Place Making residency
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
The Crafts Council and Kent Architecture Centre will team makers with architects for an on-site ‘Place Making’ residency at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, hosted by the University of Kent School of Arts, from today (13 March) to 15 March 2012.
Six teams each comprising of a maker and an architect will work on an open brief that asks the teams to work on a proposal for the last major undeveloped site in the former Royal Naval Dockyard. Each will be joined by a student from the Fine Art course at the School of Arts, providing a live learning opportunity.
The brief for the Place Making residency is intentionally very open in order to allow for a wide range of interpretation and the project does not have to result in a tangible outcome. The objective is to encourage exploration and experimentation and see how specialist skills and understanding of materials can be utilised to maximum impact.
The methodologies, challenges and outcomes will be recorded in order to provide a useful resource for potential future collaborations between the two creative fields of architecture and craft. It is an area that is rich in potential with both makers and architects bringing complementary skills and knowledge to partnerships.
The participants are as follows;
Architects;
Simon Barker (Barker Shorten Architects LLP), Jon Akers Coyle (Gillespies), Jane Fowles (Novell Tullett), Kasan Goh (Clay Architecture Ltd), Nayan Kulkarni (NK Projects UK Ltd), and Jonathan McDowell (McDowell + Bendetti).
Makers;
Lee Borthwick (textiles/installation), Lin Cheung (jewellery), Rebecca Gouldson (metal), Duncan Hooson (ceramics), Ismini Samanidou (textiles) and Eleanor Pritchard (textiles)
Students;
Alexandra Hanschell, Ben Crawford, Charlotte Smith, Maria Treadwell, Martin Trowbridge, Nathan Hawthorne, Sophie Dixon
Quotes
“Makers’ sensibility gives them a unique perspective on how people engage with the material world. This residency is a great opportunity to really explore how the skills of makers and architect can work together to result in a rich creative output.” Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council
“We are delighted to be working with the Crafts Council to provide a platform for collaboration for makers, architects and designers. Through this exciting, experimental programme we want to help to broker a new understanding between disciplines and to support the development of place making practice that reinforces and reflects the often intangible but unique qualities of a place.” Chris Lamb, Director, Kent Architecture Centre
“This is a fantastic opportunity for young artists developing their practice to collaborate as equals with architects and established makers on a truly experimental journey of discovery through process and dialogue.” Peter Hatton, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Creative Events; Tim Meacham, Lecturer, Fine Art, University of Kent, School of Arts
ENDS
For more information please contact Jill Read, Crafts Council Press Office Tel: +44 (0) 20 7806 2500, Email: media@craftscouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• The Place Making project is part of Portfolio, a strand of the Crafts Council’s progamme of continued professional development (CPD) for makers called Collective.
• The participating makers and architects were selected through invited application.
About the Crafts Council
• The Crafts Council’s goal is to make the UK the best place to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft.
o We believe that craft plays a dynamic and vigorous role in the UK’s social, economic and cultural life.
o We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make, see, collect and learn about craft.
o We believe that the strength of craft lies in its use of traditional and contemporary techniques, ideas and materials to make extraordinary new work.
o We believe that the future of craft lies in nurturing talent; children and young people must be able to learn about craft at school and have access to excellent teaching throughout their education.
• The Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £0.85 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
About Kent Architecture Centre
Kent Architecture Centre (KAC) is an independent not-for-profit team of committed design and planning professionals who assist in place making and provide design support to local communities, local planning authorities and the development sector. A social enterprise in the voluntary and community sector, we were established in 1995 in The Historic Dockyard Chatham, to support North Kent. We now offer assistance and support across the South East, and throughout the UK, through three programmes: participation, training and advice.
Kent Architecture Centre
About University of Kent, School of Arts
The School of Arts at the University of Kent has an excellent track record in teaching and research with campuses at both Canterbury and Medway. At Medway, the emphasis is on courses with strong practical, creative or vocational elements. The School of Arts is based in the Chatham Historic Dockyard and offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses across three subject areas; Creative Events, Fine Art, Music and Audio Arts and Performing Arts.
www.kent.ac.uk/arts
About The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s primary charitable objectives are to preserve The Historic Dockyard at Chatham in a manner appropriate to its archaeological, historical and architectural importance. It promotes and fosters a wide knowledge and understanding of these features for the public benefit. In addition, it recognises and welcomes its role as a leading player in the on going regeneration of Medway and The Thames Gateway. Believing that culture and heritage should be at the heart of ‘place making’ has been an enduring theme of the Trust and an ever more recognised one.
www.thedockyard.co.uk
