03 August 2006
Jersey could have more public art sponsored as part of new development if proposals to encourage a Percentage for Art scheme are accepted.
Percentage for Art means that developers of significant development projects would be encouraged to allocate a percentage of the capital costs of new building schemes for public art. It is the subject of draft planning guidance issued today for consultation as a discussion paper.
This initiative of the Planning and Environment Minister Freddie Cohen has been developed in collaboration with the Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Carolyn Labey.
A Percentage for Art policy was included in the 2002 Island Plan, and was supported in the Culture Strategy approved by the States last October. The Planning and Environment Minister has now issued draft Supplementary Planning Guidance, which sets out how the policy can be applied to major development projects.
“Public art has an important role in expressing Jersey’s identity, celebrating its cultural traditions, and improving the quality of the Island’s built environment,” said Senator Cohen. ”The recent temporary and permanent artworks in Charing Cross and York Street are good examples of this and have proved to be a great success. The regeneration of the town and the development of the St Helier Waterfront present great opportunities for public art and this guidance is important in making this happen.”
Percentage for Art policies have been operating in the UK for some years and have succeeded in delivering a range of permanent and temporary artworks, educational and community projects, and artist-in-residence schemes throughout the country. In the Island, the award-winning Jersey Archive incorporated the work of a number of artists in its design. Sculptures such as ‘Monument to Freedom’ in Liberation Square, ‘Cows’ in Wests’ Centre, and ‘Les Jongleurs’ at Snow Hill, have become focal points in the town and created vibrancy, demonstrating the value of public art.
In large development projects, such as the Waterfront, Percentage for Art contributions could be combined to gain the maximum benefit.
In Percentage for Art, artists are sometimes brought in at a very early stage as an integral member of the design team. World famous architects such as Richard Rogers, Richard McCormack and Norman Foster have both worked with artists in this way.
Deputy Carolyn Labey, Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture with specific responsibility for culture, welcomes the initiative: “Public art has the potential to express Jersey’s culture and to enhance our unique identity, not just through conventional artworks, but through educational and community projects in schools and colleges. It will also increase opportunities for local professional artists and craftspeople”
Not all development will involve public art and the draft planning guidance sets out the circumstances when Percentage for Art would be encouraged; describes what types of art it would include and how artists can be engaged in development projects. It is only where developments are of a significant scale that a contribution towards public art will be encouraged.
The draft guidance is being published as a
discussion paper for consultation and is available from Planning and Building Services (South Hill), Education, Sport and Culture (Highlands Campus) and on www.gov.je. Comments are invited from anyone with an interest and should be sent to Kevin Pilley at Planning and Building Services, South Hill, St Helier or k.pilley@gov.je.
Contacts
Senator Freddie Cohen 07797 714550
Minister for Planning and Environment
Deputy Carolyn Labey 852488
Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture 07797 713140
gov.je