Jan. '09 - Helen Carey, Commissioning Art in the Publics Sphere

Commissioning Art in the Publics Sphere

by Helen Carey

About the Author

Helen Carey is an independent curator and project manager. Formerly Public Art Project Manager at for At-Bristol http://www.at-bristol.org.uk, Director of Galway Arts Centre, and inaugural Director of the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, Helen currently works on Irish and international projects. Her specific interests are National Cultural Identity and the Public Sphere.

Introduction

Referring to Publics rather than Public because of the complexity of the audience which will be elaborated later on, Art in the Publics Sphere arrives at the end of a journey and is at once the beginning of many others. 

The first journey is complex, hidden and often contentious – confusingly an Art Work is expected to be contentious yet with none of the untidiness that attends contention.  Even after installation, there is often reflection that the process should have taken a different form, arrived at a different conclusion.  It is also true that the life of the Art Work continues to be governed by the process by which it arrived - the commissioners and selected artist may enjoy the reflection of the process, continuing to grow and be enriched; alternatively, it can return to haunt the life of the work and overshadow future projects.  It is therefore clearly important that the process undertaken is given time to be clarified, be based on conviction and be one that will deliver the commission’s objectives.  The key participants in this complex meeting place are the Commissioners, the Artist and the Publics. 

This paper looks at the viewpoint of each of these participants.

Please click the links below to continue reading the essay. You can also access the printer-friendly version below.

Photo of The Angel of the North 'the full span' by Plentyofants.