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Great Fire of London Commemoration Event Proposal for Feasibility Study Photo: Hilden and Diaz, City on Fire Proposal July 2014 Artichoke Trust Ltd Toynbee Studios 28 Commercial Street London E1 6AB Company Registration 5429030 Charity No 1112716 VAT 884 2682 85 ARTICHOKE July 2014 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 2 Contents Pages 1. Brief 4 2. Approach & Experience 4 3. Methodology 6 Appendices A: Biographies 10 B: Relevant Work 12 C: Artichoke Event Statistics 20 D: Client List 21 E: References 22 F: Statutory Information 23 G: Tasks, Timetable and Fees 24 ARTICHOKE August 14 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 3 1. Brief The City of London wishes to commemorate the 350th anniversary of The Great Fire of London, with a spectacular public event. Its aim in commissioning a high profile contemporary cultural event is to commemorate the Great Fire and its lasting impact on the architecture and infrastructure of the City of London, whilst simultaneously encouraging residents and visitors to explore and view the City in a new light. Artichoke has been invited to present its ideas for the creation of a large-scale public event, exclusive to the City that will take place over a weekend in September 2016. The event will: • Animate the public spaces of the City of London with a dazzling programme of artworks from leading national and international artists responding to the events of 1666 that shaped the City as we know it. • Bring together businesses, and the immediate and strategically important neighbouring communities in Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets to the east of the City in preparation for the event. • Be delivered in partnership with the City’s leading cultural institutions, building on the foundations of joint working currently being developed for the 2016 Shakespeare anniversary and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations • Be free of charge, inviting communities and visitors to explore the City without economic barriers to attendance, providing an opportunity to come together in shared discovery of new and familiar landscapes temporarily transformed through the imagination of artists. • Draw the attention of the world’s visitors and media to of the City of London, demonstrating the City’s ability to host and deliver high impact cultural entertainment. • Generate iconic images of the temporary transformation of the City including its historic monuments and business locations as the backdrop to this popular event, challenging national and international perceptions of the role of the City in 21st Century London. • Promote the role of the City as the guardian of London’s memory and act as the catalyst for a specially created education project linking the contemporary event to the historical events of the Great Fire to be delivered by the London Metropolitan Archives and the Museum of London. ARTICHOKE August 14 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 4 • Incorporate moments for high profile entertainment to further promote the role of culture within the City, against the backdrop of the event. The event will be designed to have maximum public impact. This feasibility study will demonstrate ways in which the event will meet the strategic priorities of the City of London Corporate Plan and the City Together strategy, addressing these particular aims: • To enable the City to continue to flourish and to see the benefits of its success spread across London, the UK and internationally; • To enable City and City fringe residents to have the opportunity to make a success of their lives for themselves, their families and their communities by extending opportunities for education, life long learning, skills training and work; • To enhance services and outcomes for children and young people, including support for vulnerable children and their families; • Support and promote the City as a cultural asset and to encourage greater vibrancy and diversity in cultural and leisure activities; 2. Approach & Experience 2.1 Artichoke was founded in 2005 by co-Directors Nicky Webb and Helen Marriage after 20 years of collaboration on outdoor and site-specific arts and cultural events. The company has developed an unrivalled reputation for producing events that create real benefits for communities and at the same time bring surprise, delight and a little bit of magic to streets and public places, transforming them briefly into playgrounds. The company specialises in taking art out from behind the closed doors of theatres or art galleries and producing and providing consultation on shows and events in unusual places: in the streets, public spaces or in the countryside. We have expertise in building the strategy, financial management, partnerships and public and private sector relationships necessary for this work to take place. We work closely with principal stakeholders, co- producers, regulatory authorities, planning departments, local communities, and local funders as well as those involved with the programming, commissioning, communications, audience development and delivery side of the event. 2.2 Our core business is producing ambitious arts events in the public realm. We have created city-wide festivals and site-specific events; commissioned artists and arts organisations and built partnerships with local, regional and national stakeholders. We’re experienced in delivering against multiple social and political agendas, engaging local communities and embedding them and their experiences in the development of local projects. Artichoke offers both practical, professional experience of project delivery as well as experience of undertaking consultancy and research for other clients. We rigorously analyse and test proposed concepts, visions, aims and objectives of clients and wider stakeholder ARTICHOKE August 14 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 5 groups and are thorough in both our quantitative and qualitative research methods. Alongside project management, our methodology includes undertaking feasibility studies, market research and analysis, and conducting options appraisals. Much of our previous and current work is based in London, and the company has excellent knowledge of policy and legalisation relating to London’s outdoor spaces. Our most recent large-scale events include: • LUMIERE, two four-day festivals celebrating the power of light in the historic cities of Durham and Derry -Londonderry in which more than 50 artists in each city created a breathtaking series of installations, illuminations and performances, transforming stunning buildings, streets, bridges and riverbanks; • Antony Gormley!s marathon event, One & Other, which put ordinary men and women in a position usually reserved for long-dead military heroes, the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, London; • Royal de Luxe’s The Sultan’s Elephant - the biggest piece of free theatre ever seen in the UK; • Paul St George!s Telectroscope which joined London and New York by means of a transatlantic tunnel and a pair of extraordinary devices that allowed people on both sides of the Atlantic to catch a glimpse of life across the pond; • La Machine's 50-foot high mechanical spider, the flagship event for Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations. Key relevant consultancy projects include: • Feasibility study for the Mayor’s Office exploring the potential for the creation of a floating Lido for the Thames, along the lines of the iconic pools of other world cities; • Feasibility study for Heart of London Business Improvement District into the opportunities to produce a winter light festival for the Mayfair and Piccadilly areas of London; • Consultancy for LOCOG on the cultural provision at the Olympic Park, including comprehensive proposals for a range of costed cultural activities and events, projected attendances, audience/visitor needs, performance facilities, needs and technical requirements, support services, management and delivery mechanisms; • Study for LOCOG on the feasibility of a ‘Creation Centre’ as a potential legacy project of the London 2012 Games; • Providing key expertise and input into the overall vision for the Victoria Embankment, potential activities and events that could take place including public art, models, programming, technical and licensing issues, management structures and delivery mechanisms; • Cultural Policy and Management Strategy for Jubilee Gardens for South Bank Employers’ Group. 2.8 From our considerable range of projects, we have retained extensive knowledge and expertise that we are able to use for the benefit of clients. We offer creative ideas and visions; a thoughtful approach to understanding the views and issues of clients and stakeholders; and a disciplined approach to undertaking research, testing and analysis. ARTICHOKE August 14 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 6 3. Methodology 3.1 Artichoke proposes the following methodology: Briefing: October 2014 Desk Research Consultation Partnership Brokering Feasibility study to include: Draft programme Costs Timing & delivery milestones Partnerships required for delivery Legal and licensing requirements Proposed sites Outline traffic and crowd management plans Communications strategy Legacy plan ARTICHOKE August 14 Great Fire of London, City of London - Proposal 7 Briefing 3.3 First steps in the project are to review and confirm the brief, discuss client / stakeholder aspirations and input, key issues and outputs of the project. 3.4 Artichoke would expect feedback on the proposed methodology, reporting dates and likely participants
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