The following letter from me was printed in today's Ilford Recorder:
"It was, I guess, predictable that a letter of protest would be published last week after the announcement that Redbridge Council has plans for a public art programme in the borough. The funds being used, however, are only available for art and can't be spent on other local services like street cleaning.
While a curate in Barking & Dagenham, I benefited from getting involved in the Artscape public art programme. My varied and interesting experiences included seeing my daughter's dance group perform on the A13, having images of our congregation projected onto the windows of our church, and hearing the stories of older members of our congregation featured in a film about change.
From these experiences I would say that the key to public acceptance of public art is the creative and active involvement of the community in the projects themselves and in linked temporary art projects. I hope that Redbridge Council will have learnt this key lesson from the experience in Barking & Dagenham and will make community engagement a key feature of their public art programme."
Flagging up this issue was particularly appropriate in a week when the completed Advent Art Installation was also featured in the Recorder and just before next week's Social Responsibility Network conference where I will be giving a presentation on public art, churches and regeneration.
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Deacon Blue - Only Tender Love.
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