Community Art Project 2008 (Part2)

The Community Art Project which is part of an art scheme to enhance the wall backing onto Alan Turing Way, is well under way now. It is now entering the stage of interviewing artists, after a response from 351 artists requesting the full brief, the selections had to be narrowed down. Artists had to apply by sending images of previous projects or work, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and any statements this included a statement on how they would approach the project but not a defined proposal that supported working practices, these would be essential in providing the panel with everything they needed to make suitable choices. The first initial sifting took place at Elizabeth House, Housing Market Renewal Offices, the aim was to end up with a smaller group of artists who ticked many or all of the boxes. Each artist was looked at and any that met the criteria as laid down by the steering group were put forward for further review, this initial process covered hopeful artists.

After much deliberation the panel selected a final group of artists that they felt either best met most or all of the criteria for going forward to the next stage. 

The Criteria needed to be put forward to the interview stage.

1. demonstrable experience and ability in facilitating community engagement
2. demonstrable experience and ability in managing and reflecting multiple community and stakeholder viewpoints and agendas
3. demonstrable experience of producing high quality, imaginative, art work
4. demonstrable awareness of working with appropriate material/s for this commission
5. demonstrable awareness of manufacture with appropriate materials (and/or liaising with appropriate manufacturers)
6. ability to deliver the commission within an agreeable timescale 

The next set of meetings were perhaps the most important stage so far, these meetings held over 2 evenings was well attended and were held at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Attendees included Project co-ordinators Jason Bowman and Julie Crawshaw, Councillor Rosa Battle, Zoe Higgens from MCC Cultural Strategy, Colleen Scott and Zoe Goddard from NEM, Steve Coram from Eastlands Homes, and 7 tenants and residents including Paul Edwards, Jayne Graham, Sue Jackson, Danielle Jackson, Margaret Kenworthy, Andrzej Klar and finally Eric Horton. Even Dave Roberts from Rowlinson's Contruction popped in and our hostess from the Whitworth Art Gallery Andrea Hawkins sat through both evenings finding it very fascinating as did I.

It was very important for us to get this part right, we needed a smaller group of artists from the larger group selected earlier to go through to the final interview stage. Things got very tense and after much discussion, voting, lots of coffee we got our final selected artists. I am sorry that I can not as yet let you know who they maybe, this would be unfair and I will leave that to the project coordinators to inform them and keep you in the dark.
 

All I can say is I think we have got it right, and the artists who have been chosen for the interview stage all have very different qualities and styles, and I believe any one of them could be capable to go forward to work on the wall.

Our next task will be to decide what we are going to ask them at the interview, something that sounds very easy, and yet what do you ask an artist. I have found this project very exciting, fascinating, stimulating, thought provoking and I am very glad that I became involved. It has opened my eyes and now all of a sudden art is not so boring, what I found interesting was how artists found creative ways to use ordinary everyday materials, worked with communities, and how some of their work was so imaginative it just blew me away.

I will report back after the interview stage and update everyone, find below a few more photos from the meetings.

A few of the photos used in this article were provided courtesy of Zoe Goddard (NEM).

Related articles: Community Art Project (Part1)