PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2004
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, health care 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
Visitors to the site have almost doubled in under a year, with over 16,000 visits per month. In June a new section was added www.projects-awards.org.uk which is already proving to be very well used. If you want to subscribe to our e-list for monthly updates and new information, please visit the site and sign on.
Local Authorities
We continue to work closely with the Counties and District authorities in the region and keep a watching brief on developing public art strategies, public realm strategies and areas in which we can continue to develop frameworks in which artists can be commissioned. An update from the new public art officer, Diana Hatton, is provided later.
Health Sector
We are working with a range of partners within the Health Sector in order to set up frameworks by which artists can be integrated into the design and life of the building and its services. We are currently advising Derriford Hospital , the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro , and the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, amongst others.
New Initiatives
We are currently working with the Northern Devon Coast & Countryside Service to support the development of a resource hosted by the Service which will deliver a small number of key projects, and through a programme of advocacy encourage non-arts organisations and agencies working within the natural environment to work with artists.
PROJECT - engaging artists in the built environment
After the successful launch in June, for which over 200 people attended, the scheme has been very well received. Stage 1 for applications has now closed, and over 50 applications are going forward to Stage 2. Awards will be announced in November and details will be on www.project-awards.org.uk
Diana Hatton is the new Public Art Officer for Public Art South West
After a humanities degree, training in law, and work representing unemployed and homeless people, Diana changed course to the arts.
She has now worked in the arts for almost twenty years, across North West and South West England. Diana has worked as a performing artist, and Arts Development Officer and for the last six years as a freelance public art consultant and project manager. She is excited about working with Public Art South West and looks forward to developing her knowledge of public art throughout the region.
Look out in future issues for details of forthcoming Public Art South West initiatives, currently in development. These will include:
- an emphasis on training for Local Authority Officers especially Arts Officers, and continued support for Planning and Design Officers
- working with a range of partners to develop training and opportunities for Artists
- supporting initiatives across the region and making connections with new partners in the South West region, Wiltshire and Bournemouth and Poole
- developing opportunities to explore the issues and implications for public art in the region raised by Creating:Excellence and other initiatives around securing high quality design across the region
The Public Art Officer is currently working on a number of initiatives including:
- supporting and advising on public art policies and policy reviews in Cheltenham and Swindon
- supporting the work of the Devon Public Art Consortium to review and develop their service
- advising on various briefs, selection criteria and offering advice on good practice on a variety of schemes in Dorset and Cornwall
- joining artist selection panels for commissions at Yeovil Hospital and the Architecture Centre Bristol