June 2009 Council and Plymouth City Council’S Emerging Cul- Tural Arts Strategy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 1 updated: June 2009 Council and Plymouth City Council’s emerging Cul- tural Arts Strategy. The Strategy was written in 2008 and unani- mously endorsed by Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership July 2008. In a sense, Devonport is leading the way within The Devonport Arts Strategy and Action Plan ex- the City of Plymouth, as at 2008 the City Council plains to stakeholders and interested parties the does not yet have an Arts Strategy. process by which we will achieve the Vision and Objectives agreed by the Commissioning Advisory Group. The Arts Strategy has been drawn up with the guidance and support of the Devonport Commu- nity Arts Commissioning Group, consisting of the DRCP, Plymouth City Council, local residents, Pub- lic Art South West, Redrow Homes, the Primary DRCP Devonport Regeneration Community Care Trust, Firmac Developments and Registered Partnership Social Landlords. PCC Plymouth City Council PASW Public Arts South West The Arts Officer of Plymouth City Council and DAS Devonport Arts Strategy Maggie Bolt, Public Art South West, offered guid- DHT Devonport Heritage Trail ance to ensure that the Devonport Arts Strategy HMNB Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport complements the work of the Regional Arts Also known as Devonport Dockyard Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 2 updated: June 2009 gional, central government and European Union grants. In 1999 Devonport received £48M round two funding from Central Government’s “New Deal for Communities” regeneration programme targeted at Britain’s most deprived neighbourhoods. DRCP in cooperation with PCC is responsible for the NDC programme and disbursement of monies. Devonport is a historically important Naval port in DRCP’s ten-year NDC programme ends in 2010. South West England. Formerly called Plymouth Dock, it was one of the “three towns” (Plymouth, Core funding for the DAS Action Plan and com- Stonehouse, Devonport) that were merged in missioned works for the DHT (to be commis- 1914 to form what would become the City of sioned in 2009) is provided by DRCP and man- Plymouth in 1928. aged by DRCP and PCC. Although Devonport was a historically prominent Exceptional activities within the DAS, e.g. De- and wealthy settlement, its post World War II vonport Dinners, a Madalene and Louisa Pasley prosperity declined, exacerbated when the Minis- event to celebrate the Darwin Bicentenary and try of Defense requisitioned a significant section the proposed Royal de Luxe spectacle in 2010 of Devonport’s central district for a Naval Store. will be achieved financially through fundraising from a variety of private, private and local, re- Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 3 updated: June 2009 After more than fifty years of enclosure, the We will create common community goals and make walled Naval Store area was returned to the the community an integral part of the vision. community in 2007, and the wall removed. An ambitious but achievable vision for Devonport requires courage and trust. We will ensure the strategy and its promoters earn the trust of De- vonport’s community and the people who create and support other areas of achievement in De- vonport, Plymouth and the region. We will create a thriving, vibrant Devonport that makes people want to be a part of what we are creating. We will demonstrate what is spectacular in De- vonport, and enhance its distinct character through commissioning bold, innovative and excit- ing permanent and temporary works that span the art forms. The key objectives provide the framework for set- ting priorities. We seek to enhance the outstanding We will use the Arts Strategy to “make places” but physical environment and history of Devonport for more importantly to “make memories”, raise com- local communities, new residents and visitors. munity aspirations, and demonstrate that the tools for change already exist in Devonport. Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 4 updated: June 2009 Build a sense of place that reflects Use the DAS to support and enhance Devonport’s unique and distinct the DRCP and PCC call for “inward character. This is Devonport’s migration” using creatives as the unique strength. Project this image “test case”. regionally and nationally Ensure community ownership by embedding art- Make memories through temporary ists within Devonport to promote works as well as capital projects, local debate and interaction and focus on a phased programme between artists and local residents. of “spectacle” from micro to macro. Capitalise on existing strengths Ensure commissioned artists, including the built environment (e.g. designers or companies address Devonport Column), industry (e.g. training and capacity building (i.e. Naval Dockyard and maritime), local “Community Benefit Clause”) with communities and artists (e.g. Flameworks) and the local community, and that long-term “spec- the geography (e.g. marine landscape). tacle” productions include apprentice opportu- nities. Take key sites of interest and ideas for a heritage trail and temporary Create community consultation “spectacle” to the wider community opportunities and begin to create for discussion, endorsement and ways to ensure the arts strategy change if required. instils pride in Devonport. Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 5 updated: June 2009 Devonport is a brand. Reveal, Plymouth, and meetings with diverse individuals and include and market the elements groups. It also reflects the cultural continuum taking that make the current brand, and place in Devonport and Plymouth in particular, as well discover new elements to add to the as the South West region in general. brand strategy. The Action Plan does not record all events but dem- Use DAS to share good practice with onstrates how Devonport’s activities sit within a larger framework. The DAS Action Plan reveals a di- colleagues and with other verse number of major projects, both capital and communities regionally and nation- events-based, which demonstrate why the Depart- ally. ment for Culture, Media and Sports designated the South West as one of two pilot UK regions for the DCMS Creative Economy Programme. The Action Plan spreadsheet spans May 2008 to summer 2011. It reads left to right (programmed events from week-to-week) and top to bottom to al- low overview of how different events overlap and complement one another. A top to bottom analysis reveals six peak activity periods from 2008 – 2011. The Arts Strategy Action Plan 2008 – 2011 spread- sheet (Appendix 1) outlines major strategy outcome for the next three years. The DAS reflects more than six months of immersion in the cultures and communities of Devonport and Devonport Dinners Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 6 updated: June 2009 Website launch Royal de Luxe planning Heritage Trail artists commissioned Part Exchange Company’s “Hidden City Festival” Wildworks “Beautiful Journey” Artist site visit for Devonport Column “Subscription” Fair Phase 2 South Yard Naval Visitors Centre Notification of “Sea Change” grant recipients Darwin event opens Royal de Luxe decision for 2010 spectacle Guildhall renovations complete Flameworks interim site visits to commissioned Column restoration complete – open to public artists’ studios Devonport Column “Subscription” Fair 2nd site visit - Artists for Devonport Column “Subscription” Fair Engineering and cleaning - Devonport Column Royal de Luxe, Devonport Site prep and planning for “Darwin 200” Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 7 updated: June 2009 Allied to the developer initiatives is the planned de- velopment of the Naval Visitor’s Centre at the South Yard, which will eventually allow public entry through British Art Show, Plymouth the Mutton Cove Gate. The “Zest” art programme at the Peninsula Dental School will also need to be allied to the DAS as and when Zest initiatives are developed. Peak activity periods are fluid, and adjustments will need to be made to timings in the Action Plan, but the overall scope of activity is accurate, and can be augmented as and when other events are announced. The Action Plan has a number of key strands and Of particular interest to the Action Plan are the activi- actions:- ties of the three major developers working in De- vonport: Firmac, Redrow and Midas. The development Programme unique events; commission temporary and of the hotel at Mount Wise (Firmac) is key to the pro- permanent works that build momentum and move gressive cultural development of Devonport, as well from the micro to macro from 2008 to 2011. as the regeneration of the Mount Wise, Richmond Walk and Mutton Cove areas. Denna Jones - Devonport Arts Strategy (endorsed by DRCP July 2008) 8 updated: June 2009 Recognise and record other events taking place in De- Build a momentum of community interest, support vonport or with direct relevance to Devonport (in- and ultimately continued direct participation and cluding housing and the Naval Yard). benefit from planned events Cross-reference events to DAS. Build on the relation- Create a public, community online web resource that ships between events. Create a bigger and better 3 reflects the DAS Action Plan for at least the next four year + creative strategy for Devonport and Plymouth. years. Commission temporary and permanent works. Ensure a life-span determination and de-accession policy. Ensure an intriguing mix of art forms and outcomes relevant to Devonport. Create a well-managed programme to ensure artist and community benefit. The DAS is based on a fusion of ideas resulting from Build a “Community Benefit Clause” into the Artist monthly consultation with the Commissioning Group Commissioning Contract. Weight CBC contribution to and the views of the arts consultant. the value of the contract. The DAS has also been informed by the residency of Ensure outcome of a planned series of Flameworks the arts consultant that commenced October 2007, workshops and events reflect a broad community re- and includes the discussions, meetings and fact- sponse that is in turn reflected in the Artist Brief.