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Public Art in South Cambridgeshire
Publicly accessible art, craft and design is a great way to celebrate cultural diversity and local identity. It can enhance the unique characteristics of a village and often involves the whole community in choosing the artist, the design process and the installation. Once in place, public art is a lasting mark of community and heritage for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Our policy on public art aims to promote artistic activity through the creation of new and original art work. It will actively encourage a high quality, well-designed environment, valued by those who live and work in the district as well as visitors and we hope will increase participation in the arts and the environment. The policy was approved by cabinet on 16th February 2004.
Arbury Park Public Art Programme
Artist Lubna Chowdhary has developed designs for five Local Areas of Play as part of the Arbury Park public art programme. Lubna's brief called for a linked series of works which would help create a sense of local identity. Her designs for the LAPs recall the strong horticultural traditions of the Histon/Impington area, tying in with the overarching theme of the art programme.
Download the Arbury Park Public Art Programme
For more information visit www.insidearburypark.org.uk (This link will open in a new window)
Public art in new development
The District Council has adopted a public art policy and enthusiastically welcomes public art in new development schemes because it:
- Enables local people to be involved in development.
- Gives public enjoyment.
- Strengthens the district's cultural identity.
- Expresses a link between private activity and community.
- Adds prestige to the development.
- Leads to interpretative and educational activity.
- Provides employment for artists.
Public art is described as any work by a recognised artist in a public place and applies to
- Residential developments comprising ten or more dwellings
- Other developments where the floor space to be built is 1000m2 gross or more, including office, manufacturing, warehousing and retail developments.
It may be big or small, mobile or static, integral to a building or freestanding, fine art or functional. For example, public art may be produced in the following forms:
External - Sculpture; Mural; Relief; Feature windows; Canopy/Entrance Feature; Paving; Landscape Art; Street or Park Furniture; Projection; Signs.
Interior Public Space - Painting; Textile; Glass; Sculpture; Flooring; Mural; Crafts; Exhibition space for changing exhibitions.
Non Site Specific - A contribution may be considered through the general public art strategy for off-site works, more easily accessed by the public. These might include works of photography; video; web site or publication related to the development; events and trails.
The Council's policy encourages developers to dedicate between 1% and 5% of the associated construction costs of the capital project to public art. The Council will initially negotiate the principle of an agreement with developers and their agents to commission art within the development, which we will then secure through a legal agreement. We will offer practical assistance and contacts in pursuing the commission through implementation to launch and publicity.
Types of artist commission
Ideally an artist should be involved from the earliest stage of the development.
- An artist may be appointed to produce work to a brief.
- An artist may be offered a residency during the course of development.
- An artist may be appointed as a member of the scheme design team.
Assistance with commissioning
The Council's Arts Development Officer and Conservation Manager can offer advice on public art commissioning.
Commissions East (info@commseast.org.uk) offer developers a service on appropriate forms of art in different media; artists shortlists; administering the developer in communications with the artist.
The role of the Architect
The developer's architect will be well placed to assess possible types and locations of art in relation to the building design. Ideally the appointed artist will work alongside the architect.
The artist's brief
The artist's brief is important for clarifying what kind of artist is required for the particular development. The artist's brief should clearly establish: a theme; locations; budget programme; identity of the client; and required community involvement and
contacts. A public art brief may be prepared by a specialist agency or an artist on behalf of the developer. The Council's Arts Development Officer can help in this process. As many relevant people as possible should be consulted at the briefing stage rather than at the proposal stage.
Choosing themes
Public art in new development should be based on themes relevant to the nature of the locality, building, local industry or historic event. The Council may encourage particular forms of art in line with its emerging cultural strategy.
Public involvement and consultation
Where possible the public or local community should be consulted at the brief preparation stage, rather than at artist's proposal stage, to avoid criticisms based on personal taste. If an artwork requires planning permission in its own right, consultation will take place automatically. We will encourage an artist to involve the local community in the development of the artwork, as the best way to gain public awareness and support.
Who decides?
Key decisions on the content of a brief, selection of an artist and approval of the work should be taken by the developer, architect and Arts Development Officer in consultation with local representatives. It is essential that once a theme, location, artist and budget has been agreed, the art work should be allowed to proceed without bureaucratic interference with the creative process.
Using local artists
The Council will encourage the use of local artists from South Cambridgeshire, but developers are free to choose and appoint any recognised artist, especially if the work requires a specialist. Work by nationally notable artists is also encouraged.
Consultations and approvals
Developers are advised to ensure that technical consultations and approvals for the artwork installation are carried out. These may include:
- Statutory utility companies (for underground services).
- The Highway Authority (for traffic safety and works to public highway land).
- Parish Councils (for works on public open space).
- Health and safety issues.
- Environmental Health issues.
- Whether the art installation requires planning permission in its own right.
Operation and maintenance
The choice of the artwork will often depend on the maintenance implications for its installation. These may include running costs for lighting or kinetic works; day-to-day maintenance for live installations such as landscape or water; cleaning and repairing of any work. The responsibility for maintenance of the artwork will need to be established in the initial brief.
Maintenance for artworks designed as street furniture or located on public highway or park land would need to be agreed in
negotiation with the Council. It is expected that part of the investment in the artwork would be put aside for maintenance.
Standard clauses on a S106 Agreement
The Council will usually negotiate an agreement to be attached to the planning permission for the development which will include requirements to:
- Incorporate an artwork within the environs of the development, or pay towards a locally programmed public art project.
- Allocate a capital sum (proportionate to the value and prominence of the development, starting from about 1% of the capital cost of the development).
- Pay sums for the artwork contributions into a special account.
- Agree with the Council a timetable of brief, selection, commission, installation.
- Appoint a recognised, bona-fide artist.
Public art in Cambridgeshire
Arts Forum for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Prepared by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Arts Development Officer Group and approved by members of the Arts Forum for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 29 May 2007.
Purpose
This document, developed in consultation with members of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Arts Officers Group, outlines actions intended to secure a joint and concerted approach to public art in order, principally using developer contributions, to enhance the quality of life of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents through a range of arts interventions.
