6 September 2012 Ian Gilzean Architecture Unit Scottish Government Victoria Quay Edinburgh
Dear Ian,
Architecture Policy Consultation PAR+RS (Public Art Research + Resource Scotland) is Creative Scotland’s national public art development programme. Public art, or - more broadly and preferably - artists work in public places, is a significant form of activity that contributes to the built and rural environments, architecture and place-making, communities and economies. We were grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the International Design Summit. The Summit provided us with an opportunity to research and produce Work In Progress, an illustration exploring the involvement of Scottish and Scotland-based Turner Prize nominees and winners in work in the public realm. This group of artists might be assumed to work primarily for gallery contexts. The extent to which they are creating work outwith the gallery and within the public realm is indicative of some of the issues we would like to contribute to the consultation. Our comments in respect of the Architecture and Place Policy Consultation are as follows:
Artists have key skills that enable them to contribute to public places. Leadership Take as an example the role of Scotland-based team sans façon, who are working with the Utilities and Environmental Protection Departments in Calgary, Canada. Their 5 year programme Watershed+ “establishes a foundation for renewing the relationship between the Calgarians and their watershed by bringing creative practice into the world of water management.” This is an important example of the potential for artists to lead on major public sector initiatives. Teamwork Here examples might include: • artist involvement in the re-imagining of places, for instance through the Scottish Government's Charette series and through Creative Scotland's Creative Futures residency programme; • artist involvement in developing plans and strategies as part of design teams alongside architects, landscape architects, interior designers; • artists leading processes of community engagement and consultation. Participation is a key theme across art and design practices whether it is framed as co-creation or socially engaged practices. Creative Scotland's ArtWorks programme, co-sponsored by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, is developing skills and policies in this important area. Involving artists at the earliest stages is an important principle. It precipitates more adventurous thinking, it can drive the development of innovative methodologies and ultimately projects. However it is never too late to involve an artist. Sometimes it can be as useful to introduce