The shortlist
The Big Art Project team travelled the country, talking to nominators and other local people about what they wanted for their area and community. Here's the eventual shortlist from the over 1,400 nominations received.
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The Big Art Project team travelled the country, talking to nominators and other local people about what they wanted for their area and community. Here's the eventual shortlist from the over 1,400 nominations received.
'The thing about art related projects is that it's the basis for conversation. Even though the conversation may be difficult at times, it has to happen.'
Chris May, Director, Creative Partnerships East Lancashire
Who A group of 15 young people from across Burnley, working with Creative Partnerships East Lancashire and Burnley Borough Council. This project is an opportunity for local people to take control and to tell of their own experiences of living in a town too often remembered for old newsreels of racial disturbances.
'The trick is to make it high-profile, adventurous, exciting, but keep it connected to the community and make sure the community own it and can shape it themselves.' –
Chris May, Director, Creative Partnerships East Lancashire
Where The main commission, involving UK art collective Greyworld and wholly led by young people, will use the entire town as a kind of living canvas for a series of paintings that appear and disappear. Meanwhile, a programme led by local and regional artists will seek to engage and inspire communities across the borough.
Why The project is about much more that the final artwork – it is about sharing ideas, strengthening communities and building confidence. It also about raising aspirations and challenging negative perceptions both locally and nationally.
Talking point Can art help people reclaim pride in their area?
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'The river was, until about 100 years ago, one of the main arteries of Wales. My job is to turn the river back into something worthwhile for the town's economy.'
Jim Evans
Who Jim Evans
Jim, who is managing the town's soon-to-be-completed regeneration project, leads a group of local Cardigan enthusiasts keen to promote eco-tourism in this beautiful spot.
Where Prince Charles Quay
Once a bustling centre, the derelict old port area is getting a make-over and the community is right behind its regeneration.
‘The whole Estuary is designated an area of scientific importance because it is so special in terms of wildlife, and my prime objective is to return it to some kind of economic activity without despoiling what it is, it’s quite a tightrope to walk, but that’s effectively my job, to walk this tightrope for two years and develop new opportunities on the banks of the river, so that visitors and locals alike can enjoy it again.’ – Jim Evans
'When people come here and see the estuary they go "Wow!". We have wildlife here that Bill Oddie would die for – otters, kingfishers, salmon, dolphins, porpoises –and we see an opportunity here to have a lot more than that.'
Jim Evans
Why Proud to have neither fast-food outlets nor traffic jams, Cardigan needs a substantial open public space with a piece of art at its centre. Its passionate locals hope that the new Prince Charles Quay and the Big Art Project can sort that one out.
Talking point Can art kick-start tourism?
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'In Northern Ireland there's a long history of paramilitary murals, and I'd much prefer to see cultural or historical murals celebrating the area.'
Andrew Moorhead
Who Andrew Moorhead
Andy, a youth community worker, wants art to replace community violence in this run-down area of Belfast where George Best grew up.
'I grew up here and was one of those kids deemed unworkable at one stage. So I like the idea of putting something back in.' - Andrew Moorhead
Where Woodstock Road
Although paramilitary murals have been replaced with sporting images of Best and Blanchflower, this graffiti-strewn interface site between Nationalist and Loyalist communities bears witness to years of violence and neglect.
'This is seen as a contentious area where people gather for conflict in times of community tensions. I want residents to have pride in this area again and work on a project together, young and old.'
Andrew Moorhead
Why With regeneration already taking off in the area, a piece of art would provide a focal point for local pride and signal the healing of sectarian wounds.
Talking point Can art build bridges?
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'Art's not there to look pretty. I want something with meaning to it.'
Jennifer Choudhury
Who Jennifer Choudhury
Jennifer, a student living at home, has been mugged at knifepoint - and regularly feels intimidated coming home in the evening. She wants art to send a strong message about street crime.
