Art at the Centre

Background Round 1

Following the report, “Towards An Urban Renaissance”, published in 1999 as the recommendations of the Urban Task Force, chaired by Richard Rogers, the then Southern Arts launched Phase I of Art at the Centre – an initiative aiming to develop models within local authorities for placing Art as a primary catalyst in regeneration initiatives.

Local authorities in the Southern Arts region were invited to apply for Awards between £20,000 - £50,000 pa over a three year period. In total over £370,000 was distributed through the scheme. Final evaluation indicated that this was responsible for leveraging £1,027,000 from external sources including in-kind contributions, and an additional £6,212,750 from non-arts related departments within the local authorities. Therefore for each £1 Arts Council England funding, £20 was generated for projects under the Art at the Centre banner. Crucially funding was channelled through the Arts Department Budget – thereby giving the Arts an ‘early place at the table’ in discussions around regeneration.

Round 2

Building on the success of the round 1 initiative round 2 was launched in Autumn 2004. Of the 74 eligible authorities in the SE Region 15 submitted proposals to the scheme and three, including the Isle of Wight, were successful in being awarded grants of £45,000 per year for three years.

The Isle of Wight Project

A cross departmental team of Officers from the Isle of Wight Council submitted a proposal focussing on the Planned Urban Extension in Pan. The team consisted of:

• John Metcalfe – Head of Culture and Leisure Services
• Maria Wilkinson – Arts Development Officer
• Jo Murray Smith - Urban Designer
• John Norledge - Neighbourhood Manager
• Phil Taylor Acting - Head of Housing
• Cheryl Snudden - Community Advocate for Pan

The Art @ The Centre project in Pan has a number of key aims. The funding allocated from the Arts Council will be used primarily to engage a Lead Artists of National/International repute, to work as part of the planning team and in partnership with the Neighbourhood Manager and Community Advocate to bring a creative element into the development of the designs and public realm of the planned new housing development. It is hoped that bringing this creative dimension into and already well resourced project, will help to achieve the following aims.

• A Better, more interesting built environment
• Greater Community ownership and empowerment
• Reduced fear of crime and more trust between generations
• The Integration of a diverse community with diverse needs to result in a community which celebrates diversity but shares a common identity.
• Increased Capacity within the Creative Sector on the Island.
• Art @ the centre will help to bring together the existing community and new residents to create cohesion within this changing community.
• The programme will engage the community in a Learning process where they can try new things and learn new skills and find their own creativity
• A more sustainable community.

This project is not necessarily expected to achieve substantive regenerative ‘outcomes’ within the period of funding, since it is recognised that genuine regeneration can often take many years to achieve. We are however hoping to develop a model demonstrating the role and potential of the Arts to enhance accepted processes of regeneration.

This scheme represents an opportunity for the Arts to input at a much earlier stage, working with colleagues in housing, planning, landscaping, etc. with a view to creating a more imaginative, vibrant, and responsive end product.

For more information about this project contact Maria Wilkinson, Arts Development Officer on 01983 823833, e-mail maria.wilkinson@iow.gov.uk

Artist Ben Coode-Adams, pictured centre below, and Public Art Consultant Gerry Wall have been appointed as lead artists on the Art @ the Centre Project. To find out more about Bens work visit his website at http://www.bencoodeadams.com

The Pan Colour Project, ‘Pan Chromatic’, is part of a larger project called Pan Utopia, which is the brainchild of artists Ben Coode-Adams and Gerry Wall.  This project is part of an Arts Council funded ‘Art at the Centre’ project which aims to ensure that the planned development of 820 homes as an extension of the existing Pan estate, is a really great place to live.  The goal of Pan Utopia is to make the old and new estates visually and socially cohesive.

During October half term week 6 teenagers from the Pan Estate worked with 6 students from the Royal College of Art in London (see picture above). The project was tutored by lead artist Ben Coode Adams and Carolyn Clewer.  Carolyn has extensive teaching experience as well as running her own fashion label ‘Paris Essex’ which sells in Selfridges and Liberty.

Together the group investigated the role of colour in buildings by collecting colour samples and learning about digital photography.  The teenagers said the project has “changed our perception of what Pan is like, we found inspiration everywhere”. The project helped to build aspirations and was about everyone working at a professional level as well as having a lot of fun!  The work will be shown in the Hockney Gallery at the Royal College of Art, London in December.

Housing developments don’t usually start with choosing the colours.  Ben and Gerry emphasise the importance of colour in affecting people’s optimism and happiness and embrace the chance to specify a palette so early on in the design process.  “We can use colour to designate neighbourhoods, and types of building but also just to make the development look absolutely fantastic – to make it beautiful.  We want people to say ‘Wow!’ when they first come here, and to put a spring in the footsteps of residents everyday.  Colour is a great way of doing that.”