Art and the Public Realm Bristol

The Hengrove Commissions Programme is an area wide public art programme which will be curated and developed by curator/commissioner team Theresa Bergne and Jes Fernie. Building on the phase 1 Hengrove Park public art programme (a series of permanent commissions for the Hengrove Park) this programme will be developed over a two year period through a close working relationship with the Hengrove and Stockwood Neighbourhood Partnership.

Over the next four months the team is organising a series of events to engage local residents in a conversation around their aspirations for the area and the broad range of possibilities for contemporary art commissioning. This research will inform the final strategy. These events will highlight the extraordinary range of existing public art programmes in Bristol, drawing attention to, and making links with, cultural agencies and venues in the southwest.

Our first event involved a tour of existing public art in Bristol including Jeppe Hein’s Follow Me at the Royal Fort Gardens; Hew Locke’s Ruined in Brunswick Cemetery Gardens and Martin Parr’s new series of photographs at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple Secondary School.

Future Events that are open to the public include:

The University of Local Knowledge, an art project initiated by Suzanne Lacey and developed and produced by Knowle West Media Centre which documents the incredible range of talents and skills represented by people in their area through a series of short films.  Presentation by Penny Evans and participants in the film project.

Wednesday 30 May, 6 – 7.30pm, Oasis Academy, Petherton Road, BS14

Artist Matt Stokes talks about his work with local communities to make films around certain music scenes.  “I feel there is something really important in the way that music subcultures, particularly those away from the mainstream, shape people’s lives, beliefs and outlooks.”

Wednesday 27 June, 6 – 7.30pm, South Bristol Skills Academy, Hengrove Park, BS14

To reserve a place please email hellohengrove@gmail.com.  Where numbers are limited, Hengrove residents will take priority.

Link: Hellohengrove.Tumblr.com

Field Art Projects

Field Art Projects was founded by Theresa Bergne in 1999 with a clear understanding of what makes a successful and popular arts event and an interest in the way artists interact and create work in response to the public realm.

Theresa Bergne has over a decade of experience of working with public organisations, private companies, developers, architects, festivals and venues.  She has worked on numerous high profile projects as a curator and programmer, such as the landmark art programme for Barts and the London's Breast Cancer Unit at the West Wing.  Theresa also spent twelve years running the public art programme for the Canary Wharf group as well as curating and producing a series of independent programmes and commissions.

Jes Fernie