Where Edmonton Shopping Centre
This is one of the toughest and most deprived areas in the country. But now it's also hosting one of London's biggest-ever redevelopment schemes.
'I want an art sculpture in the heart of Edmonton that will send out a message to young people and make them think about violence in the area.'
Jennifer Choudhury
Why There’s over 100 languages spoken here but not enough civic bonding. Tragedies like the murder of Jennifer’s friend last year push people even further apart. Maybe art can get local people to stand up for their community and take some pride?
'I want to stop gun crime by making an art sculpture in the heart of Edmonton that will send out a message to young people and make them think.' - Jennifer Choudhury
Talking point Can art solve social problems? Should it follow a political agenda or come with no strings attached?
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'Art lets you be brave, do things differently, do things that are strange, do things that are not conventional and do conventional things in a different way.
Robert Merrett
Who Robert Merrett and Ralph Merrett
Father and son Ralph (retired) and Robert (web designer) are Egremont enthusiasts, proud of their townsfolk's creative and entrepreneurial spirit.
Where Egremont
An idiosyncratic coastal market town with over 1,000 years of history, it's within spitting distance of the mountains of the Lake District. Isolation has helped it hang on to its own traditions.
'There's a lot of passion here, a lot of pride. It isn't an easy place to live but people live here for a reason.'
Ralph Merrett
Why With the decommissioning of nearby nuclear reprocessing plant Sellafield in the balance, Egremont hopes that the Big Art Project will help replace nuclear with creative industries and entice the town's youngsters to stay.
Talking point Can art be participatory and sustainable?
'We don't just want a piece of art deposited on our doorstep. The people of Egremont want to be passionately involved in what we produce and how we produce it. We want sustainability out of it.'
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'It would be good if an artist would work with the community and stay working with us, not just come and then go away.'
Mary McPherson
Who Mary McPherson
Mary, a grandmother who has set up a local parent-child club, is now on a one-woman mission to clean up the square at the end of her road.
Where Bain Square, Calton
A notorious red-light area, littered with needles and smashed bottles, this East End square is a no-go area for local residents at any time of day.
'Its about bringing the community together. It's something everyone can work with, from young to old.'
Mary McPherson
Why The community used to be thriving, and its residents, old and new, are determined to restore it to its former glory - with the help of the Big Art Project.
Talking point Can art spearhead regeneration and turn around social deprivation?
'Why not art? There's nothing else happening for us here. So give art a chance.' - Mary McPherson
Have your say >>
'The place is really stunning and the views are amazing. If a piece of art was there as well, I just think all those feelings combined would be brilliant.'
Gail Hensler
Who Gail Hensler
Gail is a bright young surf babe and marketing manager who wants to drag her isle into the 21st century.
Where Culver Parade, Sandown Bay
It's a green spot at the cliff edge with stunning views over the ocean. Although fantastic sandy beaches lure extreme sports enthusiasts, this is essentially bucket-and-spade seaside struggling to attract jobs and investment.
'The island community are behind public art. People are really enthusiastic. It would be brilliant for the community to put all their passion into art.'
Gail Hensler
Why Gail speaks for the younger generation who want their island to kick off its old-fashioned charm and rebrand itself.
Talking point Can art create a new brand for an isle forgotten in time?
'Art would open locals' eyes to the area and bring fresh people to the island - younger people interested in culture.' - Gail Hensler
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'It's going to be something that really will be fabulous and could really touch people.'
Lee Hendrick
Who Lee Hendrick
Visual arts officer Lee wants art to unite her geographically dispersed island community.
Where There are three possible sites:
'A single site could act as a magnet; somewhere everyone's drawn to. But if the public art is a performance, it could be something that went to different sites and was more a travelling experience.' - Lee Hendrick
'There was a time when Mull and Iona were at the centre of things because there were no roadways and everyone travelled by boat. I think there's a way that we could become the centre again.'
Lee Hendrick
Why These can-do island people are scattered around their beautiful but undiscovered landscape. One thing unites them: the wish to pull together around their 'island-ness'.
