EXETER CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC ART POLICY AND STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Transcription

1 EXETER CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC ART POLICY AND STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2 1 EXETER CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC ART POLICY AND STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Introduction and terms of the Summary 1. 1 Exceence in the pubic ream is once again on Britain s agenda, and Exeter, with its unique history, position and features is showing commitment towards preserving and highighting the best of the city, whie working with partners to create new spaces and improve a of its communities. 1.2 This is a strategy commissioned by the City Counci for the integration and incusion of Pubic Artworks, within corporate initiatives and key services. 1.3 This executive summary sits aongside a comprehensive strategy for Pubic Art. The main document has an opening section, which makes the case for Pubic Art in Exeter, and ooks at modes esewhere. The second haf of the main document is essentiay practica and puts forward a poicy, backed by detaied commissioning guideines, recommendations on deivery and an outine action pan. 1.4 This summary document then, aims to do a number of things in brief and concise terms: To make a case for, and a definition of Pubic Art To ook at the history of and potentia for Pubic Art in Exeter To recommend deivery and resource mechanisms To set out the Pubic Art Poicy for the Counci Commissioning Guideines are appended to the main document Andrew Stacey, Festiva of Architecture, Southgate, Exeter

3 2 2. A case for and definition of Pubic Art 2.1 Peope who inhabit, use and enjoy pubic paces and spaces deserve them to be distinctive, specia and appropriate. Pubic Art has ong been used as a powerfu and dynamic too in regenerating or ceebrating those paces and spaces. 2.2 Pubic Art is changing. We may be famiiar with commemorative or ceremonia exampes of Pubic Art, and these can sti be appropriate. In fact Pubic Art is not an artform in itsef it is simpy a mechanism or a principe of improving or affecting an environment through the arts. It refers to artists and craftspeope working within the buit or natura environment to give added vaue to paces and spaces by investing them with character, socia reevance and visua stimuation. 2.3 Pubic Art is aso being commissioned within strategies to address the uses and users of a space, resuting in works which are designed to create feeings of security, encourage or discourage particuar uses, stimuate, amuse, cam, act as a foca point, encourage directions, engage a particuar community of interest, stimuate pride of pace. 2.4 Pubic Art is becoming integrated within deveopments, and Pubic Artists taking a pace within design teams, where resuting works can incude andscaping, traffic caming, paving, ighting, signage, street furniture, gass, banners, boundary treatments and security features. Works may be permanent or temporary, and be created using traditiona and contemporary media and processes. 2.5 At nationa eve a number of initiatives both by Government and private sector are appying new thinking and criteria to panning and design. For exampe the Government have produced the pubications By Design and The Urban Design Compendium promoting the integration of Pubic Art. Pubic Art refers to artists and craftspeope working within the buit or natura environment to give added vaue to paces and spaces by investing them with character, socia reevance and visua stimuation

4 3 2. A case for and definition of Pubic Art (continued) 2.6 There are a number of regiona initiatives which Exeter s Strategy can draw support from Regiona Panning Guidance Regiona Cutura Strategy Emerging Strategy for the Historic Environment Forthcoming Regiona Centre of Exceence And two new Regiona initiatives which have particuar significance for Pubic Art: The Architecture and the Buit Environment Strategy The Civic Pride Initiative When the City Counci is invoved in regiona partnerships, regiona bids, or merey seeking to pace Exeter in a strong regiona position, it shoud take serious strategic account of the roe of Pubic Art within frameworks for improving the City. 2.7 Looking at other modes Think of great cities and what makes them so distinctive, impressive and attractive. Without exception, the experience of the pubic ream the quaity of pubic spaces and the aesthetics of buidings and design - pays a huge part in shaping positive perceptions of a city. Bristo Legibe Cities initiative This Strategy is being written against the background of two other major regiona cities, Bristo and Pymouth aunching creative regeneration initiatives. Researching and anaysing Pubic Art schemes and mechanisms has ed to usefu concusions from experience and thinking which shoud be appied to the proposed Strategy for Exeter. Kate Maone

