AWARDS SCHEME SEEKS CREATIVE IDEAS FOR ART IN PUBLIC
PLACES
9 December 2003
The UK's biggest awards scheme for art in public places has been announced
by Arts Council England, South East and the South East England Development
Agency (SEEDA). The search starts now for creative ideas from organisations
and artists, who stand to benefit from awards totalling over £300,000
in the scheme's first year.
City streets, schools, workplaces and community centres throughout the South
could become more inspiring places, with users getting together with artists
to think about improving their environment.
Whether it's street furniture, lighting, a city poet laureate, or
art on bus tickets and buildings - the Awards for Art in Public Places
scheme wants to hear fresh ideas from a wide range of organisations and artists,
including students and recent graduates.
Announcing the Awards in Southampton, Felicity Harvest, Executive Director,
Arts Council England, South East said: "The arts have an important
role to play in transforming public spaces and contributing to the urban
renaissance of the South East. The arts are animators - they can inspire
and revitalise. We want to hear about projects which will take high quality
art into public places, whether it's visual art, writing or dance,
to improve the way people feel about where they spend their time."
Organisations and artists are invited to send in their initial suggestions
by 4 May 2004. A shortlist of winners who will receive funding and support
to produce materials for public exhibition will be announced in June 2004.
The final winners of the first cycle of Awards will be announced in March
2005 at a high profile awards ceremony. The judging panel will consist of
built environment experts and artists, together with representatives of SEEDA
and Arts Council England, South East.
SEEDA's Chief Executive, Anthony Dunnett, explained why SEEDA is co-funding
the Awards: "It's vital for our economic prosperity to create
healthy, inclusive, sustainable communities. We are keen to see more projects
where culture and the arts work in partnership with the public and private
sector to provide real benefits to people. In our region we have already
seen how artwork can be successfully integrated into the design of education
and health facilities, to engage people with changes taking place where they
live and work, as well as to delight and create a sense of place."
The announcement of the Awards coincided with the launch of Public Art in
the South East, a publication produced jointly by Arts Council England, South
East and SEEDA. The publication includes local authorities' nominations
for the most successful piece of public artwork in their area, and a guide
to good practice in commissioning public art, illustrated with a range of
regional case studies.
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