Public art projects

Read about a selection of case studies, supported by funding from Arts Council England, which aims to place the county at the forefront of a new rural cultural agenda.

The following public art projects will add to existing evidence that art, craft and design contribute to making a better environment, creating sustainable communities, enhancing local distinctiveness and adding to our overall wellbeing.

Directly supporting the aims of the Dorset Community Strategy, projects are engaging with the key issues of:

Affordable and sustainable housing
Developing the rural economy
Protecting landscapes and safeguarding environments
Creating safe, strong and inclusive rural communities

This work has been practically implemented through the commissioning of exemplary projects based around these themes and a wider educational and advocacy programme in Dorset.

Rural Roads Protocol

Partners: Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Artist: Michael Pinsky

This project (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window) has flowed from the Rural Roads Protocol, which aims to enhance the visual appearance of rural roads for the benefit of local communities and visitors by reducing signage and encouraging more sustainable, safer transport modes. Artist Michael Pinsky worked with Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Environmental Services/Highways at Dorset County Council on alternatives to typical rural road design, making essential infrastructure a contributor, rather than a detractor, to the particular place it is located in. He has outlined both permanent features that declutter and enhance street furniture and temporary interventions to build up a long term memory of potential risk for drivers. The overall effect is that new interest is created for road users and the need of residents for safer public spaces next to roads (or even as shared spaces) is addressed.

New housing, Putton Lane, Chickerell

Partners: C G Fry and Sons, Chickerell Town Council, West Dorset District Council, Dorset County Council

Artists: London Fieldworks (Jo Joelson and Bruce Gilchrist)

Artists were asked to help design a new open space as part of a housing development on the edge of a Dorset village. Their brief was to help create a design, interpreting the heritage of the site, that would be desirable for residents of all different age groups . In partnership with local community groups and the town council, London Fieldworks have designed a permeable meeting place based on the medieval archaeology of the site, as well as inputing into the management plan for the landscaping of the area in order to create a historical wildflower meadow. This is a good example of an enlightened developer and go ahead town council working jointly to bring together a future community from the housing estate with existing groups, particularly young people.

Road for the future: Maiden Newton to Bridport trailway

Partners: Sustrans and The Dorset Wildlife Trust

Artists: Anna Best

DDHF has funded lead artist and curator Anna Best to research the feasibility of a programme of commissions which will engage local people in the creation of new common spaces along a trailway currently in development. The route (opens in a new window) will use a shared use path along the route of the former Maiden Newton-Bridport railway which would help fill an existing need for sustainable modes, providing a traffic-free route for commuters and school children, in an area with limited public transport. Temporary projects by internationally known artists have been staged in order to engage local people with the development process, raise awareness (and funds) and get local landowners on board. Already the trailway has seen events from Phil Minton's Feral Choir and the itinerant Energy Café by Pilot Publishing. This is the start of a process which will result in an ongoing programme of cultural activity, a "Road for the Future"

Commonplaces, Shaftesbury

Partners: Shaftesbury Civic Society, North Dorset District Council

Designers: Simon Pirie and ZMMA architects

Designer-maker Simon Pirie and ZMMA architects have been asked by Shaftesbury Civic Society to research and develop proposals for a public space, The Commons, in Shaftesbury with the local community. The aims of the project are to see how the unique heritage of this market town can be made more accessible to both visitors from outside and incomers to the town from new settlements being created on its eastern edge. In particular the collaborative team have been asked to consider how traditional local materials could be brought up to date and used differently, addressing key sustainability agendas. A key part of the process has been consultation with local people through events on The Commons, the physical heart of Shaftesbury.

Charmouth Footbridge, West Dorset

Partners: Dorset Engineering Consortium (DEC), DCC Art Team, AONB, Coastal Rangers and Jurassic Coast Team

Artists: Sansfacon

Sansfacon, an artist/architect collaboration were appointed by partners to lead on design and work with DCC's Engineers to create a replacement bridge at Charmouth beach which opened in April 2011. The design team liaised closely with the community, including a series of workshops with Charmouth Primary School. Sessions were facilitated on practical engineering solutions and on infrastructure placed in our environments, looking at aesthetics, scale and site. The project was funded by Arts Council England, Dorset AONB, Coastal Rangers, Jurassic Coast Arts Programme, Section 106 (West Dorset District Council), Weymouth Relief Road Improvement Group and the Fine Foundation and has been awarded the 2012 Olympics Inspire Mark.

"You asked us for our thoughts before you even started the design. You've taken on board our comments and the bridge is perfect - exactly what we all wanted".

"Love the design, fits in well. Looks like the old bridge until you get up onto it - then it's a lovely surprise crossing over".

"Great asset for Charmouth, very honoured that it was able to happen" - Charmouth Parish Council.

Newtons Cove Bridge, Weymouth

Partners: Dorset Engineering Consortium (DEC), DCC Art Team. AONB, Coastal Rangers and Weymouth and Portland Community Partnership

Artist: Christopher Tipping

We need to create opportunities were we can encourage cross disciplinary team working, building collaborative processes with artists, engineers, architects and others who have an impact on shaping public space. This replacement pedestrian bridge at Newton's Cove, Weymouth was designed by an artist with valuable input from the other partners. Artists can help create projects that move from the ordinary to the extraordinary, they can change a space into a place and give it a special sense of identity. This project has also been awarded the Olympic 2012 Inspire Mark and Merit from the Weymouth Civic Society.

Durlston Country Park, Swanage

Diversity

Partners: Architect MJ Long, Dorset County Council Arts Team, DCC Durlston Rangers and DCC Property Services

Artist: Lulu Quin

Lulu Quin initially worked as part of the Durlston design team on concept development. This led to her being commissioned for the interpretative work called 'Diversity'. The glass piece will also act as the lighting design for the cafe in the newly renovated castle, due to open in late 2011. The glass panels make up the walls and are laser etched with the names of the 10,000 species found at Durlston. The panel lighting can be made brighter or softer, suiting all occasions. The project has been funded by Arts Council England and the Durlston project team.

Accessible zig-zag path to Castle

Partners: Dorset County Council Arts Team, Dorset AONB, Durlston Rangers, Jurassic Coast Arts and Fine Foundation

Artists: Gary Breeze, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and poet Paul Hyland

Gary Breeze was commissioned to come up with a concept for an accessible path, leading visitors to the castle. The brief expected a geological timeline to be incorporated into this. Part of the journey takes the visitor through a "squeeze" of rocks - where you can touch, smell and see the grandeur of the the geology. The path includes scientific quotes and verses of poems to convey the subject matter, and relates to other poetry that is already quirkily dotted around the park. The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and poet Paul Hyland were commissioned to write a verse for this timeline. The path will be installed ready for the castle opening in late 2011.