ixia is pleased to have delivered a successful Arts Council England funded pilot programme that provided public art expertise for projects that formed part of place-based development programmes in the North of England. With freelance public art advisors, ixia supported best practice in public art commissioning and production. Places that received advice demonstrated learning that is being shared more widely across the sector. Projects captured a variety of commissioning approaches, considering scale, timeline, stage of project, equality, diversity and diversity, and social engagement. Aspects of the learning are now shared as guidance with case studies, and webinar recordings.
Developed with and funded by Arts Council England, this work supported Barnsley, Darlington and St Helens councils with public art projects that formed part of Levelling Up or Town's Fund programmes. Advisors Beam, Hazel Colquhoun and Emma Underhill (Founder & Artistic Director, UP Projects) acted as critical friends during 2024, to boost the councils' knowledge and understanding of current contemporary public art practice and processes. This included consideration of artist recruitment, project governance and community engagement.
A project webinar recording is available here and the new free commissioning resources are available here.