| 15 December 2008 |
| ARTISTIC INFLUENCE TO HELP SHAPE PETERBOROUGH'S NEW CENTRE |
Culture, art and heritage will play a major role in the future of Peterborough’s new public spaces following the appointment of a leading artist to the design team.
Urban regeneration company Opportunity Peterborough, Peterborough City Council and Arts Council England have appointed Professor John Newling as artist in residence to Peterborough’s Streets, Squares and Spaces regeneration project.
His role is to work with the design team to develop a creative approach to connecting the transformation of Peterborough’s Cathedral Square to the city’s heritage and people.
Professor Newling is a renowned artist who is highly experienced in creating art in public spaces, including an intriguing project in Preston Market.
“Peterborough is embarking on a significant journey of renewal and re-growth, starting with the transformation of its civic heart, Cathedral Square, in the early New Year. The redevelopment of the city’s centre is not just about enhancing its environment; it is essentially a renewal of the commitment to the people who occupy its public spaces.
“Regeneration strengthens the relationship between the place and the people who populate it. My work will seek to provide a lasting legacy to the city of Peterborough by giving a voice to the new public realm and the city’s people,” said Professor Newling.
Andrea Stark, executive director of Arts Council England East, commented:
“We know from experience that culture-led regeneration works. Cities around the world have involved artists at an early stage in their thinking to help shape their ideas and ambitions.
John Newling’s track record in delivering art in the public realm will bring a creative dimension to Peterborough’s vision for its future.”
The appointment of John Newling was achieved through a partnership funded by Peterborough City Council and Opportunity Peterborough and supported by Commissions East and Arts Council England East.
Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA, welcomed the appointment:
“Culture and art connects to, and is inspired by, surroundings and history and can make public spaces more interesting and attractive to both people and businesses.
“The region’s economic strategy identifies Greater Peterborough as a regional economic ‘engine of growth’ and this latest step is part of that bold vision.
"EEDA and Arts Council East look forward to seeing John Newling’s proposals for the next stage of development, and to the further development of exciting plans to create a sustainable and vibrant Peterborough city centre.”
More than £1billion is being invested in the regeneration and growth of Peterborough up to 2021 to transform the city’s physical, social and economic environment.
The first major project to be brought forward is the first phase of Streets, Squares and Spaces to rejuvenate and bring a sense of vibrancy back to the city’s heart through the transformation of Cathedral Square.
The project is supported by the Government Department for Communities and Local Government and Peterborough City Council, with a £1.8 million contribution from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).
Detailed designs were launched in October and work is set to start in early 2009.
Steve Bowyer, Opportunity Peterborough, director of strategic growth, said: “Inspiring people to interact with their new public environment as it is being created will inject a sense of pride and ownership into the area. John’s experience will facilitate this process and we are looking forward to seeing his work evolve during his time in Peterborough.”
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