News: 08 June 2004
Arts Minister launches new PROJECT to involve artists in regeneration
Contact: Dominique Owen, CABE, 0207960 2470 or Jonathan Tuchner, A&B,
0207940 6412
The Rt Hon Estelle Morris MP, Minister of State for Arts today, Tuesday
8 June, launched PROJECT, a new national scheme to
involve artists in the built environment.
The new joint initiative by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and
the Built Environment) and A&B (Arts & Business) will see an
investment of £500,000, over the next two years and will engage
artists in a range of projects that will have a positive impact on the
places in which we live. PROJECT is focused on exploring
the role of the artist in the design of the built environment.
Speaking at the launch today, Estelle Morris said:
‘Artists working in the public realm make an extraordinary contribution
to our experience of public life. Not only can they contribute to the
physical fabric of the community, they can enhance links between people
and places. I believe PROJECT will enable the value
of the arts to be better understood and for me that is everything.’
This joint collaboration with CABE and A&B will encompass all areas
of the built environment, architecture, planning and urban design. The
scheme is intended to provide financial support to facilitate collaboration
between artists from a variety of disciplines, working pro-actively
with public and private sector groups on high-quality projects related
to the built environment. It will cover, for example, artists working
on schemes in housing market renewal and growth areas, employed within
masterplanning, building or regeneration project teams and as commentators
on urban conditions and solutions. Public Art South West (PASW) has
been appointed to manage and deliver this new grant scheme.
Eric Reynolds, Managing Director, Urban Space Management
who was today announced as the Chair of PROJECT said:
‘The level of investment in the regeneration of our towns and
cities is huge. PROJECT will enable artists to become
more involved in the development process and demonstrate the added value
and creative input such partnerships can achieve. PROJECT
aims to enhance the role and status of the artist to increase collaboration
on regeneration schemes and to promote investment in the design of the
built environment by government and business. The onus falls on developers
and regeneration specialists to be genuine leaders in this field. With
good will and commitment this should result in a more rounded and exciting
environment.’
Chris Murray, Director of Learning and Development, CABE, said:
‘Over the last few years, there have been a growing number of
projects which have involved artists in regeneration projects, to name
a few, the Royston Road Parks Project, Glasgow, Thomas Heatherwick’s
work with EDAW urban planners for Central Milton Keynes and the Daubeney
Primary School, Hackney. The success of these projects lies in the multi-disciplinary
way of working. We have come along way since the first public art commissions,
the major cultural change is that art is not just inserted into spaces
left by architects, but the artist’s creative input is a priority
in a regeneration project and community engagement is an integral part
of the process.’
Colin Tweedy, Chief Executive of Arts & Business,
said:
‘Arts & Business has already helped invest £1.1 million
in 95 partnerships with the built environment through our New Partners
Programme. For every £1 that A&B invests - private sector
organisations invest almost £3. The investment coming from built
environment businesses amounts to more than £2.5 million and highlights
our work in involving artists to help create a sense of place - to transform
our environment as a whole, rather than just making objects within it.
PROJECT is a real opportunity to lead on how we engage
artists in the public realm and give artists an effective and genuine
role in developing and regenerating our communities.’
Maggie Bolt, Public Art South West, said:
‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with CABE and A&B
on this scheme. The scheme aims to enhance the built environment by
enriching the process by which new and refurbished environments come
about. By bringing artists in at the conceptual stage, we want to encourage
the design and construction professions to allow a free flow of creative
ideas and a lateral thought process to take place.’
CABE and A&B have appointed an advisory panel to assess applications
chaired by Eric Reynolds, Managing Director, Urban Space Management,
Trinity Buoy Wharf, East London and comprising Chris Murray, Director
of Learning and Development, CABE, Richard Wilkinson, Head of New Partners,
Arts & Business, Carole- Anne Davies, Chief Executive, Design Commission
for Wales, Graham Fagen, Artist, Emma Larkinson, Director, Public Art
Forum, Anna Minton, author and journalist, Emma Peters, Corporate Director
of Development and Renewal, Tower Hamlets Council, Pauline Scott-Garrett,
Project Director Chatham, Medway Council and Tim Williams, Chief Executive,
Camborne Pool Redruth Regeneration, Cornwall.
-ends-
Notes for Editors
- For further press information, images or to arrange an interview with Eric Reynolds or other members of the PROJECT advisory panel, please contact either Dominique Owen at CABE on 020 7960 2470; [email protected] or Jonathan Tuchner at A&B on 020 7940 6412; [email protected]
- PROJECT – engaging artists in the built environment was launched today, Tuesday 8 June by Rt Hon Estelle Morris MP, Minister of State (Arts). Further information and application details can be found at www.project-awards.org.uk from Wednesday 9 June.
