PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2006
Update from ixia, the think tank for public art practice
ixia is pleased to announce that during April 2006 Jonathan Banks began work as its first full-time Chief Executive. Jonathan joined ixia from Bristol City Council where he was responsible for overseeing the development, implementation and evaluation of Bristol City Council’s Public Art Policy and Strategy. Jonathan has extensive experience in successfully securing roles for artists within regeneration initiatives; involving local people, public sector organisations and private sector developers. The knowledge and experience he has will assist ixia in fulfilling its aim of providing an independent voice for public art practice, initiating debate, promoting research and encouraging innovation and change.
We are all faced with a number of common strategic issues: the evidence-based approach to UK government policy and planning, the apparent increase in the commissioning of public art through regeneration programmes and its inclusion in planning obligations and changes in procurement and delivery models, absence of policy guidelines from funding bodies, an ad hoc support structure provided mainly by a mix of public art agencies, freelance consultants and local authorities, a lack of public understanding of artistic practice and communications technology reshaping traditional notions of public space and community. ixia believes the only way to address these issues is to provide an objective view of the factors that impact on the quality of public art and that requires objectivity, which, in turn, requires research and facilitating access to strategic information.
Current projects include: developing ixia’s "think tank", an independent panel appointed by the board of ixia, the purpose of which is to provide peer review of services and activities provided by ixia and others; research into the development and application of public art and percent for art policies by local authorities, other public sector organisations and the private sector; the development and dissemination of an evaluation toolkit for public art prepared by ixia and OPENspace Research Centre.
During March 2006 ixia launched a series of three books: Habitat-Environment-Community. Each profiles an artist's work, interviews each artist, and then provides an essay to contextualise the work. The aim is to link the work back to the readership. The work is seen in the context of habitat, community and environment and how it can affect urbanism and regeneration. The theme of the branding of cities versus developing sustainable communities is examined. The three artists profiled are Richard Woods, Lucy Orta and Katrin Bohn. The cost for all three books is £17.00 (plus £4.00 p&p) or £6.99 per book (plus £1.50 p&p).
Other current titles: 'Desirable Places' explores the role of public art in the drive for quality environments and sustainable communities. It includes four essays that explore the role of artists in creating spaces for public life. The cost of ‘Desirable Places’ is £7.99 (including p&p).
To purchase copies of ixia’s publications please email your request to [email protected].
ixia’s contact details are E: [email protected], Website: www.ixia-info.com and ixia, Unit 114, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA.
Tel: 0121 753 5301.