Agenda item

Purpose

To seek approval to the principle to incorporate public art (murals / sculptures etc.) on Portsmouth City Council housing buildings, housing owned assets and within our housing estates across Portsmouth and Havant, and to agree the core principles and the process that will be followed in identifying and approving locations for the installation of public art as and when requests arise.

To seek approval to explore the opportunity to work with Articulate Sage to incorporate into the planned Portsmouth Art Festival 2023 housing buildings and housing owned assets, and in doing so pilot the application of the core principles and process as set out in this report.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.    That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness approves the principle to incorporate public art (murals / sculptures etc.) on Portsmouth City Council housing buildings, housing owned assets and within our housing estates across Portsmouth and Havant, and agrees the process that will be followed in identifying and approving locations for the installation of public art as and when requests arise.

2.    The Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness approves the exploration of a Portsmouth Art Festival 2023 using Housing buildings and housing owned assets to pilot the application of the core principles and process as set out in this report.

3.    The Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness delegates to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services and relevant officers, as appropriate, the application of the core principles and process.

4.    The Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness requests officers to bring an information report following the Portsmouth Art Festival 2023.

Andrew Malbon, Acting Head of Design Service presented his report which was to seek approval to the principle to incorporate public art (murals/sculptures etc) on Portsmouth City Council housing buildings, housing owned assets and within the housing estates across Portsmouth and Havant, and to agree the core principles and the process that would be followed in identifying and approving locations for the installation of public art as and when requests arise.

The report was also to seek approval to explore the opportunity to work with Articulate Sage to incorporate into the planned Portsmouth Art Festival 2023, housing buildings and housing owned assets, and in doing so to pilot the application of the core principles and processes as set out in the report.

Resident Consortium questions and comments

Maria Cole asked whether officers had considered contacting paint manufacturers to seek support with the supply of paint in order to help maintain the budget neutrality as noted in section 4.11 of the report.  Officers noted this suggestion and agreed to take this forward.

Maria Cole agreed with the report and noted that adding art to blank walls around the city was uplifting for residents.  In addition, by using local artists the community takes ownership and vandalism is reduced.

Members' questions

In response to Members' questions, officers clarified:

·         The project will be funded by Articulate Sage with a grant from the Arts Council.  They are also sourcing other sponsorship.

·         In relation to the budget neutrality bullet point 4.11, the council contribution would be in kind, using officer time to assist with the organisation of the project and engaging with residents.  No funding is coming from the HRA budget.

·         The report focuses specifically on council buildings that the housing service own, but conversations are happening with Culture and Leisure about taking an approach that is city wide as part of a public art strategy which will also include opportunities for local artists to have access to other walls.

Members' Comments

Members agreed it was a fantastic idea and a great way to brighten up the city and a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise local artists who are gaining international attention. 

Members considered that meaningful community and resident engagement would be critical to the success of the project, the longevity of the pieces of art and to ensuring the art is wanted and appropriate for a particular space. 

Members suggested residents being given the opportunity to be actively involved in the creation of the pieces of work with the potential for training and employment opportunities alongside the internationally renowned artists.

Members noted that agreement for funding had also partly come through the Neighbourhood CIL alongside the Arts Council and other funding pots.

Officers further noted that although the Articulate Sage Festival will be concentrated in Portsmouth, in the future there could be further opportunities to incorporate housing blocks in Havant where Portsmouth are a significant landlord.

Chair's comments

The Chair agreed with the comments that it is crucial residents are involved as much as possible, and was something he was keen to encourage.  He agreed with the observation that working with ordinary working people on estates to encourage them to be part of the artistic scene is a major way of removing the perception of culture, art, and public art as something that is elitist and not for them.

Decision

The Cabinet Member:

·         Approved the principle to incorporate public art (murals/sculptures etc) on Portsmouth City Council housing buildings, housing owned assets and within our housing estates across Portsmouth and Havant, and agreed the process that will be followed in identifying and approving locations for the installation of public art as and when requests arise.

·         Approved the exploration of a Portsmouth Art Festival 2023 using Housing buildings and housing owned assets to pilot the application of the core principles and process as set out in the report.

·         Delegated to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services and relevant officers, as appropriate, the application of the core principles and process.

·         Requested officers bring an information report following the Portsmouth Art Festival 2023.