Projects
"What is common space in our 21st century multicultural society?"
Artist Simon Faithfull follows the Meridian line in an epic journey that sees him negotiating all obstacles and individuals encountered as he attempts to cross private property, the M25 and Gunpowder Park. Read More >>
Dialogues Experience Mapping Research and Development
The Art of Common Space is a new programme of commissions, events and an international online network which aims to generate new thinking and influence the development of our common spaces through creative exploration. This extensive programme is commissioning new work by artists Simon Faithfull, Usman Haque and Rob Davis, Pilot Publishing and Proboscis to explore the common space in our 21st century multicultural society through experimental site specific projects at Gunpowder Park; and in collaboration with New York based organisations CivWorld and Demos, The Art of Common Space is producing a series of dialogues with international cultural, political and religious leaders. The first Dialogue Redefining Common Space through the Arts, Architecture and Design launched the programme on 29-30 May, 2008 at the Design Museum, London and Gunpowder Park.
Drawing on the historic term of ‘the commons’, The Art of Common Space looks at the basic premise of ‘public’ space and asks if there still exists a space which we can call ‘common’ – an essential space that through its use, facilitates the celebration and bringing together of individuals from the diverse cultures that constitute our modern society.
Over the next year this programme will provide a unique opportunity for artists, creative professionals and public realm specialists to explore new ideas for creative public realm development by considering the use and reality of our common and public spaces, as both physical and social sites. It also provides new opportunities for a diverse audience to engage with the issues of ‘common space’ through a unique programme of experimental commissions, interdisciplinary discussions, live events and an online network of international projects.
New website coming soon
The Art of Common Space programme will develop through the following strands: Dialogues, Experience, Mapping, Research & Development and Legacy, which will be featured on a new website to be launched in early Summer 2008. The Art of Common Space website will provide up to date information on all the Dialogue events, track the progress of the new Experience commissions in Gunpowder Park, provide an inspirational resource of international projects on the Mapping pages, feature the Bright Sparks Research and Development projects and provide a virtual space where all of this work and debate can create a Legacy to instigate more creative development of our public spaces. The new website will also provide background information on the first concepts of The Art of Common Space as developed in collaboration with American artist and theatre director Robert Wilson during the Robert Wilson Stage A Workshop.
For further background information please download the The Art of Common Space book which details the vision and aims for this extensive programme.
The Art_of_Common_Space (pdf 750k)
The Art of Common Space programme is curated and produced by Landscape+Arts Network Services.
