PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2005
Public Art South West Activities
Public Art South West takes a leading role in initiating a range of strategies for public art development in the region. It works in partnership with the public and private sectors, including local authorities, healthcare trusts, environmental groups, housing associations and the education sector. It also works with architects, urban designers, planners, developers, artists, arts administrators and many others. The aim is to develop a wide range of opportunities for artists and craftspeople to contribute in diverse and innovative ways to our built and natural environment.
Recent Projects and Initiatives include:
www.publicartonline.org.uk
This unique resource continues to grow in content and visitor figures, which now total over 22,000 per month. Eight reports have been uploaded since January including: The Legal Challenge to Seattle's Percent for Art Policy; Is Public Art Disappearing? (online debate); and Art in the Landscape Programme, North Devon . Five new case studies have been added including: Central Library Seattle, Spacemakers Hartcliffe, Bristol and Luci d'artista, Turin, Italy. Two of the advice sheets have been updated: the Publications List and Funding information. Also eight new additions have been made to the Policies and Guidance section including four examples of planning guidance from District, City and Borough Councils, policies and strategies from one borough and two districts and an update of a public art pack. The Notices section has been revised and is updated with new events, publications and projects weekly.
We now have over 800 people subscribing to the emailing list. So if you aren't already using the site, log on and see what you are missing - in the words of Renee Piechocki, former Public Art Network Manager, Americans for the Arts, "When colleagues are searching for an excellent on-line resource for public art case studies and information, Publicartonline is always on the top of my list of recommendations".
Local Authorities:
PASW has been continuing to support Local Authority projects across the region.
This includes Gloucester City Council, who, with the help of an award from Grants for the arts, has commissioned international lighting artist, Ron Haselden, to design and create new Christmas lights for the city centre. With the assistance of local artist, Susie Walker, Ron has been working with Gloucester city schoolchildren on the designs for 'Close to You', the theme of the lights. The plan is to switch on the lights this winter. PASW has been supporting the project panel and has helped with selection.
PASW continues to offer advice and some training to Kerrier's Liveability scheme for their parks. With ODPM funding, Kerrier District Council in Cornwall has appointed lead artists Heidi Dorschler and Pete Hill to work in small strategic project teams to master plan every area of four considerable green open spaces and formal parks throughout the District. PASW has been supporting both the artists and the officers on the project, which is due for completion in spring 2006.
In Swindon, PASW is providing a supportive and mentoring role to the Borough Council and to international artist Jane Kelly, who has been appointed to work with the officer team on design codes for the major Southern Area Development. Jane will also scope the potential and locations for public art commissions and draw up outline briefs for future developers to follow.
The other four Wiltshire Districts are working together with PASW on an intensive Arts Development Officer training programme, involving work with planning colleagues on changing planning legislation, looking at models of good practice, and working on a 'live' project in each District. Some interesting and considerable commissions will result across the Districts.
The Devon Quality Design Initiative, a development from the Devon County Public Art Consortium, is receiving support from PASW in appointing a consultant to take forward the agreed actions of the group. Every local authority in Devon has been invited to work together on joint issues affecting planning, design and public art and the strategic and creative use of artists within the public realm. The DQDI is looking at changing planning legislation, training and critical debates around public art, and sharing resources and expertise. Matched funding is being sought by the group to add further value to PASW's contribution.
PASW has also been working closely with Dorset County Council on the development of the Dorset Strategic Partnership and the integration of artists within the remit of the partnership as Champion for Design and Heritage. It has also advised Penwith District Council on funding applications, which have resulted in securing monies to appoint a team of artists who will do research and development on the refurbishment of an area of Penwith.
Health Sector:
PASW is currently advising the Royal Cornwall NHS Trust on the integration of artists within new build and also advising Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly on the Cornwall Lift programme. PASW is also advising South Devon NHS Trust on its PFI programme.
Training:
PASW will be holding an intensive one-day training course as an introduction to public art for local authority Arts Officers. This course will include a detailed toolkit and is designed for ADOs with little or no experience of public art, especially in its new contexts. The course has been developed following consultation and research with officers across the region, and after looking at other courses and resources offered elsewhere.
If you are interested in receiving more information please contact Diana Hatton dikathat@aol.com
PROJECT : engaging artists in the built environment:
Developing the Private Sector - how to bring artists into the mix' was the theme of the seminar held by PROJECT in Birmingham on 4 May. The seminar targeted those working in the private commercial development sector. Over 80 people attended to hear a range of presentations from artists and developers. A full transcript of the event is available on www.project-awards.org.uk. Since PROJECT was launched in June 2004, sixteen schemes have been funded, representing an investment of over £150,000 to support the involvement of artists in groundbreaking new projects throughout the UK. In May 2005, a further seven schemes received funding and over £72,5000 was awarded. The final funding round is in October (full details on www.project-awards.org.uk) and the scheme concludes its two year pilot in March 2006. A publication and evaluation of the scheme will be available during spring 2006.
News:
PASW has supported the Bristol Architecture Centre in recruiting a manager for the Creating Excellence Regional Design Review Panel.
PASW is also working with, and talking to, agencies in Cornwall about training and skills issues for artists, agencies and others who work in cultural fields in Cornwall. These include Groundwork and Creative Skills.