Public Art inclusion in BER Infrastructure Projects
 |
A brilliant opportunity exists for those schools who received funding under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century and Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools elements of the Building the Education Revolution (BER). These schools now have the opportunity to work with some of the state?s best artists to integrate public art into the realisation of their projects.
The incorporation of good public art occurs during the planning phase and schools have the opportunity RIGHT now to look at a variety of ideas including, but not limited to the incorporation of indoor/outdoor furniture, entry statements, interactive sculptures, congregational areas and performance spaces.
This BER public art opportunity is unique to Tasmania and will enable the delivery of innovative building projects that really engage and connect with the school and wider communities. It establishes a model where the federal government, state government and individual schools are able to pool their resources to demonstrate their commitment to inspiring 21st century students and the wider community.
The public art component of projects will be managed by arts@work, which has a strong track record of delivering the State Government's Art for Public Building Scheme. The Scheme has seen the purchase or commissioning of more than 1300 artworks by 400 artists at over 400 sites statewide with Tasmanian schools boasting the most comprehensive schools-based contemporary art collection in the country.
Those schools that have previously been involved with art@work on Art for Public Buildings Scheme projects will know the inherent benefits and the ease of incorporating art into building projects. |
The general principles and processes of the Art for Public Buildings Scheme will be implemented with the differences being:
• This initiative is only open to projects valued between $850,000 and $3,000,000
• Participation is optional
• Schools must use their own general purpose non-BER funding
• The minimum artwork budget is 1% of the BER project cost excluding GST per project
• The public art component must not delay BER construction commencement or completion deadlines
The Tasmanian BER public art model is an important element in the Prime Minister?s desire to inspire people to feel that they have a personal stake in the re-energising of our economy. Through the incorporation of art into BER projects, schools will have a clear pathway to represent the values, beliefs, hopes and vision of their particular school. Engaging in art commissions builds a school?s reputation and acknowledges that success relies on creativity and innovation. A diverse, dynamic and creative culture ? and a clever, kind and connected community, is achieved
