A NEW public artwork for Southampton is a step closer.

Last month, city arts organisation ‘a space’ arts released an open call, inviting artists to submit their ideas for a new public artwork.

A message to Southampton locals, commuters and tourists, the artwork will be printed on a banner and installed at the back of the Alfred Arcade on Old Northam Road, overlooking the railway.

Having received around 20 applications, the ‘a space’ team have shortlisted four proposals that will be put to a public vote, which was launched at the end of last week. Over the nextg three weeks, the public will be able to vote for their favourite phrase. The most popular proposal will then be printed and installed in public view.

The commission follows a similar successful banner installation in the same location last year, when Southampton artist Jo Carson proposed a banner reading Your Existence is Everything, which was installed at the site over the summer and proved a hit with commuters.

The four shortlisted proposals this year are You Are Here, Just For A Moment by Natalie Dowse, This Will Pass by Carrie Mason, The People You Walk Amongst Will Change You by Charlot Dennis and Move Past This by Isaac Fravashi.

The Alfred Arcade, behind which the banner will be installed is one of three buildings on Old Northam Road currently used by ‘a space’ arts as part of their RIPE graduate programme. This programme has evolved over the past two years with graduates from Solent University and Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton taking part in a series of summer exhibitions while making use of free studio space across the set buildings. This summer’s RIPE programme is set to take place online over the coming months.

Voting closes on Friday May 15.

For more details about each submission and to cast your vote, visit aspacearts.org.uk/news/vote-on-our-banner-commission.

The results will be calculated and the winner announced on Monday May 18.