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ixia was established to promote and influence the development and implementation of public art policies, strategies and projects through creating and distributing knowledge to: arts and non-arts policy makers, public and private sector commissioners, curators, artists and the public.
News

ixia Webinar

Helping Public Art Happen Well: Findings from place-based commissioning
Tuesday 19th November 2.00 - 3.30pm – free
ixia, with funding from Arts Council England, has been supporting three councils developing public art commissioning projects planned as part of Levelling Up or Town's Fund programmes. This webinar will share recommendations arising from work with Barnsley, Darlington and St Helens councils, focused on what works best in relation to early planning and governance approaches for public art commissions. We will hear from Susie Gray, ixia's Pilot Programme Manager, pilot advisors and and participating councils. They will reflect on current challenges and learnings that will help enable successful public art commissions that improve places to be realised. There will be time for discussion.
To sign up to receive the webinar link, RSVP to ixiaprojects@gmail.com by 5pm Friday November 15th.
Further info: in 2024, advisors Hazel Colquhoun, Fran Smith (Beam), and Emma Underhill (Founder & Associate Director, Up Projects) have been critical friends to Barnsley, Darlington and St Helens councils, helping to boost their knowledge and understanding of current contemporary public art practice and processes. Case study recommendations and public art precedents will be available here following the webinar. See also Public Art Support Pilot (2024)



ixia response to NPPF reforms
In September 2024 ixia submitted a response to the UK government's consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. 
ixia's response was prepared by Odette Chalaby (a specialist planning, environmental and public law barrister at No 5 Chambers and an Associate board member of ixia) with the support of ixia's board.
Our submission and recommendations were supported by Arts Council England and CVAN.  



ixia gives Public Art and Placemaking keynote for CLOA online event November 2023

In November 2023, ixia's Public Art Pilot Programme Manager Susie Gray shared findings from ixia's recent survey repport that underlines major issues and development potential within the public art sector and highlighted ixia's pilot programme of public art guidance for place improvement programmes in the North of England. This was preceded by Colin Ledwith, Head of Consultancy, Contemporary Arts Society talking about What is public art? What is its value? How do we create a public art framework and approach?
The session continued with case study presentations from five councils around the UK that highlighted a variety of aspects and approaches including embedding public art over the long term and funding public art. Presenters offered a candid summary of the challenges and how these were addressed, as well as insights into the impact of the work and how it contributed to placemaking in the local area. You can find out more and watch a recording of the webinar here (1hour 38 mins) as well as find PDFs of the keynote presentations.
https://cloa.org.uk/2023/11/09/public-art-and-placemaking/
CLOA is the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, the lead body that advises on, advocates and champions culture and leisure on behalf of public sector cultural, tourism and sport services sector professionals, locally, regionally and nationally.







The current board of directors are: Katy Beinart, Tom Freshwater, Suzanne Heath, Cathy Newbery and board associates and advisory members Katie Daley-Yates, and Odette Chalaby.

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