Based on a particular type of S106 developer contributions, this grant funding is aimed at local organisations, working with professional artists and crafts people. It could help to pay for high quality, original public art in Cambridge which engages local communities in the city, is publicly accessible and has a lasting legacy.
Proposals are particularly invited from the Trumpington, Coleridge, Romsey and Queen Edith’s wards (which have the most S106 public art funding), but bids would be welcome from other parts of the city where public art S106 funds are still available.
Proposals can cover a wide range of artwork. For example, previous schemes have involved light projection animation, public displays of highly-decorated shop mannequins, willow artwork in a community garden, a stained glass window at a local school, short films and history trails celebrating local history and sense of place. Engagement with local schools has been a key feature of many projects.
Councillor Anna Smith, Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces, said: “I am delighted that, once again, the city council is able to offer these small-scale public art grants. Public art projects instigated by local groups are a great way of strengthening and enhancing local communities. We look forward to receiving the bids.
Public art grant applications are invited between now and Monday 19 December 2016. More details (including a short application form and the council’s S106 funding selection criteria) can be found at www.cambridge.gov.uk/s106-priority-setting.
The public art S106 funding is just one of the categories of S106 developer contributions that the council has been able to collect in order to mitigate the impact of housing development in Cambridge. It has been secured for providing public art in Cambridge and cannot be spent on any other purpose.
Alongside these applications for small-scale public art grants, the council is also inviting proposals for improvements to play areas and open spaces in the city, based on other types of S106 contributions that the council has collected.
_____________________________________