Prologue

“I am responsible for community projects within the Fife Housing Association Alliance and last year I drafted a Public Art Strategy to encourage the development of more community art projects within The Alliance capital programme. Andrew Neil, Fife Council Arts Policy Coordinator, provided invaluable input and after a lot of drafts an application was submitted to Scottish Arts Council.

“I am pleased to say that in October 2007 SAC awarded us a grant to go towards the commissioning process of The Alliance Public Art Strategy. Kingdom Housing Association employed me for my business development and marketing experience rather than my artistic talent, so the funding will contribute towards the fees of PACE, who will help me with the development of the project. I did not inherit the artist ability in our family. My father is an architect and my sister is an interior designer married to an architect. I inherited the good looks!!

“The project will commence shortly and I have also asked a few interested individuals to be part of an informal advisory group. An outline of the Alliance Strategy and the process to be followed are below and there will be further updates as the project progresses.”

-Andrew McDaniel Community Initiatives Officer Fife Housing Association Alliance

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Public Art Strategy

‘Public Art is intrinsic to community regeneration and is an expression of the spirit and identity of the Kingdom of Fife.’

- Alan McGuckin, Chief Executive, Kingdom Housing Association

Kingdom Housing Association is a registered social landlord in Fife and the lead developer
within Fife Housing Association Alliance (The Alliance), which is responsible for managing
existing homes and delivering a substantial programme of new housing, to help Fife
Council in the delivery of the Local Housing Strategy.

The Alliance is also delivering regeneration and community initiatives, in partnership with Fife Council, voluntary organisations and local community groups. The types of projects include: construction training opportunities; development of community parks and environmental improvement schemes; health awareness events; support for local social enterprises.

Kingdom Housing Association will be taking the lead in the project on behalf of The Fife
Housing Association Alliance, which believes strongly that public art makes an important
contribution to the lives of those who live and work in Fife. Public art helps with
regeneration initiatives and, most importantly, involves local people in the design and
enhancement of their area, so their involvement is crucial to artwork being relevant, valued
and respected.

Previously, opportunities have arisen for one-off projects/commissions. These have been integrated into the environment with varying degrees of success, but have given the Alliance experience of the various aspects of the public art process. Developers have also proved willing to fund public art elements as part of their involvement on a site.

The potential cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits of public art include:

• enhancement of the built environment and contribution to urban design – eg the Links Street Gable Sculpture in the community garden celebrates famous events and people from Kirkcaldy;
• providing employment opportunities for artists and creative industries;
• helping to develop a locally distinctive sense of place;
• potential of increased ownership of public spaces by communities through involvement in design and evolution of artworks – eg the Ballingry Community Park artwork which celebrates the coal mining heritage as well as being part of the play equipment;

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The Process

The project is for the development of a commission plan for a three year programme of public art, carried out by the public art consultancy PACE, with community involvement. The plan will identify up to eight projects involving professional artists working with community groups. Whilst emphasis will be placed on process, it is intended that the project will result in artworks integrated into The Alliance capital programme. PACE will work with various communities throughout Fife such as Lochgelly, Ballingry, Leven, Methil, Buckhaven and Kirkcaldy on sites owned by Fife Housing Association Alliance members or Fife Council.

PACE will develop the commissioning plan and manage the process with support from the Community Initiatives Officer. PACE is a small dynamic public art consultancy, which provides a professional arts project management service tailored to the needs of the client. PACE has a successful track record in co-ordinating public art commissions from the large-scale to the intimate, including arts projects within capital schemes in schools and hospitals to streetscapes and public squares, e.g. a £650,000 project for the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and a £475,000 project for the Community School of Auchterarder.

PACE will work with Fife Council and developers to develop projects of mutual benefit to communities and will encourage innovative approaches to design and construction. Artists will become involved at the planning stage, and mechanisms will be established for encouraging developers to incorporate public art elements within their schemes

In addition to these priority areas of activity, the needs of a number of priority user groups will be considered, including:- arts facilities for children and young people, for people with disabilities and for minority ethnic communities.

It is intended that two artists will be engaged to work with PACE in running consultation workshops with different community groups to develop the briefs for each of the 8 projects. Once the commission plan is complete and funding has been secured to implement the plan, further artists will be sourced to run each of the eight projects. It will be my job to secure the funding for each of these projects.

The whole project is education and outreach, encouraging local communities to become involved in the community consultation and putting their ideas forward during the design process. Workshops will be organised and the research into the background of any planned artwork will encourage learning. During the implementation of each of the 8 projects, further educational opportunities will be developed. Local people will be encouraged to visit the completed artwork and report any vandalism.

For more information contact:

Andrew McDaniel
Community Initiatives Officer
Fife Housing Association Alliance

Tel: 01592 630131
Email: a.mcdaniel@kingdomhousing.org.uk

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