A13 Artscape Project

Your questions answered

How were the artists identified?

Why commissions were not awarded to local artists

Although the agenda of Artscape was very much about introducing arts into 'the public life around us', A13 Artscape deliberately chose not to pursue a commissioning policy of artistic merit over functional design and purpose of use.

For example, many of the commissions were awarded to architects and designers as opposed to 'artists' in the strictest sense of the professional terminology.

Indeed the key issue was in employing 'creative' individuals that shared a vision for introducing distinct elements along the A13 that would have some local use, resonance or application.

Due to the funding conditions the artists / designers had to be approved by the Arts Council of England, who set strict conditions regarding previous experience and portfolio of work.

The artists were employed through the following routes:

The commissions were advertised in the arts press widely read by artists and designers working in this field and available for commissions
The public art consultant put forward a list of artists and designers
Commissions were put out to international design competitions, advertised in international trade and building journals

These processes did not exclude 'local' artists applying, but because the funding came from a national organisation, precedence could not be afforded to anyone because of residence locally.

That said, 3 local arts organisation, Studio 3 Arts, Arc Theatre and East London Dance were awarded funds from the Artscape budget to undertake a programme of community arts that supported and complemented the road scheme.

These awards were made on the basis that the local arts organisations and artists were best placed to undertake participatory arts activity on a long term basis.

Tom de Paor was awarded the role as lead 'artist', following an international application and short-listing process.

He won the commission due to his evident interest in the borough, its history and that of the architecture of the areas surrounding the A13.

His overwhelming desire was to introduce continuity and coherence to the interface between the industrial aspects of the borough to the south and the residential aspects to the north.

Scrattons Farm artwork

Scrattons Farm|

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|