PASW Regional Newsletter: Spring 2006
Ixia Update
Welcome to the latest update from ixia. Behind the scenes the last few months have been very busy, with the successful Burnley event in October, final production work on the forthcoming publications Habitat - Environment - Community (to be launched at Tate Britain at the end of March 06) and a review of ixia's strategic objectives in preparation for the recruitment of its first full-time chief executive. The simplest expression of much of the strategic work is the conception of ixia as the public art think tank: an independent voice for public art practice, initiating debate, promoting research and encouraging innovation and change.
On a more practical level ixia is currently launching a new e-mail based networking forum for people working in the sector, and is creating the ixia "council", an independent panel appointed by the board of ixia, the purpose of which is to provide peer review of its services and activities. 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.
Ixia's successful seminar in Burnley, was held on Tuesday 4th October 2005, at the Mechanics Theatre, Manchester Rd, Burnley. It examined the Assessment of the Impact of Artist's Practice in the Public Realm. Co-organised with Mid Pennine Arts, this one day event explored the evaluation of public art practice in the context of live projects. Catherine Ward-Thompson and Dr Andrew Patrizio (OPENspace Research Centre) presented the findings of the work they have been doing for ixia on the evaluation of public art practice. A finalised report from OPENspace will be available though ixia's website within the next few weeks. Nick Hunt (Mid Pennine Arts) & Mike Tonkin (TonkinLiu Architects) spoke about the Panopticons Project in Burnley. For details of each of the presentations and a full transcript, please refer to the ixia website www.ixia-info.com
ixia Publications
New titles: In partnership with Article Press, ixia is due to publish a series of 3 titles: Habitat-Environment-Community. Each of the three titles 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 Kathrin Bohm. The titles are due to be published at the end of March 2006 with a launch at Tate Britain. The cost for all three volumes will be £25 or £10 per volume. If you wish to register your interest in advance please email [email protected]
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. Copies of Desirable Places can be purchased directly from ixia's offices at £7.99 (including post & packaging). Please email your request to [email protected] and the book and an invoice will be sent to you. Alternatively copies can be purchased via Central Books should you wish to pay by credit card at £7.99 (excluding post & packaging). See www.centralbooks.com
ixia, Unit 114, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA
Tel: 0121 753 5301