Lead Artist: Thomas Heatherwick

Artpoint has been working on a regular basis as a public art consultant for Milton Keynes Council since December 1997. A major focus of work over the past four years has been to set in place a strategy and forward plan to involve artists in the redevelopment of the city centre.

In 2000, Artpoint developed a Public Art Strategy for Central Milton Keynes (CMK) and Campbell Park which placed artists at the heart of the future planning of the city, and advocated early involvement of an artist consultant to help shape the city’s development.

In 2001, artist/designer Thomas Heatherwick was appointed by Milton Keynes Council as consultant artist to work with EDAW, urban design consultants, on the new Development Framework for Central Milton Keynes, a new plan for the future development of the city centre. Thomas Heatherwick contributed to the document and wrote an appendix paper, ‘Public Art in Central Milton Keynes’, which advocated for an innovative and holistic approach to the integration of ‘artistic thinking’ into the future development of the city centre, and outlined a range of specific proposals, including artist involvement in the design of landmark car parks, a micro museum integrated into public space, and artist collaboration in the design of transport systems.

In 2002 Thomas was appointed Lead Artist for CMK. His brief was to take forward the recommendations of ‘Public Art in Central Milton Keynes’ through continued consultancy work and to develop designs for a prominent space or spaces in CMK.

His consultancy work has led to collaboration with Artpoint on A Public Art Plan for CMK 2004-2014, a £3.2 million plan for public art funded mainly through developer contributions. His design work has led to outline designs for a mobile ‘information box’ for CMK. The ‘Info Box’ is intended as an extraordinary structure which will house information on Milton Keynes past, present and future. It is designed to raise the profile of the city to local, regional and national audiences and provide a focus for public engagement with city centre development and city expansion.

Commissioner

Milton Keynes Council

Partners

English Partnerships, EDAW

Budget

£70,000

Funders

Southern Arts (now Arts Council of England, SE), English Partnerships and Milton Keynes Council.

Weblink