Louth Historic Capital of Lincolnshire Wolds

LOUTH PUBLIC ART PROJECT: Full Project Description

1. BACKGROUND

Louth is a medium sized market town set on the eastern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The town has been of major importance in the region since its beginnings, well before Roman times. The Abbot of the 8th Century Monastery in the town is recorded as becoming Archbishop of Canterbury in 792 and one of the largest Cistercian houses in the country was founded in the town in 1139. Much of Louth's development was influenced by the Dane's during the invasions of 8th and early 9th centuries with Louth being recorded as a prosperous market town in the Doomsday Book of 1086.
Contemporary Louth is an attractive town with narrow-winding streets, a market place, notable architecture, shops and inns. The town holds a cattle market and general open-air market on a weekly basis. Louth also has the unusual feature of being located on the Greenwich Meridian Line.
The town has agreed to initiate a series of artists' commissions over the next three years which would result in commissioned works of public art for a series of 'trails' through the town.
The project which was initiated by Louth Town Council is supported by East Lindsey District Council. The project which is being led by Lincolnshire County Council has been developed by a steering group comprising of the above with the assistance of Commissions East, the regional public art development organisation.
As part of the development of the project marketing and education strategies have been undertaken. These are incorporated in the appendix of this document.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims of the project are as follows:
* to involve artists in the development and realisation of the projects;
* to enhance the town's cultural infrastructure;
* to make a contribution to the town's existing tourism facilities;
* to establish a model of good practice for future projects within the town;
* to involve the public in the commissioning process.
In achieving the above aims the following will be undertaken:
* the establishment of a project team to oversee the management of the project;
* the agreement of a comprehensive marketing strategy attached to the project which will be undertaken by a part-time marketing consultant;
* the agreement of an education programme which would be led by Lincolnshire County Council's Education Department to be undertaken in Louth schools;
* the appointment of a part-time project manager who will manage the project and will be responsible to the Project Team.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project comprises of three linear sites. These are:

3a. Louth Navigation and River Lud 1998/1999
The first project will be based at the Louth Navigation and River Lud. This is an artery running through the town centre and is historically important in that it encouraged prosperity in the town through freight transportation.
More recently the river has been developed as a leisure facility with resting spaces created along its course. There are plans for the redevelopment of the Riverhead and this is where the project would start, as an integral part of an European Regional Development Fund initiative to develop the Riverhead Warehouse as a recreational and cultural centre.
The commissioning of works on this site reasserts the importance of the location in the contemporary life of the town and reflects its historical relevance.
In addition related works will be commissioned for strategic locations within the town such as Engine Gate Walk linking the centre with the surrounding countryside.
3b. Meridian Line 1999-2000
The second project will be based on the Meridian Line which uniquely bisects the town. The Line is currently marked in the paving at Eastgate.
An artist should be appointed to identify a series of sites along the line and develop proposals with the site owners.

The project will be developed as an integral part of Lincolnshire County Council's £200,000 package of enhancements for the town centre.
3c. Hubbards Hills 2000-2001
The final project will be at Hubbards Hills. This is a site of important geological significance and is linked through the river to the previous year's project.
The area is a mixture of wild and cultivated landscape and an important tourist attraction.
The commissioning of a series of works leading from the park to the town centre would link all three locations and could make an important contribution to an existing tourist facility.
4. PROJECT TEAM
The project team is a special group set up to oversee the project and comprises representatives from:
Louth Town Council
Arts Development, Lincolnshire County Council
European Development, Lincolnshire County Council
Education Directorate, Lincolnshire County Council
Commissions East
Groundwork Lincolnshire.

5. APPOINTMENT OF ARTISTS
The appointment of artists for all three projects will be by limited competition managed by Commissions East.
The selection of the artist for the first project has already been undertaken and artist blacksmith Simon Percival has produced preliminary designs for the first stage of the project.
6. EDUCATION STRATEGY
The development of an education strategy integrated within the Louth Public Art Project, was agreed as an important priority by the Project Team from an early stage in the project and Jaci Gill, Curriculum Advisor for Lincolnshire County Council was invited to join the team to advise in this area.
The planned strategy intends to meet the County District and Town Council's commitment to local participation and awareness of the arts.
Preliminary meetings have taken place with a number of local schools which has generated substantial interest and it is suggested that three schools become involved annually over a three year period. This would provide an excellent foundation for cross phase and inter-school liaison.
The following activities are planned:
· Training for teachers
a programme which would aim to involve local teachers in the project
· Exhibitions
an exhibition of collaborative work between artists and pupils.
· Evaluation
a continuing programme of evaluation by Project Team and teachers over the three year period.
In addition a number of sessions are planned with local disability and other interest groups. These will be initiated by the Steering Group and organised by the project administrator in consultation with the Town Council.
7. SUMMARY
· A series of three projects will take place over a three year period;

· these will follow pre-identified pathways which are linked to natural features within the town;

· the project partners should be encouraged to commit funding for a three year period;
· artists will be appointed by limited competition for each pathway;
· the commissions will aim to encourage the discovery and understanding of locations;
· the artists will be required to participate in local workshops allied to the commissions;

· the trails will be promoted through local and regional tourist offices;
· the projects will be used as source material for education projects after they are completed.