In July 2024 UP Projects and Sheppard Robson Architects hosted a roundtable event that explored the positive role that art and artists can play in shaping places, including engaging communities and contributing social value.
The roundtable challenged the idea that public art is just a “nice to have”; frequently being commissioned as an afterthought or because it has been stipulated as a planning condition.
You can read a summary of the conversation that brought professionals from across public art, architecture, private development and local authority sectors together to discuss what changes are required to foreground the value of public art.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the roundtable for taking part and sharing your thoughts and knowledge:
- Jo Baxendale, Senior Policy Officer, Visual Arts & Public Realm, Greater London Authority
- Clarissa Bromelle, Head of Social Imagination, Human Nature
- Zerritha Brown FRSA, Head of Culture, London Borough of Camden
- Dan Burr, Partner, Sheppard Robson
- Synthia Griffin, Arts & Culture Manager, Barnet Council
- Dann Jessen, Director, East
- Moira Lascelles, Executive Director & Head of Partnerships, UP Projects
- Adriana Marques, Head of Culture, Peabody
- Kevin McGeough, Head of Placemaking, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
- Philippine Nguyen, Head of Cultural Programmes, Waltham Forest
- Olaide Oboh, Director, Socius
- Jessica Reynolds, Director, vPPR Architects
- Anna Shapiro, Partner, Sheppard Robson
- Ian Taylor, Strategic Projects Consultant, UAL
- Emma Underhill, Founder and Artistic Director, UP Projects
- Debbie Whitfield, Director of Impact, Fabrix
- Emma Wilcox, Founding Director, Creative Estuary