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In Stevenage, GHP is taking a sustainable approach to small public space which celebrates Stevenage’s heritage of cycle ways, incorporating recycled materials and renewable energy to create a high profile ‘shop window’ to inform future capital development throughout Stevenage.
GHP has been in discussion with the University of Herts for some time about possible opportunities to work in partnership with their staff and/or students. An opportunity arose which has enabled students to benefit from the GHP experience, and for GHP to equally benefit from their involvement.
Fifty-five Year One Design students worked up models based on the GHP Stevenage sunken roundabout/pocket park case study. From the local authority and artist’s brief, they worked in teams to investigate how sustainability is incorporated through design and use. They created models and presentations that demonstrated a vision for the space and its usage. These were then presented to a professional level, and received comments from the Project Manager of Green Heart Partnership.
A dialogue is now taking place between the University and the Green Heart Team at Stevenage working on the project, enabling the team to benefit from the students’ perspective as a specific demographic of user.
Course Instructor: Simeon Nelson
3-D Design Year One Students
University of Hertfordshire
School of Art and Design
May 2006
Exposure Bursary Piloted in Watford
In April 2006 a new opportunity was launched by GHP which enabled local artists to shadow the lead artists and Project Teams on each project, through a new bursary scheme. This opportunity is different from other professional development schemes, as the artist shadows the total process and experience of working with local government teams on these new models of working, as well as learning from the lead artist about how their role forms as a part of the team. Lead artists on Green Heart Projects have been able to develop a dynamic relationship with a team with a broad range of expertise; an experience which is informing the development of their own practice, and will benefit the shadow artists in a similar way.
This bursary scheme is currently being piloted by Charlotte Bernstein in Watford, on the Bushey Arches project. Charlotte is an artist based in Watford, who has a socially-engaged practice and was particularly interested in the opportunity to work alongside a team of officers with a range of specialisms. As part of Charlotte’s brief, she will be feeding back on her experience to the local arts community, as well as contributing to the next e-newsletter, where we will be profiling her and her experience.
Jenny Capon, Arts Development Officer at Watford Borough Council said ‘The Exposure Bursary gives artists from Watford a valuable insight into working with their local Council Officers on high profile public projects. It's an exciting opportunity that paves the way for artists to make a real contribution to their home town in the future.’
The Exposure Bursary brief is available at www.greenheartpartnership.org/news
Please contact Nicola Paddick, GHP Project Co-ordinator, nicola@gunpowderpark.org , 01992 762 128 if you are interested in this opportunity.
More information about how Charlotte is finding the shadowing opportunity in Watford will be available in the next e-newsletter.
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