Public Art Forum Update

A Public Art Forum was held on Thursday 7 March at the Minor Works Building. The Forum was attended by 72 community members, artists and arts workers. A conversation on ‘The role of Public Art in the Growth and Development of a Creative City’ was held via a panel discussion. The panel was facilitated by Rebecca Wessels, Managing Director of Ochre Dawn.

Panel members were:

• Sandy Verschoor, The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide
• Jennifer Layther, Director, Arts South Australia
• Lynne Halfpenny, Director of Culture, City of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Hossein Valamanesh, Contemporary Visual Artist
• Dr Katherine Arguile, Visual Arts Reviewer for The Advertiser and Arts Writer for InDaily

The Panel discussion touched on the important role public art has to play in shaping the City by the creation of community stories through art; the role of public art to enable people to engage with arts and creativity and provide an attractive reason to stay in a city, encouraging diversity and many voices in the public realm, supporting social cohesion; and how Adelaide is a place that supports artists to evolve their practice.

A workshop was also held as part of the forum, with 30+ community members brainstorming the big goals for public art. Emerging priorities included: ambition to be a public art destination and continuing our reputation as a global creative city; the need to be taking more risks with art; the role of place, local talent and international connections; supporting artists; focus on First Nations; partnerships; and the role of artists as central and leading.

The information from the workshop, along with community feedback through this current consultation, will assist in the development of the Public Art Action Plan.

Some images of the Public Art Forum can be viewed here.