Public Art Conference Archive—2004

Concurrent Sessions: International Public Art: Reports from Europe and Canada

Presenters:             

• Herve Bechy, Director, Art-public.com, Paris, France
• Bryan Newson, Public Art Program Manager, City of Vancouver, Canada

Herve Bechy discussed the role of public art within urban and non urban projects such as the renovation of government subsidized housing, the creation of new neighborhoods and “villes nouvelles;” the rehabilitation of downtowns, and public art within the rural context.

During recent years, public art in Europe has most directly responded to new social and cultural currents, and its aesthetic manifestations have been influenced by new conceptual tendencies.

The talk focused on more specific subjects such as commemorative art, art within historic monuments, art in transportation, and permanent vs. temporary projects.

The lecture presented several recent important public art projects in England, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Germany, Finland, France, Belgium and Switzerland, sponsored by both government and non-government agencies.

In each case there was an introduction of the history of each program, as well as its funding and structure. There was a focus on specific projects including a discussion of the artists’ responses,  relationship to a particular context, community involvement, role of local partners; collaboration of artists with other design professionals such as architects and landscape architects.

Bryan Newsom’s presentation explored public art trends and initiatives in Canada. He discussed Canada’s Creative City Network, a network that connects and provides services for people employed by municipalities across Canada working on arts, cultural and heritage policy, planning, development and support. To learn more about the network, visit www.creativecity.ca.