PASW Regional Newsletter: Spring 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. We work in partnership with the public and private sectors, including local authorities, healthcare trusts, environmental groups, housing associations and the education sector. We also work with architects, urban designers, planners, developers, artists, arts administrators and many others. Our 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 public art resource is updated on a monthly basis and carries information on PASW, activities and projects in the south west, case studies on projects in Great Britain and internationally, advice, comment, debate, opportunities, a links section and much more. If you haven't already used it, visit www.publicartonline.org.uk - you will be pleased you did!
Local Authorities
We continue to work closely with local authorities across the region. Current initiatives include a review of public art policy in Swindon, advising Somerset County Council on the development of a public art strategy, supporting the Devon Public Art Consortium to evaluate work to date and look at future activity, developing a resource for strategic public art development in Cornwall, and working with Cheltenham Borough Council and Dorset County Council to develop public art policy and activities. We are always happy to advise on funding applications to the Arts Council Grants for the arts scheme and have recently assisted several local authorities in making successful applications.
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 the Okehampton Primary Care Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro and the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust amongst others.
New Initiatives
In collaboration with Arts for Health Cornwall & Isles of Scilly and Creative Skills, Cornwall, we are working on a programme of continuing professional development for artists wishing to work within the healthcare sector as part of design teams for the major capital projects taking place in Cornwall. Further details will be available on our website in due course. In Spring 'Designing our Environment: towards a better built environment in the South West', will be published by Creating: Excellence, the south west regeneration centre. Public Art South West has been closely involved with this from its inception, as part of our aim to integrate artists' activity within mainstream regeneration and development projects. We are also working with the Civic Trust on a series of advocacy seminars, and are in discussion with CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) about how we will work jointly with their new post for Devon and Cornwall. Finally, we will be re-advertising for a public art officer in March. This exciting new post offers a wonderful opportunity to work on a regional and national level in order to further public art activity.
£1/2 Million Award Scheme for Artists involved in regeneration.
Public Art South West has been appointed by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and A&B (Arts & Business) to manage an exciting new grant scheme for artists' engagement in the built environment. The investment of £500,000, over the next two years will engage artists in a range of projects that will have a positive impact on the places in which we live. This joint collaboration with CABE and A&B will bring a new dimension to the wider issues of the built environment, not just architecture, but planning and urban design and the role artists and arts organisations can play within that. The scheme is intended to provide financial support to facilitate collaboration between artists in a variety of mediums, working pro-actively with public and private sector groups on high-quality projects related to the built environment.
The Scheme will involve the arts, culture, design, education, environment, healthcare, housing and regeneration sectors in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will be officially launched in May 2004 when further details will be published in the national and specialist press and on www.publicartonline.org.uk.