PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2007
Update from ixia, the think tank for public art practice
Welcome to ixia's summer 2007 update, which will keep you informed about the projects we have recently completed and the work we are currently undertaking.
Guidance on a supplementary planning document for public art
ixia has carried out a review of the ways that local authorities secure public art via the planning system and process, and has published a document containing guidance on the content of a supplementary planning document for public art.
This can be downloaded free of charge from ixia's website.
Public Art and the planning system and process workshops
A series of development workshops have been planned during 2007/8 to provide additional support and guidance regarding a supplementary planning document for public art. These have been so popular that there are only a few places remaining at our Birmingham Workshop on 11th March 2008.
Further workshops are being planned for 2008/9 and dates and venues will be confirmed during the autumn.
Public Art Evaluation Toolkit
In May ixia held the first of its training courses to present the public art evaluation toolkit, developed in conjunction with OPENspace Research Centre at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University. ixia also created the database that will be used to collate the information generated by users of the toolkit. Over time ixia will use the database to produce reports that review the impact of public art commissions. A report detailing the development of the evaluation toolkit can be downloaded free of charge from ixia's website.
Evaluation toolkit workshops
The first three workshops planned to deliver the evaluation toolkit are now fully booked. However, ixia is planning to run more workshops during 2008/9.
Partnership working
ixia continues to work with English Partnerships (Communities England) to formalise its involvement with public art by developing their corporate public art policy and strategy. Other partnerships that ixia is currently developing involve organisations within the cultural, health, education, regeneration and development sectors.
Conference and events
ixia is pleased to promote the following events which we supported:
Building Cultures: Can Artists Make Great Places?
20th September 2007 at Birkbeck College, University of London
Creativity, Culture and Change are the themes of a one-day conference on leading regeneration projects through art and creativity with a focus on the mega-development at Kings Cross. The event will include presentations of Artists for Places - a partnership between CABE, A&B and Arts Council England; an evaluation by Comedia on the PROJECT scheme to support public art strategies embedded within the planning system; an open forum with key speakers on art, architecture, landscape and planning, debating the role of art and cultural activity within the design of the built environment.
Building Cultures Urban Walkabout
Friday, 21st September 2007, Camden Centre, London
The Building Cultures Urban Walkabout offers a choice of two guided tours around King's Cross or along the Euston Road charting previous public realm commissions and interventions and revealing the physical and social landscape within which the new art and cultural activity will be sited. The walk is followed by lunch, discussion and debate drawing together the themes of the conference with the issues and opportunities arising in King's Cross.
For further information on any of the above research, workshops or events go to www.ixia-info.com
e-mail [email protected] or call 0121 753 5301.