Image credit: ‘Diversity and Equality and Inclusion and Empathy’ by Greg Bunbury (b.1976), Black Outdoor Art. Image used in Beam’s Research Report ‘Building a More Diverse & Inclusive Public Art Sector’.

From 2019-2023 I was Chair of ixia – UK Public Art Think Tank. An organisation, which has its roots back in the 1980’s when the UK public art sector was just starting to take off. It was established to promote and influence the development and implementation of public art policies, strategies and projects through creating and distributing knowledge to: arts and non-arts policy makers, public and private sector commissioners, curators, artists and the public.

Unfortunately, in 2015 ixia lost its core funding from Arts Council as part of the national cuts to art provision.

In 2019 a new board of directors were appointed (when I joined) and began an organisational review to reflect on ixia’s history, the future of public art and how best to support the public art sector during these challenging times. In September 2021, ixia were awarded a development grant by Arts Council to enable the organisation to work towards a sustainable future.

As part of this organisational development work, we conducted a survey ‘Why Public Art, Why Now?’ and a series of consultation forums in order to hear direct personal/ nuanced accounts of the challenges and barriers experienced by independent artists and producers working in public art.

My role in this work was focussed around designing, delivering and hosting the forums with my co-trustee Dr Katy Beinart. We worked with an independent facilitator Dr Cecilia Wee who lead’s CVAN’s Fair & Equitable Programme aiming to institute equity within the visual arts sector in England over the next 5-years.

I left ixia in April 2023 to focus on other work, but fast forward to July and it was great to see my colleagues at ixia finishing off this important work and releasing it into the public domain. Working with Beam who are based in Wakefield and deliver arts in place projects across the north of the UK. Whilst ixia was working through its own organisational development Beam were working with Boseda Olawoye an independent Creative Engagement Manager in the role of Diverse Artist Network Coordinator to produce a research project called ‘Building a More Diverse and Inclusive Public Art Sector’.

Both ixia and Beam’s reports have underlined major issues and potential for the UK public art sector and you can read all the reports in full by following the links below:

ixia’s ‘Why Public Art, Why Now? Re-thinking Art and the Public Realm’ Survey 2022-2023.

ixia’s headline findings from online consultation forums September 2022.

Beam’s Report ‘Building a More Diverse & Inclusive Public Art Sector’.

The research was further discussed and analysed on the 2 October 2023 in an online discussion called ‘Diversity & Inclusion in the Public Art Sector’ hosted by ixia, Beam and CVAN.

On 28 October 2023 the research will also underpin a workshop ‘How public is public art?’ as part of the national conference produced by Up Projects and John Hansard Gallery ‘Co-Creating Public Space: How Can We Thrive?’, which is taking place in Southampton at Central Hall. Led by Dr Katy Beinart and Elisabeth Del Prete from Up Projects the workshop will unpick some of the most pressing priorities facing the public art sector today.

Tickets are still available for the conference. Find out more information and book a place.