 |
 Back to case studies |
 Placemakers, Middlehaven
Working up a public art strategy at Will Alsop’s Middlehaven Project
Plan worked closely with ‘Placemakers’ to develop a full public art strategy at Middlehaven, the docklands area of Middlesbrough.
‘Placemakers’ is a team that was put together by developers Quintain, BioRegional, IDC and KUD and includes some of Britain’s leading architects, engineers and technicians. Its task was to conceive the most exciting and innovative approach to developing a masterplan for Middlehaven commissioned from Will Alsop.
In working with Placemakers, Plan has striven to invent a different approach to commissioning ‘public art’ by putting together creative teams to produce solutions that draw on the talents of people working across a range of disciplines. The ‘artists’ our strategy envisages working with are therefore people who do not necessarily fall into the categories such as ‘sculptor’ or ‘muralist,’ but may be graphic artists, or multi-disciplinary practices that can produce dynamic and novel responses to briefs for lighting, seating and other assumed components of the public domain.’
In addition, we plan to work with communities in the Tees Valley to initiate an on-going programme of art projects: an artist in residence programme which will bring the drama and delight of temporary installations; artists working collaboratively with local residents and kids to populate the area with works that reflect their experiences, desires and values; performances and short life span happenings using audio and digital media to contribute to the ever evolving life of this new creative quarter.
In this way our strategy at Middlehaven will deliver the key benefits of public art commissioning: enabling the scheme to mesh with the wider community at Middlesbrough, generate a heightened sense of ‘place,’ and contribute to the sense of magic and wonder to which the entire scheme aspires.
|
 |
|