Talking point Can art unite a community? Art asks difficult questions. Does it solve problems or create them?
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'Putting art up there will say that Newham's a tight community 'cos it's caring for everyone and allowing them to share the art.'
Stacy Blanc
Who Jonathan Swan and Stacy Blanc
Jonathan, a determined city banker, and Stacy, an independent-minded teenage single mum and student, think that art more than the Olympics will bring lasting benefit to Newham.
Where Beckton Alps
The highest point in Newham and with astonishing views over London, this slag heap and former dry ski slope mainly hosts the occasional bonfire for underage kids to drink by.
'The site can be seen from a wider area, and for me it's just crying out for something big and spectacular.'
Jonathan Swan
Why Culturally diverse, Newham's segregated communities could unite around a big piece of statement art perched against the skyline on this panoramic site.
Talking point Does art have to be good for you or your community? What does that requirement do to the art?
'When I was a child this commanding height was the blackened slag heap of what was once the biggest gasworks in the world.' - Billy Bragg, singer
Have your say >>
'What I would like to see is young people coming together and enjoying each other's company, and not even thinking about what religion they are.'
Katrina Newell
Who Katrina Newell
Youth arts co-ordinator Katrina has a dream that young people from different religious backgrounds reclaim this beautiful park.
Where Waterworks Park
Although the only green space in this deprived area, some parents think it's no longer safe for children to play here unsupervised. An interface between Protestant and Catholic communities, it can be threatening.
'Although it is a divided park, it is also a neutral space where communities can come together and create something together.'
Katrina Newell
Why
With over a quarter of deaths during the Troubles occurring here, art could bring together people from across the religious divide.
'North Belfast has seen the worst effects of sectarian attacks and violence. You can either sit back and let that happen or you can try to take a step towards getting children to work together.' - Katrina Newell
Talking point Can art bridge contested spaces?
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'The support for this is enormous. Everyone wants it to happen so much. I even considered praying last night for the first time!'
Tom Keeley
Who Tom Keeley and Tom James
These boys are funny, cheeky and cool. And they love Sheffield. There's massive support for this site, and this committed duo are powering it.
Where Disused cooling towers, Meadowhall
Graceful, enormous and unused, the twin concrete towers are a controversially beautiful legacy of Sheffield's 'Full Monty' past.
'They're next to the M1 so they've got the biggest audience in the world. They're a gateway to the north. They're chuffing massive.' - Tom Keeley
'Creeping slowly past the cooling towers …Deserted factories … looking for an adventure'
My Legendary Girlfriend, Pulp
Why
The towers could re-imagine Sheffield on a huge scale. Industrial past; green future.
Talking point Locally dubbed 'Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men', these are Sheffield's icons. Can art commemorate and regenerate – intelligently?
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'This site, it's a huge blank canvas and it's waiting. It's waiting for something to come along and grab the imagination of the people of St Helens.'
Gary Conley
Who Gary Conley
Gary is an ex-miner totally in love with the idea of art bearing witness to his once vibrant colliery community.
Where Former Sutton Manor Colliery, Sutton Manor
The site is a vast open area at the apex of the pit head, where the former spoil heap rises high above the Lancashire plain.
'We really want that piece of artwork! I feel so strongly about it and I know all my ex-colleagues do. They would absolutely love a piece of artwork to signify the heritage that we have in St Helens.'
Gary Conley
Why
With 400 years of mining in their blood, this fragmented community passionately wants a huge commemorative piece of art to tower over their landscape as a gateway to Merseyside. It's about heritage. It's about the future.
'People who used to work at the colliery have asked as their last request for their ashes to be scattered on this site. How more tender, how more close-knit can you get than that? People are totally behind this project!' - Gary Conley
Talking point Can art look both ways: past and future? Is this about nostalgia or a new identity?
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Have your say about public art or ask the producers any questions you may have about the project