5 4 3. History and potentia for Pubic Art in Exeter 3.1 Many of the post-war redeveopment schemes in Exeter of the 1950s through to the 70s incuded Pubic Art ed by the City Counci the knight on Eastgate Street, the Phoenix and the Bue Boy statue in Princesshay, St Sidwea on Tesco s, scupture in Waterbeer Street and the ceramic mura in the Guidha centre. 3.2 In the ate 80s and eary 90s the Counci commissioned a series of mosaics and painted muras for car parks, eisure centres and prominent gabe end properties in the city Whie the above deveopments have been encouraged, they have emerged in the absence of an overa poicy framework or strategy for Pubic Art deveopment. The Gateways project encountered some obstaces due to ack of speciaised Pubic Art expertise and resources, and questions arise over the future and maintenance of the current coection of Exeter s works. 3.3 The City Counci adopted a Percent for Art poicy in 1992, and this mechanism has been used in a imited way for securing funds for Pubic Art. 3.4 More recenty the City Counci has initiated a programme to fund severa gateway projects, and city centre redeveopment at Princesshay has been identified as an important opportunity to invove artists in the design, interpretation and animation of the space. The city centre redeveopment at Princesshay has been identified as an important opportunity to invove artists in the design, interpretation and animation of the space 4

6 5 3. History and potentia for Pubic Art in Exeter (continued) 3.6 Exeter coud be said to be coming ate to deveoping a Pubic Art Strategy, when set aongside other South West towns and cities. This can be a distinct advantage. This Strategy has had opportunity to ook at and earn from other modes. The nationa and regiona cimate for Pubic Art has aso changed consideraby since the eary days of commissioning from cities such as Birmingham and Sheffied. Exeter is poised to take advantage of new opportunities and deveopments being offered especiay at regiona eve. 3.7 Exeter City is, of course, much more than its oca authority. Other organisations that have deveoped Pubic Art initiatives in the city incude Exeter Heath Care Arts Trust, Spacex Gaery, Exeter University, Phoenix Arts Centre and Pymouth University with the WindowSis project. Organisations such as the Met Office, reocating to Exeter, are activey pursuing the benefits of an integrated and considerabe Pubic Art programme within and beyond their site. Water Jack, Seating 6

7 6 4. What benefits wi a Pubic Art Strategy bring to Exeter? 4.1 Pubic Art has aways been the manifestation of paces, which have a status, and strong notion of their cutura standing. It is an outward sign of paces that are important, regarded and unique. 4.2 Pubic Art poicies create scope to: Demonstrate a commitment to high quaity treatment of pubic s p a c e s Introduce art that is integra but unique and inspiring and which wi endure in that particuar o c a t i o n Make the arts more pubic, accessibe and appeaing Add to the quaity and variety of the natura andscape Strengthen community identity and vibrancy Sustain economies by revitaising cities, encouraging night-time economies, integrating contemporary craft and artworks using traditiona materias and oca Artists Add vaue to tourist strategies Give dignity and pride of pace to socia housing schemes, and other new deveopments Pubic Art has aways been the manifestation of paces which have a status, and strong notion of their cutura standing. It is an outward sign of paces that are important, regarded and unique

