Futurecity to take on Major Arts Programme

Futurecity

Winchester City Council and Havant Borough Council are working with Futurecity to deliver a public art programme in the West of Waterlooville Major Development Area.

Funded by planning contributions from developer Grainger, the arts programme aims to create a distinctive identity for the new housing now being constructed, using culture and the arts to connect people to place, whilst contributing to community spirit and pride of place in the process.

Futurecity is a leading culture and place making consultancy who are responsible for a number of international multi disciplinary art projects including the recently unveiled 78 metre Richard Wilson sculpture ‘Slipstream’ for Heathrow’s new terminal two and as strategists and curators of the Crossrail ‘Culture Line’, partnering world-class contemporary artists and galleries with Crossrail's central London stations. They are also working on a similar large scale new housing development public art programme in Great Kneighton, Cambridge.

Futurecity have engaged a local project manager, Hampshire artist Nicola Henshaw, who produced the sculptures and information panels on the Viaduct Way in Winchester earlier on this year. Nicola will lead on the community engagement programme, ensuring that residents from the development and the surrounding area are involved in shaping the public art initiatives.

The West of Waterlooville (WoW) development area spreads across the boundaries of the two local council districts of Winchester and Havant in the South of Hampshire. 3,000 homes are being built on land between Denmead (in Winchester District) and Purbrook and Waterlooville (in Havant Borough) over the course of about ten years.

Grainger will make a total allocation of £500,000 for public art during the development period.

Cllr Kirk Phillips, Chair of West of Waterlooville Arts Advisory Panel, said: “The appointment of Future\City was a unanimous decision by the interview panel which was made up of Winchester City Council, Havant Borough Council and Parish Council members and officers as well as a public art expert from Arts Council England South West and a representative from the developers of the site, Grainger. We are pleased to be able to benefit from Futurecity’s extensive knowledge, experience and innovative approach in the delivery of our programme”.

Belinda Holden, Executive Project Manager & Curator from Futurecity, added: “Our approach to place making and the public art programme for this development is to focus on the rich natural environment, connecting Waterlooville and residents with the ecology and accessing green spaces. The first commission will explore opportunities in the new Town Park and main entrances to the development.”

Futurecity and Nicola Henshaw are both keen to work with the local community and cultural organisations. To find out more contact Futurecity’s Project Manager, Nicola Henshaw, at nicola@nicolahenshaw.co.uk or Havant Borough Council’s Community Development Officer, at Jaime.Bridges@havant.gov.uk

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