CALL FOR ILLUSTRATORS
The Project
Upstart Theatre have been commissioned by Royal Botanical Gardens Kew to create a card game for an event at COP26 and follow-up use in educational workshops. We’re looking for an Illustrator/Graphic Artist to join our team and create the artwork for the game and packaging.
We’re particularly interested to hear from artists directly affected by the climate crisis, especially those from the Global South.
The Game
Reforest (working title) is a card game for 3-8 players. The aim of the game is to build a complete ‘forest community’ – a set of 5 cards representing humans, trees, fungi/soil, pollinators, and water. There are 42 cards in the game, representing 8 real-life forests around the world (with 5 cards for each forest). 2 additional cards are ‘deforestation’ cards.
The game is designed to reinforce messaging from Kew about the importance of forests both as a nature-based solution to climate change, and to the biodiversity crisis.
The first players of the game will be attendees at COP26 on Saturday 6th November 2021. They will be politicians, civil servants, industry leaders and journalists.
Following this event, RBG Kew will use the game in education workshops, and we will also explore the possibility of commercial sale.
Art Style
We’re looking for an artist with a bold, magical realist approach who can also give a scientifically accurate rendering of the forest communities the game describes. We’re excited by the magic-realist world of Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, and the bold visual style of board games like Root. Our Pinterest reference board is here.
Schedule
Friday 15 October: first draft of one set of cards, establish the style which will be carried over to all 8 sets
Wednesday 21 October: draft of all cards
Friday 29 October: final versions of all cards & packaging
Rights
The Illustrator will retain the copyright in their work; however, Upstart Theatre Ltd & RBG Kew will be granted exclusive rights for commercial use.
Fee
GBP £3,750
How to Apply
Please email your portfolio & contact details to recruitment@upstart-theatre.co.uk by 23:59 UK time on Tuesday 12 October.