PASW Regional Newsletter: Spring 2000
Public Art South West - Activities
Public Art South West is a service of South West Arts. It aims to develop a wide range of opportunities for artists and craftspeople to contribute in diverse and innovative ways to our built and natural environment. Public Art South West takes a leading role in co-ordinating a range of strategies for public art development in the region. In achieving its aims, Public Art South West works in partnership with a broad range of organisations in the public and private sectors, including local authorities, health trusts, environmental groups, tourist boards, housing associations and many others.
An exciting and long term ambition of ours is about to come to fruition in the form of the Public Art South West Online Resource. Some of you may remember being involved in our initial research, where we identified the need for an online resource that covered every aspect of commissioning. Well it's finally going to happen during April 2000 (t.b.c.) It will comprise examples of projects from around the world, with relevant background information, details of public art policies, contracts and commissioning briefs, a bulletin board where we and others can post information and lots, lots more! However, it is not just a resource for the South West and from the response we have had to the proposal to date, and the links people are keen we make to their websites, it will be a useful addition to anyone, anywhere, interested in furthering the boundaries of what we call 'public art'.
PASW works closely with the Public Art Forum and Maggie Bolt has recently been re-elected onto the Executive as Honorary Treasurer. You will find an update on PAF's activities later on in the newsletter, but if you want to raise issues or find out more about it, do feel free to speak to us as well.
The past six months have seen us involved in a variety of projects and initiatives including:
Training and Seminars:
We offer presentations and seminars to local authorities, architectural practices and other interested parties, the most recent being to Torbay Council with others planned for the new year including North Somerset Council. In December we jointly ran 'A Galaxy Apart' in collaboration with South West Art's Destination Europe Programme. The seminar looked at examples of culture-led planning in Europe where artists have collaborated with other design professionals. The speakers Franco Bianchini, Peter Riek and Francisco and Manual Aires ensured the day was thought provoking and we will be producing a transcript of the proceedings in due course. In June 2000 we will be presenting 'Creative Collaborations 3' with AXIS and will look at projects where genuine collaborations took place between artists and other design professionals. The venue will be the Phoenix, Exeter and further details will be sent out in due course. We are also looking at devising a series of seminars that will focus on the commissioning of artists within an ecclesiastical setting. If you would like to work with us on this please get in touch, and again further details will be available later on in 2000.
Local Authorities:
are our main partners in the region, and we work closely with them in order to formulate a range of public art strategies and initiatives which support and develop artists and makers' practice. Areas we are currently focusing on include South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol City Council, Dorset County Council and North Dorset District Council. We keep information on Local Authority Public Art and Percent for Art policies in and outwith the region and are always happy to offer advice.
Healthcare:
South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has recently completed a public art strategy part funded by PASW and we are currently working with Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust on new build projects as well as formulating a longer term strategy. We have been advising Plymouth Community Services NHS Trust and East Somerset NHS Trust and continue to work with a range of other trusts and their associated arts programmes in the region.
Public Art Projects:
a major area of our work is advising on public art projects throughout the region, some of which have received lottery funding. We are currently advising on projects in Plymouth, Bristol, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and many other areas. We have recently been talking to the South West of England Regional Development Agency about public art policies and continue to operate at a strategic level with key organisations in order to create a positive climate and framework for public art commissioning.
Publications:
we have produced and/or been involved with several publications during the past couple of years including: On the Beaten Track: Care and Maintenance for Sculpture, Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail; Strip the Willow and The Urban Jungle from the Ideas in the Making series, and Public Art: People, Projects, Process by Eileen Adams, a joint production by PASW, Southern Arts, South East Arts and the London Arts Board. If you are interested in ordering any of these please contact the Information Service at South West Arts.
Maggie Bolt, Director, PASW