Manx artists and island-based creatives are being given the chance to have their art work featured in the interior of the newest addition to the Steam packet fleet.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, in collaboration with SMC Art Consultancy, has announced it will be commissioning a collection of specially curated artwork to go on permanent display on board the new vessel, The Manxman.

Local artists have been invited to submit paintings and original artwork to the Steam Packet before Wednesday, January 26 to be considered for inclusion into the collection of work, which will ultimately be displayed in three different areas of the new ship, the pet lounge, the forward lounge and the first class lounge.

There is a brief available for each area, and artists may submit a proposal which covers all of the collection within an area, or they may submit a proposal which covers just part of the collection.

The Steam Packet wants the collection of art work to be a celebration of Isle of Man’s creative output and want the works to be inspired the island’s rich heritage, landscape, and community, and feel that the island’s artistic community, both professional and amateur, are the ones who are best placed to tell the story of the island.

A quote from the brief said that: ’The majority of the artwork will be bespoke, new commissions and we would love to see artists going all out to create really special artwork, pushing the media they work with, or trying something new and surprising’.

The brief also suggests that artists could involve greater community engagement and groups such as local schools could create original pieces of poetry to be integrated into the work, or to represent and incorporate stories from Manx residents, ’to tell individual, moving stories that are worth sharing’.

More information on the Manxman’s curated artwork collection, or on how you can submit work, can be found at steam-packet.com