COMMENTS ON P.37/2014 (Amendment No.9)
The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture notes that amendment 9 (e) would reduce support available to enhance our surroundings through public art and consequently reduce opportunities for artists. It is at odds with commitments to strengthen the percentage for art policy and support local artists made in the States Cultural Strategy.
Since the introduction of the policy, a number of important works have been commissioned from local artists. These include major pieces at Carlton Apartments - Havre des Pas, the Jersey Dairy and three works in the Town Park, in addition to a variety of smaller commissions across the Island.
None of these pieces – all of which celebrate aspects of local culture and history – is likely to have been commissioned without the stimulus of the policy. Other projects involving artists from outside the Island have resulted in high-quality work which contributes to a sense of place. Meanwhile, local practitioners have benefited in a number of cases from mentoring opportunities and, in others, visiting artists have given talks to the general public. Another initiative has seen funding devoted to developing artists’ studios to support for Island artists.
The purpose of percentage for art is to enhance the public realm through the provision of art: it is about raising the quality of the environment for all citizens. Creative educational/ environmental and community projects led by artists are among the wide range of possibilities identified under the published supplementary planning guidance.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with securing other community or environmental benefits through the Planning process: indeed, this can already be achieved through planning obligations (Island Plan – Policy GD 4). But to confuse these objectives with percentage for art produces an arts policy which can deliver outcomes entirely unconnected with the arts: this is not logical and consequently undermines what is a voluntary policy.
Moreover, it is at odds with the States Cultural Strategy[1] which expressly advocates “[strengthening] the existing Percent for Art policy for all future developments both public and private” (objective 4.2). The strategy also seeks “to commission local artists and craft-workers…to enhance public developments and encourage the private sector to do likewise” (3.6).
Although the Deputy acknowledges that “the percentage for art policy has made an important contribution to the public realm”, he argues that it should be amended because “in recent years the choice of works of art and their relevance to the development has been increasingly questioned”.
It is true that the choice of works of art has a tendency to arouse different opinions but this is not a good reason to weaken the policy; rather, it is a reason to ensure that the desired public outcomes are secured with reference to a clear policy framework.
To that end the DfESC, working with arts organisations in the community – the Jersey Arts Centre, Jersey Arts Trust, Jersey Public Sculpture Trust and Jersey Heritage – has set out strategic policy[2] to assist and has offered practical support to help secure these outcomes.
For these reasons the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture opposes amendment 9 (e).
Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
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