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Project management and the Commissioning team

The project is being managed through the City Council's Economic Development and Urban Regeneration Service, in association with the project's 'commissioning team'.

An important element in the development of the artwork programme, the commissioning team was established in April 2000, although a considerable amount of advocacy and networking with relevant groups and individuals had taken place before then.

The aims of the commissioning team are:

• To develop and implement an integrated programme of artworks and environmental improvements for Mutley Plain
• To bring creative ideas and solutions to regeneration issues specific to Mutley Plain
• To achieve a model of partnership working, which will aim to strengthen existing community structures; lead to environmental enhancements on Mutley Plain and, provide a template for future project work

The design team is an informal consultative group who - drawing on the skills, knowledge and experience of the team members - have met to discuss and make recommendations about the nature, time-tabling and cost of commissions.

The commissioning team is made up of representatives of the following groups and interests:

Mutley Traders & Business Association
Mutley Community Association
Mutley Baptist Church
Plymouth Disabled Arts Forum
Mutley / Greenbank Trust - Senior Youth Development Worker
Hyde Park School
Diana Hatton, Arts Consultant
Steve Geliot, Lead Artist

supported by the following city council officers:

Jo Atkey, Area Regeneration Co-ordinator (PCC)
Ruth Hancock, Senior Landscape Architect (PCC)
Bran Howell, Environment & Consumer Protection

and now including the following commissioned artists:

Andrew Skelton - Seating & Planters
Janet Stoyel - Small Scale Sculpture
Lotta Petronella - Film Artist
Stuart Moore - Website

The Lead Artist

Responsible for the overall artistic direction of the programme of work, the role of the lead artist can be summarized as follows:

Phase I (identifying the commissions)

• leading the artistic vision
• prioritisation of sites and commissioning opportunities
• establishing commissioning team criteria for selection and commissioning
• with the arts programme project manager, drawing up briefs for commissions including an indication of fees
• proposals for involvement of local artists
• liaison with the Principal Arts Development Officer who will produce a proposal for the development, funding and management of a participatory arts programme to run alongside and beyond the public art programme, to be funded separately from the budget for this project.

Phase II (developing and implementing the commissions)

• guiding the artistic integrity and sustaining the momentum of the project
• working with the arts programme project manager, writing artists briefs
• working with the arts programme project manager, selecting and contracting artists
• possibly producing artworks
• keeping stakeholders informed and involved as appropriate
• supervision of installations and supervising maintenance procedures
• running a programme for Plymouth artists
• liaison with arts programme project manager and with the Inner City Project Manager (Jon Turner) to dovetail timetables, outputs and budgets
  

The role of the project manager

Working closely with the lead artist, the role of the project manager can be summarised as follows:

Phase I (identifying the commissions)

• linking project activities with the objectives of the Single Regeneration Budget, Lottery and Foundation for Sport and the Arts
• a timetable to indicate how commissions will be scheduled and when expenditure will be incurred
• a breakdown showing the budget for basic improvement and enhancement costs and the added overcosts for public artworks
• working with the lead artist, the production of briefs for commissions including an indication of fees
• drafting contracts and maintenance schedules
• proposals for documentation, evaluation and publicity

Phase II (developing and implementing the commissions)

• with the lead artist, writing artists briefs
  
• with the commissioning team, selecting and contracting artists
  
• identification of appropriate manufacturing and installation techniques
  
• monitoring the design, development and quality of the commissions
  
• keeping stakeholders informed and involved as appropriate
  
• documentation and publicity
  
• finalising costs
  
• liaison with lead Inner City Project Manager (Jon Turner) to dovetail timetables, outputs and budgets
  
• ensuring that each commission is delivered on time and within budget
  

Key Project Goals

• To establish a commissioning team made up of representatives from the project partners and other key local interests
  
• Appointment of a key arts professionals including a Lead Artist
  
• Appointment of up to 6 artists during the lifetime of the project
  
• A programme of events to enable up to 200 local people to take part in the development of ideas and commissions
  
• The creation of more artwork in public places
  
• An improved sense of place on Mutley Plain
  
• A range of commissions which include: seating and planters; small scale sculptures; barrier (central reservation) artwork; a website and a residency at Hyde Park school
• Attraction of more visitors to Mutley Plain and ensuring a safer and more enjoyable visit
  
• Effective partnership between PCC, the Local Community and other interest groups
  
• The establishment of a model of good partnership working
  
• Development of policies relating to equal opportunities, education & marketing and urban design
  

Summary

The Mutley Plain Regeneration Initiative is a first for Plymouth in terms of using public art as a mechanism to deliver objectives normally associated with economic regeneration. Through the establishment of a commissioning team involving a cross-section of interest in Mutley Plain; by encouraging debate about the challenges posed by the state of the physical environment within Mutley and by appointing arts professionals to give a creative lead to this discussion it is
anticipated that, with a small but effective budget, real change can take place on Mutley Plain. In addition, with the establishment of a practical and successful working model, it is expected that a project like the Mutley Plain Regeneration Initiative will directly influence other projects and ways of working within the context of regeneration both within Plymouth and beyond.

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