8 7 4.3 Opportunity for Pubic Art incusion Beow is an indication of how Pubic Art coud add vaue to particuar Exeter schemes and partnerships Deveopment of Pubic Art Commissions within key panning proposas Princesshay Bus and Coach Station Quay/Cana basin Met Office u BENEFITS/OUTPUTS Brings externa (deveopers) resources and investment to quaity schemes Pubic Art appied to strategic citywide initiatives such as: Town Centre Enhancement Waking Strategy Commissions with Sustrans on cyce networks Signing and zoning and city trais u BENEFITS/OUTPUTS Brings distinctiveness and particuarity of pace Heps to encourage or discourage particuar routes and uses of the city Heps to enhance visitor and resident experience Pubic Art initiatives within socia incusion agendas as: Neighbourhood groups at Wonford and the Vaey Regeneration Scheme The Surestart scheme at Whipton With the Exwick Community Partnership u BENEFITS/OUTPUTS Engages communities in decisions about their own pace Provides a tangibe demonstration of commitment to citizens Can essen the incidences of vandaism Pubic Art Initiatives with the Leisure Service. Projects coud incude: Incusion of Pubic Art within the Museum deveopment Arts incusion within new eisure faciities u BENEFITS/OUTPUTS Can become part of Exeter s heritage through quaity of design and deveopment of new techniques and continue a tradition of craft appications Makes the arts more pubic, accessibe and appeaing Heps to deiver an Exeter identity Heps to enhance and market new and existing activities and faciities Pubic Art commissioning within any Exeter schoos refurbishment or rebuiding programme as a resut of moving from a three to a two-tier system, through partnership with the County Counci. u BENEFITS/OUTPUTS Demonstrates a positive partnership with the county Sets a standard of quaity for Exeter schoos Offers a tangibe demonstration of innovation in education

9 8 5. Recommended Deivery and Resource mechanisms 5. 1 It is cear that there are rea opportunities for deivering and resourcing Pubic Art commissions through deveopments and agreements via the panning process. The panning officers are enthusiastic and committed to Pubic Art deveopment, and some have experience from other Authorities, athough there is imited expertise in the deveopment of Pubic Art or commissioning. The second deposit Loca Pan encourages deveopers to integrate Pubic Art into their proposas where possibe. Most of the aspirationa deveopments for Exeter, cited in the Vision 20:20 document, and the emerging Community Strategy, coud effect commissioning through panning and deveopment initiatives. 5.2 Pubic Art has a definite pace within aspirations for City deveopment, design and vision, incuding work with deveopers. There is aso opportunity for broadening the Strategy. This consutancy has shown the vaue and the desire for a more strategic and corporate appication of Pubic Art. A service which can aso extend to the sociay incusive and participatory side of Exeter Counci s objectives, and hep to deiver economic and visitor aspiration initiatives. Pubic Art has a definite pace within aspirations for City deveopment, design and vision, incuding work with deveopers

10 9 The Deivery (continued) 5. 3 As the Community Pan is being deveoped from the Vision 20:20 document, Pubic Art shoud be incuded within the key goas and project areas, where appropriate. This means working across broader socia and economic themes and aongside cear areas of regeneration, design and cutura deveopment. 5.6 Exeter is fortunate in having severa strong and vauabe partners in the deivery of pubic artworks. Some of those partners wi be cosey tied to oca Authority deivery. These partners incude deveopers, funding commissions through 106 or Percent for Art arrangements Initia commitment and time resources wi be needed from officers, Members and partners. A mechanism for working with deveopers and on in-house schemes is given in the main report at 3.8. mechanisms and resources for deivery Pubic Art speciaists are ony engaged for key schemes on a project by project basis when additiona expertise is required. 5.7 Other providers and commissioners of Pubic Artwork may have very different criteria, practices and audiences for their work. On occasion these partners may work with Exeter City Counci on common projects. The City shoud acknowedge and recognise the diversity and strength of Pubic Art practice, deivered by these sectors. 5.8 To ensure the adoption of a consistent approach in commissioning work and to identify potentia funding sources, a sma officer group comprising City Arts, Panning and Leisure and Museums staff shoud meet periodicay. As the Community Pan is being deveoped from the Vision 20:20 document, Pubic Art shoud be incuded within the key goas and project areas, where appropriate

