Learn How to Make your Mark on Christchurch

Learn How to Make your Mark on Christchurch

SCAPE Public Art is holding its second Re:ACTIVATE SCAPE Public Art Development Workshop in Christchurch for design and arts students and emerging artists on Monday 7 April 2014. The workshop will teach participants about the essential elements of public art delivery, ending with a unique creative opportunity for participants to design an artwork for display along the CERA Avon River Te Papa Ōtākaro Art Trail.

SCAPE Public Art has invited senior students and emerging artists to attend the workshop, including students enrolled in or graduating in Art and Design related courses from CPIT, the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts and Lincoln University, along with emerging artists from outside Christchurch. The workshop will provide a valuable opportunity for participants to be inspired by prominent professionals working in the public art, design, community, architecture and landscape architecture sectors and to network with like-minded people.

The much anticipated workshop will be run by Josie Whelan, Education and Community Engagement Manager at SCAPE Public Art. “This workshop covers all elements of public art delivery, including how to respond to a Brief and explore site issues, expectation of delivery frameworks, public funding, budgets and contracts and of course acknowledge the unique climate of creative opportunities in Christchurch at the moment,” Whelan says.

The list of confirmed speakers at the event includes Coralie Winn (Co-founder and Creative Director of Gap Filler), Camia Young (Designer); landscape architects Henry Crothers (LandLAB), Diccon Round (Wraight + Associates); artists Sara Hughes and Rachael Dewhirst; Jessica Halliday (Architectural Historian and Director of the Festival of Transitional Architecture - FESTA), along with many other prominent players in the artistic work environment of Christchurch and New Zealand. For a full list of speakers, please visit http://scapebiennial.org.nz/resources

Deborah McCormick, Director at SCAPE Public Art, believes that one of the most exciting elements about the workshop is the final activity where all participants are invited to design their own artwork and submit their proposal in response to a Brief. The 2012 opportunity resulted in Rachael Dewhirst’s large scale mural Kaleidoscopic Nights in ReSTART Mall.This year’s public art opportunity for students is within the Te Papa Ōtākaro Art Trail. The Art Trail is part of the Avon River Precinct Anchor Project under the Central City Recovery Plan and is managed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).

Of all the proposals, CERA, SCAPE Public Art and independent panel members will choose up to 10 small scale artworks to be produced and temporarily displayed along the Avon River for delivery at the Watermark site.

Participants will be asked in the Brief to respond to the themes of the Art Trail and consider elements of discovery, histories, memories and stories of the Avon River. “The goal is for the temporary works of public art to surprise and challenge everyday perceptions of the people who visit the Avon River (Te Papa Ōtākaro), and to create concepts for Christchurch’s recovery as an attractive and vibrant place to live, work, visit and invest in, for us and our children after us. This is a fantastic opportunity for emerging artists and students to start their careers and to create something for the whole of Christchurch to enjoy,” said McCormick.

The workshop is being held at Te Puna Wanaka, CPIT on Monday 7 April 2014 8.30am – 5.30pm.

The cost for attending the workshop is $75 (GST inclusive). Registration closes at 12 noon on Friday 4 April 2014, at which time all participants will be sent further information. As limited spaces are available to register, potential participants are asked to please complete the online registration form as soon as possible that can be found at http://scapebiennial.org.nz/resources

ENDS

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