A13 Artscape Project

About the project

At the time the project was originated, in 1997, the Highways Agency, now Transport for London, was planning their own A13 Improvement scheme.

They fully embraced Artscape, combining the artists' proposals with their own objectives.

Therefore, the project has been realised across the span of the A13 through Barking and Dagenham - from the Movers Lane underpass at its western edge, to Goresbrook Interchange to the east and is the practical application of a concept commissioned from Tom de Paor - recently awarded Young Architect of the Year by Building Design and Arts Council of England - who conceived a scheme that 'orchestrates' the journeys, experience and coherence of the environment - 'Arterial'.

With the support and input of public arts agency Working pArts, Tom positioned 'Arterial' within the wider framework of the ambitions for the area, resulting in A13 Artscape - subsequently awarded the largest ever public art lottery grant, at £3.895 million, from the Arts Council of England.

With additional support from Transport for London, regeneration budgets and private investment, the project has generated an investment of some £11 million in this industrial, urban environment.

The scheme has maintained a focus on local improvements and resonance, aspiring to a long term policy for arts and design in the public realm.

As a result, A13 Artscape is realised on and off the road - at junctions, roundabouts, subways and community areas affected by the road; including parks and local estates, which has created opportunities for other artists to collaborate with Tom and each other.

The result has been a wide range of commissions, in a range of disciplines, from landscaping and sculpture, through to light works, street furniture and new commissions in drama and dance.

Community involvement

An extensive community programme led by East London Dance, Arc Theatre and Studio 3 Arts involved the creation of works ranging from dance through to seating and small-scale public arts in community locations.

Many led to public performances, such as 'Roadworks: A Diversion on the A13'; 4 dance performances by 160 members of the local community on an unopened stretch of the A13 in September 1999 which 'The Independent' listed as one of the dance events of the year.

A13 Artscape has involved extensive public consultation and community involvement, with views drawn via exhibition, open days, design workshops, residencies, site visits, house-to-house calls, mailing and public events.

The results draw a range of views, many positive, some negative, but they certainly do not go unnoticed. The project has encouraged us to actively ensure that high quality arts and design are included in our public spaces, routes and housing developments.

We have in fact been directed not to 'complete' Artscape, but simply to move it onto other areas. This is reflected in the regeneration of Barking Town Centre, for which we are currently seeking expressions of interest from artists for a range of commissions in and around the centre for the Barking Town Centre Artscape.

Charlton subway

Charlton Subway interior|

Farr Avenue artwork

Lighting at Farr Avenue|

Contact

Arts Programme and Cultural Development

4th Floor

Maritime House

1 Linton Road

Barking

IG11 8HG

Tel: 020 8227 2482

Fax: 020 8227 3254

Email: artsadmin@lbbd.gov.uk|