11 10 Resources 5.9 A reaistic and successfu outcome to the Pubic Art Strategy may require a commitment to resources and funding not ony from the Counci but significanty from externa sources and private deveopers Given the number and scae of ikey deveopments throughout the city over the next five years, there is a good chance of resourcing through this route, especiay as the benefits to deveopers can be ceary shown. Private sector opportunities 5.10 As has been indicated, significant opportunities exist to secure Pubic Art as part of private deveopment initiatives. The Strategy recommends working to achieve quaity Pubic Art with deveopers in the foowing ways: Promoting and encouraging the use of the Commissioning Guideines with deveopers Encouraging deveopers to either: Invove Exeter City Counci in the commissioning and seection p r o c e s s Appoint externa Pubic Art speciaists, who shoud work with Exeter City Counci to achieve best resuts Consider supporting or funding Pubic Art commissions in a particuar community, or supporting a particuar initiative suggested by Exeter City Counci, where appropriate and mutuay agreed. Such support may be in pace of, or additiona to a commission within their own d e v e o p m e n t Other sources of funding for City Counci projects It is recognised that the proposed invovement of the Arts Officer in this process wi carry a resource impication in Officer time, and ack of time for other important project work The Commissioning Guideines contained in the main report, are extensive and intended to provide some guidance for commissioning. However an initia period of training, and professiona input, through externa consutation on Beacon or piot projects may be required Given the drive for a strategic approach to Pubic Art, it may be more vauabe to the City, to deveop a Pubic Art Strategy for corridors and gateways to the City as a Beacon or piot project Percent for Art or section 106 contributions from deveopers, provide resources for commissions within new deveopments, but resources for deveopments in other corporate areas, are ess cear cut.

12 11 Resources (continued) 5.16 Some commissions can be made within existing budgets e.g. pay areas, or artwork on temporary hoardings Some works can be funded by partnership working e.g. Socia Housing scheme work from Housing Associations contributions Some city centre work might be funded through mechanisms such as the City Pride Initiative There is some scope to achieve matched funding from externa sources. Most potentia City Counci projects woud require additiona funding in order to invove Pubic Art. The recommendation is to think when panning initiatives and setting budgets, of whether Pubic Art woud be desirabe and beneficia, and to pan it in accordingy. Other funding sources Athough the Nationa ottery Funding for Arts and Heritage is no onger the major funder it was five years ago, the Lottery and other nationa and regiona pubic funding initiatives have been successfu, especiay in areas of regeneration and urban design Trust and Foundation funding does offer opportunities for funding of Pubic Art in the city County refurbishment, and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) buid schemes, in schoos moving from a three to a two-tier system, if approached with knowedge and in the spirit of partnership, offer opportunities for funding. CABE(The Centre for Architecture and the Buit Environment), have recenty caed for better design and distinctive eements within PFIs, especiay in schoos projects. Detai from Sea Garden, Kate Maone

13 12 EXETER CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC ART POLICY P1 Quaity Pubic Art provision can strengthen the quaity and sustainabiity of the city and increase the attractiveness and viabiity of Exeter environmentay, sociay and economicay. Pubic Art incudes works of fine art, craft and photography incorporated within the design of buidings or andscapes which are generay accessibe or visibe to the pubic. P2 The City Counci wi encourage improvements to the overa environment and open spaces through Pubic Art initiatives. Deveopers of arge schemes wi be requested to integrate pubic art where feasibe, into the design of new deveopment and environmenta schemes from the outset. P3 The City Counci wi normay foow criteria for the commissioning and siting of works, and in accepting gifted artworks, as outined in the Commissioning Guideines contained in the Pubic Art Strategy, and encourage deveopers, partners and commissioners to do the same. P4 The commissioning of pubic art shoud have regard to the foowing basic principes. The work shoud normay:- ( i ) represent the highest standard of quaity ( i i ) be of economic and/or socia benefit ( i i i ) present a chaenge to both its commissioner and audience ( i v ) be the subject of consutation with stakehoders ( v ) be site specific and have a cear reationship to the oca geography, features and communities in which it is to be paced P 5 The Counci as a commissioner of pubic art wi provide, where appropriate, information and contacts, pubic consutation, project management and the deveopment of partnerships.