Public Art - Updates
Come and have your say on the Public Art Project! (3rd October 2024)
Please keep 15th October at 6pm free for a meeting of residents in the upstairs meeting room at Stony Stratford Library with Stephen Broadbent who wants to find out from us what sort of sculpture we all want for the Market Square! All are welcome. Please keep an eye on this website and our Facebook page for further news shortly.
Exciting news for Stony Stratford! (24th September 2024)
As you know, the Town Council has chosen Broadbent Studio to create a public art statue for our community. While their original ‘Blanket’ concept wasn’t quite right, we’re thrilled to see their commitment to involving residents in designing a new piece that truly reflects our town’s spirit.
Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved in shaping this exciting project!
Please see the document outlining Broadbent Studio’s approach: https://stonystratfordcouncil.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/SSTCOperations/EfflysNyNLVLrkk9SNkok6kBw1Qee2Ep-VUQaRIs6EWEaQ?e=OrMpnt.
Examples of Broadbent Studio’s work can be seen at: https://broadbent.studio/.
If you would like to be involved, please contact the Town Clerk: [email protected].
#StonyStratford #PublicArt #CommunityInvolvement
Public Notice (5th September 2024)
Appointment of creative practitioner
Public Art Commission: Stony Stratford
Commission budget: £60,000 excl. VAT (in staged payments)
Commission: Sculpture
At a special meeting held on Tuesday 3rd September 2024, the Town Council appointed Broadbent Studio, with Stephen Broadbent, as the Lead Creative Director to evolve the concept design for the public art project.
About Broadbent Studio
Broadbent Studio is a highly experienced organisation specialising in the development and delivery of site-specific public art commissions. Please see https://broadbent.studio/ for further details of their work. Stephen Broadbent, the creative practitioner leading the project, brings a wealth of experience in designing and implementing sculptures and other public art installations.
Public engagement
The Town Council is committed to engaging the public throughout the design process and will be hosting a series of public engagement opportunities to gather further input and ensure the final artwork reflects the community’s vision.
Lynne Compton, PSLCC, Cert HE (Community Governance)
Clerk to the Council and Project Manager 5th September 2024
Stony Stratford Town Council are keen to support art projects around the parish. You can find details of any current projects below.
Exciting New Public Art Commission - Stony Stratford
Aims for the Commission
Stony Stratford Town Council (SSTC) is looking to appoint an experienced creative practitioner or collaborative practice to develop and deliver a permanent public art installation, creating a focal point in the vicinity of the High Street that will celebrate the rich heritage of Stony Stratford. The client has an initial preference for a sculpture in a single location (likely to be Market Square) but wants to leave scope for artist creativity – proposals for other forms of installation will therefore also be considered.
Total commission budget is £60,000 excl. VAT. This includes all fees, fabrication/delivery costs, installation, public engagement and publicity. A sum of £3,000 has already been ring-fenced for future maintenance. The client is Stony Stratford Town Council, with overall project management by the Town Clerk, supported by the Town Centre Working Group (TCWG), which consists of councillors, residents, school pupils and local businesses.
Full Brief Details & Deadline
For full details of the brief including budget, timelines, location, expressions of interest and background information:
https://stonystratfordcouncil.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/SSTCOperations/EYyWUCJVwBNHkp8EOqhsdi0BrrEQADRk9fd2w1mpJPYVeQ?e=2saH2l
The Town Council want to hear YOUR views on the Public Art Project
Expressions of interest have now been received and we are delighted to invite you to view the three shortlisted artists work at Stony Stratford Library from 1st-23rd August during Library opening hours (please note this period has been extended). There will be an anonymous box for you to post your comments and to let us know your preferred design. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
If you are unable to visit the Library to view the work in person, then the submissions can be viewed online https://stonystratfordcouncil.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/SSTCOperations/Et90K0MxK5hKm4kFMyNDcWIBMkXxYS42xXkg8XiJyqd_zA?e=jjTaB3. Please click on the QR Code below to complete a questionnaire to give us your views on the proposed sculptures. Alternatively, complete the questionnaire at https://forms.office.com/e/U6Gp0Tj0V0. The consultation ends on 23rd August 2024 – please complete the questionnaire by this date.
SSTC Public Art Project
(using S.106 Public Art funds from the Elizabeth House development)
Background, update and next steps
1. Background
Phase 1 (Planning) – As part of the project planning process, there was a publicity campaign inviting members of the public, local businesses and youth representatives from schools to join the commissioning group (the Town Centre Working Group – TCWG), and a Commission Brief (CB) was produced.
