot of St Albans. The Tower allowed the town to sound its own hours and, until 1863, the curfew.
The Clock Tower's bell rang out for the first Battle of St Albans during the Wars of the Roses in 1455.
Today, the tower - and its 600 year old bell - still stands face to face with the abbey's tower and provides fantastic views across over St Albans and far into the Hertfordshire countryside.
A paper by F G Kitton on the origin and history of the Clock Tower is available from The St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society's website.
Commit No Nuisance
The much-admired sign on the Clock Keeper’s door on the west side of the Clock Tower reminds passersby to ‘Commit No Nuisance’. This instruction was painted onto the door in 1915 to deter people from urinating against the door as the offending liquid would subsequently enter the building and the Clock Keeper’s dwelling.
Project brief
We are seeking to commission up to 10 artists, with some artworks appearing as a montage (for use on products such as tea towels, prints and postcards). One artist's singular artwork (our winning entry) will appear on multiple products (for use on products such as coasters, mugs, tote bags and bookmarks). (Please note these product lists are an indication at this stage and not exhaustive.)
You will be credited for your work on the products’ swing tags, sleeves and boxes (as and where appropriate) as well as on an accompanying postcard that visitors will receive with every purchase of Commit No Nuisance stock.
All purchases of Commit No Nuisance stock will go towards supporting the work of the museums, safeguarding our collections and buildings for the future.
The museum seeks the right to reproduce your work for commercial use and you will enter into a licence agreement for this purpose.
Our panel of judges comprises of members of the museum’s commercial team, the council’s archaeologist responsible for the maintenance of the clocktower, a clock tower volunteer, two local artists and a representative from a product supplier.
Products will be sold online and through our shops.
Door dimensions:
153 cm - from base to top central point
121 cm - from base to the top of the curved edge
69 cm - width (widest point)
Fee
Artists chosen to feature on the montage will each receive £150, with the overall winning artist receiving £500 (this £500 fee includes the £150 for appearing on the montage).
Requirements and entry criteria
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We request that the images are literal representations of the door but in your own artistic style, please feel free to use influences from your own lived experiences, cultural heritage and artistic approach
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Please use your artistic flair to bring the door to life using mixed media, watercolour, graphics, collage, paint (in all varying forms), ink, charcoal, embroidery, textile and lino print (this list is not exhaustive!)
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We request no photographic entries please, to avoid duplication, though photographic entries that are adjusted or enhanced using mixed media are welcomed
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We are particularly keen to hear from artists currently underrepresented in our stockist profile, including those from diverse backgrounds, from the LGBTQ+ community and artists with disabilities
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All entrants must be over 18
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Images should be submitted as JPEG files
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You will be asked to confirm the artwork as your own work as part of the licence agreement
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Selected artists will be invited to a products launch at the museum – details to be confirmed
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Works by artists not selected will not be retained for use by St Albans Museums.
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If you are not successful this time and you would like us to delete your details after the selection is announced please let us know on your entry email.
Timeline
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1 April 2025 – Competition launched
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1 April - 9 May 2025 – Entry window
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9 May 2025 – Competition closes
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June 2025 – Panel meets to assess entries
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July 2025 – Winners contacted and announced, licences signed, fees paid
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July/August 2025 – Product development
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October/November 2025 – Products launched and ready for sale
How to enter
Email your entry as a JPEG file to museumshop@stalbans.gov.uk by 5pm on 9 May.
Please provide the following information along with your entry
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Name
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Contact number
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Email address
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Brief description of your artwork and the inspiration behind it (max 250 words)
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Chosen media form(s)
If you have any questions about the project, please contact museumshop@stalbans.gov.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What size and shape should my artwork be?
Your artwork can be any size and shape, once we've selected the artists we'll work with our commercial team to work out what product(s) each piece could work on.
Can I submit more than one entry?
Generally we're only accepting one entry per artist - but you could submit (for example) different colourways of the same artwork if you feel it's needed.
How do I get a jpg of my artwork?
You can either scan your artwork or simply take a photo of your artwork to send to us. If you're struggling then please send us an email museumshop@stalbans.gov.uk
