Peninsula Greenwich residents and local arts groups are being encouraged to work with two newly appointed Directors of Art to enhance the evolving public realm at Greenwich peninsula, one of London’s newest urban riverside developments.

Bridget Sawyers, a qualified Architect and Urban Designer, and Vivienne Reiss, former Head of Visual Arts Learning and Development at Arts Council England, have been selected as co-Directors of Art by a client group of bodies involved in the Peninsula’s regeneration.

The client group is headed up by national regeneration agency, English Partnerships, and includes representatives of Arts Council England, Greenwich Council and the peninsula’s two principle developers, Meridian Delta Ltd (a joint venture between Lend Lease and Quintain Developments Plc) and Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd.  It was set up by English Partnerships to ensure that a collaborative, inclusive approach is adopted to the provision of art in the public realm across the peninsula in support of the area’s ongoing transformation into a well-connected, sustainable community.

Philip Dibsdale, Area Director for Greenwich at English Partnerships said:

“This year we’re commemorating the first ten years of regeneration on the Peninsula, so the appointment of the Directors of Art is very well-timed. They will be announcing an artist competition commissioned by English Partnerships to mark this significant milestone. Art in the public realm makes a major contribution to the character and identity of a place and goes hand-in-hand with regeneration”.

“Bridget and Vivienne bring a wealth of experience and talent to this project and their appointment will make a big impact on the creation of a thriving public realm. We want to encourage local residents to play a part in making Greenwich peninsula an attractive, distinctive place to live, work and visit.” 

Bridget Sawyers, appointment of art directors for Greenwich Peninsula, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to incorporate art into the regeneration of a unique place.  We hope to develop a meaningful programme, in partnership with both local residents and arts organisations, which provides some delight for the public realm!”

Vivienne Reiss added:

"The art programme will respond to the peninsula - its history, the architecture and the landscape.  Artists will collaborate with local people to create art work that will provide insights into the evolving community, and a new way of seeing future developments in this area."

The Directors of Art are tasked with delivering an art programme over the next two years, founded on the original Greenwich Peninsula Public Art Strategy commissioned and published by the client group in 2006. As part of this programme they will be developing a series of activities to include artists’  commissions, school and community arts projects and outdoor events as well as link up with existing Greenwich and London cultural initiatives.

 Art in the public realm will be used to help create a sense of place and will contribute to the development of the social and physical identity for Greenwich peninsula.  Local people will be encouraged to get involved in the creative process by working alongside professional artists. 

ENDS

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Anna Davidson at ING Media on 020 7392 1940 or email: anna@ing-media.com

Notes to Editors

English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency. Our aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England. The agency is overseeing the regeneration of Greenwich peninsula and has invested over £225m in the last ten years. English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency.

Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places. They develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government.  Between 2006 and 2008, they will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts.  This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England.  They believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.  For 2006 to 2008, they have six priorities: taking part in the arts, children and young people, the creative economy, vibrant communities, internationalism and celebrating diversity.
www.artscouncil.org.uk

Greenwich Council is the local authority responsible for providing a diverse range of public services to residents and businesses in the inner London borough including refuse collections, social housing and education services. It covers an area of more than 5,000 hectares stretching from Deptford in the west to Thamesmead in the east and Eltham in the South to Woolwich in the north and serves a population of approximately 226,600 people. There are currently more than 100 different languages spoken in the borough, and it’s estimated that about 25 per cent of the Borough’s population are from ethnic groups other than white. The Council's ongoing aim is to make Greenwich the place to live, work, learn and visit.

Greenwich Millennium Village is a joint venture development by Countryside Properties plc and Taylor Wimpey Developments Ltd in association with English Partnerships.

Countryside Properties is a leader in property development, the creation of sustainable communities and urban regeneration.  The Group is widely recognised as a responsible developer which is totally committed to sustainable development.  The Company, which was incorporated in 1958, is owned jointly by the Cherry family and Bank of Scotland which is providing the Group with significant funding. 

Taylor Wimpey Developments Ltd is a part of Taylor Wimpey plc, listed on the London Stock Exchange and the UK’s largest homebuilder.  Through its homebuilding brands George Wimpey, Bryant Homes and G2, Taylor Wimpey provides nationwide coverage in the UK, building one bedroom apartments and starter homes up to large detached family houses.  As well as operating in the UK, Taylor Wimpey plc builds homes in North America, Spain and Gibraltar.

Greenwich Peninsula

The £5 billion regeneration of 190 acres of Greenwich Peninsula led by Lend Lease and Quintain Estates and Development PLC working with English Partnerships, will create a thriving new riverside community for London over the next 15 years.

• 10,000 new homes in distinct residential neighbourhoods
• 24,000 permanent jobs
• Peninsula Central  - a new business district for London 
• 150 new shops and restaurants
• 1.6 miles of river frontage; the distance between Waterloo and London Bridge
• 48 acres of open spaces and parks; the size of Green Park
• Extensive new community and leisure facilities
• The O2 entertainment destination delivered and operated by AEG Europe
• Excellent transport links, situated in zone 2 on the jubilee line
• Aspiration for the highest environmental standards for new buildings

Lend Lease, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, is a leading real estate specialist which creates and manages real estates assets around the world.  In the UK its business is focussed primarily in the delivery of large scale mixed use schemes which lead to the regeneration of major urban sites.

Quintain Estates and Development PLC is a leading property investment and development company specialising in strategic property acquisition, redevelopment, asset management and regeneration across the UK. Quintain operates through three business segments - fund management, property investment and urban regeneration. Quintain is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a FTSE 250 company.