Phase 2 (Tendering) – Advice was taken from key stakeholders, Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) and the Public Statues and Sculptures Association (PSSA) and an initial formal procurement process was then undertaken, to short-list three artists. The procurement process is one in which we are looking to appoint an artist or creative practice to work alongside the local community to develop a final design for an artwork (sculpture).
The commission was widely advertised, locally, regionally and nationally plus by targeting relevant organisations e.g. PSSA and local artists (through MKCC). There was a fantastic response to the brief with 17 artists responding from across Britain, 15 of these met the eligibility criteria (4 of which were local artists based in Stony Stratford and Wolverton) and their submissions were sent for independent assessment and scoring to the TCWG and Advisory Group. The assessment criteria came directly from the CB (below for ease of reference) and were scored 0-4, zero being non-compliant and 4 a response of a high standard: –
- Approach – response to identified themes and objectives; ability to research and respond creatively to a brief.
- Artistic ability – ability to produce an innovative, creative and attractive design.
- Quality of previous projects – proven track record of high-quality delivery, working with communities and partners to develop and deliver exceptional, innovative and engaging artworks within the public realm.
- Experience – successful completion of projects of a similar scale and budget, experience of collaboration with communities, partners and stakeholders, excellent communication skills.
Eight TCWG members and two Advisory Group members (volunteers with extensive experience in Public Art commissioning) carried out the scoring. Ten scores were received for each of the 15 artists. The Project Manager (Lynne Compton, Town Clerk) processed the scores (which were rigorously checked) and the artists with the three highest average scores were invited to proceed to the next stage and received £1,000 each to develop their designs. The artists chosen were: –
- Stephen Broadbent (Broadbent Studio)
- Sara Myers (Wolverton based)
- David Murphy (David Murphy Studio, based in Lewisham)
2. Update
Phase 3 (Design) – The three short-listed artists made their presentations and responded to questions around the Commissioning Brief (CB) on Wednesday 31st July. These were scored independently (0-5), 0 being ‘no answer given’ and 5 being ‘perfect answer.’ The scoring was based on the original objectives in the CB (below for ease of reference): –
- create an artwork that captures the interest and spirit of the community.
- create a focal point that is visually pleasing and sensitive to the location.
- engage the community and encourage interaction with the artwork.
- celebrate the identity of Stony Stratford and support community development.
The concept designs and hard copies of the presentations were then installed in the library together with feedback forms or a QR code to respond online.
A huge thank you to everyone who has already visited the library to see the concept designs and completed a feedback form. If you haven’t already done so, please visit our website for more information, details of the concept designs and a link to the form https://www.stonystratford.gov.uk/your-council/public-art/ . We would like to hear your views asap and not later than Friday 23rd August 2024. We are delighted that the artists have agreed for their presentations and displays to remain in the library until then.
3. Next Steps (Phase 3 continues)
The results will be fed back to the Town Centre Working Group in a full report covering:
- the artist’s presentation scores, budgets and an outline of how they will involve the public prior to the final design
- public feedback
- Highways report
The TCWG will then meet to make a recommendation, on which artist to work with, at the Town Council at a special meeting to be held at 7pm on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 in the Library@5-7 Church St.
Please note that the artworks on display that have been shortlisted are concept proposals only to give communities an idea of how the artist works. We have not commissioned a final sculptural work but instead we are commissioning a collaborative process, where a final artwork will be created in response to the context and working with the community.
It is important to note that the location of the sculpture may change and any issues around health and safety etc. will be dealt with during the emerging design phase and in the pre-planning application phase. We are working closely with MKCC who will seek advice from the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA).
Lynne Compton, PSLCC, Cert HE (Community Governance)
Clerk to the Council and Public Art Project Manager
Public Art Project Stony Stratford – 2024: Background
Stony Stratford Town Council was allocated £70,856.00 Public Arts Funding through a Section 106 agreement associated with application 15/00670/FUL (Milton Keynes City Council, 2016) due to a recent building development in the town (Elizabeth House Residential Home):
Section 106 agreements are put in place with the developers to raise money for infrastructure to support new housing developments. They are drawn up by Milton Keynes City Council before they grant planning permission, so the developer is legally bound to deliver the infrastructure agreed. Money is collected from the developer once the planning permission is implemented and when certain points in the agreement have been met. Included in this funding is money that is restricted to be spent on certain areas, and one of these areas is Public Art.
Project: Public Art in Stony Stratford. See Artist’s brief for full details
Process (see also Q&A for further details)
The Town Council appointed the Town Clerk as Project Manager to work with the Town Centre Working Group on this project. There is also an Advisory Group who together with the Town Clerk oversee and advise on the process to ensure it is fair and compliant with any regulations.
Public Art Question and Answer document
The Town Council have created a Public Art Q&A document which will hopefully answer any further questions that you may have.