EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Creative minds should be actively engaged in regeneration

Creative minds should be actively engaged in regeneration

Introduction

"Urban professionals should re-engage with the artistic imagination if they wish to improve the quality of their towns and cities." That is one of the main messages of the 'Artists and Places' report that was recently published. The authors argue that whereas in the past art, culture and urban development were directly and closely related, today the urban environment is shaped by decision making by spreadsheet and design by rote. To counter this working-method, the PROJECT initiative - a two-year initiative to transform the role of artists in placemaking - was set up by CABE and Arts & Business. The 'Artists and places' report contains a reflection on the process and the outcomes of the PROJECT initiative. It explores how involving artists in regeneration projects can improve their quality.

Proposition

How can involving artists in regeneration projects improve their quality?

Description

The PROJECT initiative looked at the positive influence artists can have on the regeneration and development of places. The concept behind PROJECT was to widen the artist’s remit and involvement, not just to working with architects and architecture, but to include planning and urban design, working directly with developers and masterplanners. The organisers believe the stakes are high in this respect, because far too much development today lacks imagination.

Background information

CABE is the UK government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. 'Arts and business' is a creative network that helps business people support the arts, and helps the arts inspire business people.

Methodology

PROJECT saw artists directly involved in schemes all over the United Kingdom. The Artists & Places publication features six case studies demonstrating the contribution which artists can make.

Conclusions

There was a widely held belief amongst the participants that artists had raised the quality and value of projects in a way that would have a fundamentally positive effect on the built environment;
As a creative thinker, friendly critic or a maker of things, the artist’s input was highly valued by their professional collaborators, a number of whom reported that they were already building on their experience, and taking forward other schemes that involved artists from an early stage;
Artists commissioned to work on projects after inception made less of an impact on proposals, and were frustrated by the fact that possibilities had been narrowed by traditional approaches to design;
Often clients, developers and architects with experience of public art programmes needed time to overcome their preconceptions that a tangible artwork would emerge;
Due to their background, artists felt less inhibited and were able to open up situations by thinking the unthinkable, either because they did not know ‘the rules’ or chose to ignore them;
Internally, within the design team, artists helped to articulate the needs and ambitions of clients and communities of users to professional collaborators and developers alike. Externally, they proved adept at facilitating community workshops and played an important role in defusing conflict;
It is questionable whether all artists would be capable of acting as development consultants, or if, as one participant suggested, it is the preserve of a few specialists, who possess the ability to work in an interdisciplinary context and truly influence projects;
In the most successful projects however, a sense of mutual trust and respect developed as members of the team acknowledged each other’s unique skills, and participants talked enthusiastically about moments of freeform creativity when ‘ideas where kicked about’.

Contact info

CABE
London
Phone: +44-20 7070 6700
Fax: +44-20 7070 6777

Publication date

/04/2008

Researcher

CABE & Arts and Business

Article info
ISBN: 978-1-84633-020-9

Links

Click here to visit the CABE website Click here to visit the 'Arts and business' website

Download the report 'Artists and Places' (PDF, Eng, 3 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Specific sectors