Council helps fund new sculpture for Stewart Plaza

4 October 2007

Christchurch City Council this morning agreed to allocate $50,000 from the Art in Public Places Fund for a sculpture to be installed at the Stewart Plaza, City Mall.

It will be the fifth art work to be commissioned by the Council in partnership with Art & Industry Biennial Trust – the second on High Street – which will be unveiled during the 2008 SCAPE: Christchurch’s Biennial of Art in Public Spaces. At last year’s SCAPE, the partners unveiled Nucleus by Canterbury artist Phil Price, located on the intersection of Manchester/High/Lichfield Streets.

Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore said it was great to see more money being spent on providing art in public spaces and this new sculpture would be a welcome addition to the art works in the inner city.

"Public art is important is adding new life and character to our city and the Council is pleased to again be involved in a project with Art and Industry Trust.

"Each of the art works jointly developed by the Council and Trust has left a lasting impression on the cityscape, helping to provide visitors and residents with a vibrant city."

The $250,000 sculpture will be commissioned in partnership with the Trust, which will manage the contract following selection of the artist by an interim Public Art Advisory Group. The Stewart family are providing $150,000 for the sculpture, the remaining $50,000 being funded by the City Mall redevelopment project.

Today’s Council meeting also agreed to establish a Public Art Advisory Group to advise on the development of public art in the city. Membership of this Group will be Adrienne, Lady Stewart, Patron of the Art & Industry Biennial Trust, Anthony Wright, Chair of the Trust, Lara Strongman, an independent art historian/curator, Christchurch Art Gallery Director Jenny Harper, Council urban designer, Art Gallery curator and elected member.

The Group will review the Artworks in Public Places Five-Year Plan which was developed in 2004, develop principles for expenditure of Council’s annual $250,000 Public Art Fund and establish priorities for approval by Council.

"The installation of public works of art will become integral to key capital works projects and city planning," Mr Moore said.

"The early identification of sites and opportunities for public art will allow for the integration of designs and for funding collaboration. It is envisaged, funding of these projects will be 50/50 public and private."

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