7. DISTRICT WIDE IDEAS

Connections

One of the key findings from our consultation is the opportunity to increase impact through increased connectivity. To connect with each other; to connect organisations, creative practitioners and businesses; to connect the district; to connect with existing networks such as Creative Wakefield, Community Anchors and Libraries; and to connect with existing programmes such as Light Up, Word Fest, city centre sculpture programme and Our Year – Wakefield District 2024.

This may take many forms, it could include: embedding temporary or permanent murals and 2D art as outcomes from creative writing workshops as part of the annual Word Fest; perhaps teaming up with Libraries to reach out to their communities to engage; or it might be connecting a visual artist with a signage company etc.

Under Construction

Engaging an artist to design hoardings for sites undergoing regeneration can bring so many benefits and not cost the earth. Designs could evolve from community engagement and help to develop an identity for the new site and wider area, share positive messages, or be indicative of what the new site will offer (if appropriate). The approach could include the artist working in collaboration with the community to produce the artwork or the final artwork could be realised through printed vinyls.

Wabi Sabi

Engaging artists in creatively embellishing the imperfections of our public realm could bring surprise and delight. For example, across the district there are many areas of paving that have needed to be infilled with tarmac following maintenance worksthese areas are prime sites for small scale interventions that together would change our experience of the urban landscape.

In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a world view centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature.

Digital

Digital and new media artists can offer audiences a range of experiences through projection mapping, augmented reality and virtual reality to see our public realm from a new perspective. Investment is required for research, training, and in the physical technology and infrastructure enable artists to produce digital works that can temporarily or permanently enhance our public realm.

We recommended initiating an artist development programme to develop knowledge, skills and experience of creating digital works in the public realm alongside a rolling programme of artist commissions to test out their skills and ideas. This should incorporate the potential to utilise sustainable technologies to produce artworks for example that harvest kinetic energy generated with footsteps to power a multitude of applications such as LED displays, interactive multimedia, gamification, green walls and more.

Street Furniture

Artists can bring intrigue and fun to the standard, boring street furniture found in every town and city. To have a real impact, one item, such as benches, lampposts, planters or manholes could be transformed across a whole town or even the whole district!

Legal Walls

Legal walls can act as a melting pot for talent development enabling artists to improve their craft without fear of repercussions. These sites tend to be selfcurated and can also be a hub for programming demonstrations and workshops with children and young people. The quality work produced at the underpass on Green Lane, Horbury Junction demonstrates the potential for this approach.