Just how 'public' is Public Art? How much influence do you have over what lands up where you live? What do everyday people really like? The Big Art Project asks all the big questions about Public Art.
Jaume Plensa's Dream, on the site of a former colliery in St.Helens
LATEST
Dream wins Marsh award: Jaume Plensa's new landmark sculpture for the Big Art Project has won the Marsh Award for Public Sculpture 2009.
See Latest News for updates on the Big Art Project at the Isle of Mull and Cardigan sites.
Can the public be trusted to choose public art?: View video extracts from the Art Fund's Big Art debate chaired by Jon Snow with a panel of artists and other experts at the RSA, London on 20 May 2009.
A sense of possibilities: In two short videos, Big Art Project selectors Gus Casely-Hayford and Peter Jenkinson reflect on journeys of discovery and an increased sense of the potential of truly public art.
Big Art trail: young members of the project team in Burnley scripted, filmed and cut their own trails for the Channel 4 series broadcast in May 2009.
The Big Art Project is an ambitious public art commissioning initiative from Channel 4, supported by Arts Council England and The Art Fund.
Communities around the country have seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get involved in the commissioning of a work of art. And not just any work of art. A big work of art. A big, significant work of public art.
The story so far:
- The Big Art Project set out to involve the public in commissioning major works of public art – and to encourage a debate about the value and function of such art.
- Seven sites nominated by the public were selected.
- The winning site nominators worked closely with curators appointed by the Big Art Trust to consider what sort of work they wanted and to commission artists.
- In each area the project developed in a different way, and at a different pace, shaped and driven by the local community (see Latest News).
- The story of each site was documented in a major four-part series broadcast on Channel 4 in May 2009. But the Project goes on …
Antony Gormley: Angel of the North, Mark Wallinger: Ecce Homo and Robert Smithson: Spiral Jetty
What is Public Art? Find out more.
To view different examples of Public Art, visit the Big Art gallery.
Tony Cragg: Declination and Luke Jerram: Sky Orchestra
Photo credits (clockwise from top left):
Anthony Gormley Angel of the North (courtesy Gateshead Council, ©the artist and Jay Joplin/White Cube)
Mark Wallinger Ecce Homo (courtesy Anthony Reynolds Gallery, © the artist)
Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty (© Estate of Robert Smithson/licensed by VAGA New York NY. Courtesy James Cohan Gallery NY. Collection DIA Center for the Arts NY. Photo: G Gorgoni)
Luke Jerram Sky Orchestra (courtesy Luke Jerram Photo: Thierry Grobet)
Tony Cragg Declination (courtesy Lisson Gallery and the artist)
