Public art matters. Have your say...
WATCHSPACE - Sir William Stanier Community School, Crewe
Property Services have a capital programme and wished to test how public art could be integrated within major schemes for new Libraries and Schools programme. A new school for Crewe is being developed and was seen as the perfect opportunity to bring an artist onto the team.
Action: Explore possible structure for integration and target developments for inclusion.
Result: An artist, Catrin Jones www.catrinjones.co.uk, and public art consultant to manage the process, were appointed as part of the design team and consultation with pupils and staff for the new school in Crewe. The fees of £9,200 have been funded through Children's Services and implementation for integrated artwork from the build budget, minimum £50,000. The opportunity was advertised regionally and nationally with 19 applicants from which 6 teams and individual artists were interviewed by a panel made up of: the school, arts service, architect and public art consultant. This process is new for the contractor- Willmott Dixon, Architects - Adeas as well as the school and Children's Services.
Catrin Jones has met with the project team and has selected areas for intervention and carried out workshops with pupils to develop design idea.
It is hoped this will be an exemplar project within the region and nationally. The process and work will be documented and evaluated.
Future work with Children's Services and Cheshire schools could build aspiration and provide early consultation and planning for the future build programmes.
