Ind-E-Focus

The Art Council England and channel 4 have partnered up to create “The Big Art Project” an initiative that encourages different communities around the country to develop and commission new public art pieces.

The response was overwhelming. Almost 1400 applications were received from communities across the UK. After some extremely difficult decision-making, seven sites were chosen:

• Beckton
• Belfast
• Burnley
• Cardigan
• Isle of Mull
• Sheffield
• St.Helens

Each site is very different from the next. The ambitions of the communities are also different, making every project unique. Each community has been asked to find funding, choose an artist, get involved with the process and help realise the dream. Progress was filmed for a major Channel 4 series which was broadcast at the end of November 2008.

But it’s much more than a television series, through websites, community engagement programmes and other activities it will encourage greater public participation, debate and engagement with art in general. We hope it will inspire people to become involved in creating more art in public places across the country. And, it will leave an enduring legacy of new works of contemporary art by internationally renowned artists across the UK, as well as lay the foundations for further public commissions in the future. Get involved Lots more information about the project can be found at: http://www.channel4.com/bigart/(Arts Council source info can be found here.)