- Public Art South West (PASW) is a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England, South West based at their offices in Exeter and is recognised as one of the leading public art development agencies in the UK - www.publicartonline.org.uk
- Arts & Business (A&B) is the world’s most successful and widespread creative network. It helps business people support the arts and the arts inspire business people, because good business and great art enrich society. Arts & Business works to deliver its vision across the UK through a network of 19 offices - www.AandB.org.uk
- CABE champions the creation of great buildings and public spaces. It is a non-departmental public body set up by the Government in 1999. Through public campaigns and support to professionals, CABE encourages the development of well-designed homes, streets, parks, offices, schools, hospitals and other public buildings - www.cabe.org.uk
Case studies
Royston Road Parks Project, Glasgow.
Completed in 2001 Spire Park, Roystonhill and Molendinar Park in Blackhill
was a collaboration between local people of the area of Royston Road
in Glasgow, landscape architects Loci Design and artists Graham Fagen
and Toby Paterson. The project was commissioned by Fablevision and The
Centre, delivered by the Wisegroup, with funding from The Scottish Arts
Council National Lottery Fund, Strathclyde European Partnership, National
Lottery Charities Board, Glasgow City Council, European Social Fund
and the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust. During his residency in Royston,
Graham Fagen developed Tree Planting (17) Royston and Molendinar Trees
and Where the Heart Is, a rose for the north east of Glasgow.
For further information please see www.roystonroadproject.org
Development Framework for Central Milton Keynes: Consultant artist Thomas Heatherwick with EDAW urban planners
In 2001 Thomas Heatherwick was appointed as lead artist on the regeneration
of Milton Keynes. Heatherwick is working as part of the EDAW masterplanning
team. His role is to interpret the future visually and with a third
of the city still undeveloped he has a lot of space.
The ethos of his Studio, not siting themselves firmly in the art camp
or the design or architecture profession, has created a multi-disciplinary
practice area which may be a model for future development. Their appointment
to work with EDAW on masterplanning the regeneration of Milton Keynes
is indicative. Whilst the other professions looked at individual elements
of the city, artists could look at the whole. "Artists have magic
powers. They apply creative thinking which can expand on the ideas of
others ". (Thomas Heatherwick)
Daubeney Primary School, Hackney
In December 1999 Hackney Wick Public Art Programme commissioned artist
Hattie Coppard to work with Daubeney Primary School to develop a creative
programme of consultation and participation, leading to ideas for improvements
to the school playground. The programme culminated in an Experimental
Playground Week which gave every pupil the opportunity to participate
in the process of imagining what the new playground might be through
play and creativity.
Subsequently, landscape architect Lynn Kinnear was commissioned to work
with Hattie Coppard to develop design proposals for the playground inspired
by the outcomes of the Experimental Playground Project. Their collaboration
has sought not only to improve the physical appearance of the playground,
but also to effect a change in the role and culture of play within the
school. The project has been the subject of extensive extensively documentation
and evaluation during the initial and design stages and ongoing evaluation
is being planned.
The timetable of the project was protracted by the search for finance
to construct it, with further slight delays during the construction
phase. The redesigned playground will be installed by summer 2003.
For further information please see www.snugandoutdoor.co.uk
The Whitefriars Project, Canterbury
The Whitefriars development will create a new retail environment in
the city, with 'real' streets based on historic street patterns designed
with innovative architecture. This project focuses on the commissioning
of artists as an integral component. The artists will work closely with
design, project management and asset management teams, sharing ideas
and skills and contributing to corporate and staff development. The
completed development will incorporate meaningful, permanent artworks
within the fabric of the development, including paving schemes developed
by Janet Hodgson (the lead artist). The process of commissioning artists
will help to create a sense of place, and provide opportunities for
people who live and work locally to engage directly with and gain a
sense of ownership of the development through collaborative and participatory
activities. These will be strongly linked to and supported by the Council’s
own social inclusion and arts development strategies.
An Arts & Business New Partners investment will support a number
of elements of the project, including the production of a report to
document and evaluate the project by leading expert writers.
The development is funded by Land Securities in partnership with Canterbury
City Council in a public/private partnership. Regional Arts Lottery
funding is also being invested in the project.
For further information email: [email protected],
t: 01926 498488