A new website dedicated to all things Big Art in Cardigan goes live today, Tuesday 1st July. The interactive bilingual site www.cardiganbigart.com / www.celfyddydaberteifi.com , designed locally by Creative Mwldan, will provide up-to-date information on developments regarding Turbulence, the ambitious public art project proposed for the town.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s proposal is for an installation consisting of a cluster of 127 floating buoys. Containing speakers, an LED light source and sensors that detect movement in the water, the buoys will be activated by turbulence in the river Teifi, releasing pre-recorded sounds (on shore and via the web) which can be heard from the shore. Rafael has suggested the piece is intended as a reflection on Welsh oral traditions, poetry and song, creating a playful participative platform that is activated by the natural cycles of the tide.

Wiard Sterk, on behalf of the Big Art Project, said, “There is a lot still to be done before the artwork comes to fruition in Cardigan. However, this new website offers a great means of instant communication. We want everybody to know what is happening, and when. In turn, we want to invite people to engage with the Big Art Project anytime of the day and from anywhere in the world, whether it is Rafael blogging back home in Canada or a Cardigan resident keen to pose a question.

“This website will hopefully become a forum for a number of different dialogues and an important means by which people can engage with this unique process of commissioning public art. Rafael is a great believer in the power of the Internet. He has used it widely in previous works and indeed it is likely to form a major part of the long-term proposal for his Turbulence project. It is only fitting therefore that the Internet should also be used to inform as many people as possible about the Cardigan project.”

Sam Vicary, Project Manager, on behalf of Creative Mwldan added, “This public art project is a first for Cardigan and we are very proud as a local creative team to have been asked to work on this website’s development. We designed the site to be as interactive and as user friendly as possible and hope it will encourage greater engagement not only amongst those already involved with the Big Art Project but in engaging new audiences at home and abroad with what is taking place in Cardigan.”

The Big Art Project is an ambitious public art initiative from Channel 4, supported by Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts, and The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity. Cardigan was nominated by members of the public as one of the seven sites to take part, alongside local communities in Beckton, North Belfast, Burnley, The Isle of Mull, Sheffield and St Helens. Filming began in 2005 and this major television series will be broadcast on Channel 4 in November, 2008.

Big Art talks – make sure your voice is heard

World-renowned artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer will be making his third visit to Cardigan to discuss the latest on the town’s Big Art Project at a public meeting to be held at Cardigan Secondary School Hall on Friday 29 February at 7pm. The meeting, which is open to all, will be an opportunity for all those interested in the project to be updated on the project’s progress and discuss a number of issues raised on the proposed Prince Charles Quay art work location.

In attendance, alongside the chosen artist and Cardigan’s Big Art Project curator Wiard Sterk, will be representatives of key stakeholder, regulatory and interest groups heavily involved to date in this ambitious project.

Wiard Sterk, curator of the Big Art Project, Cardigan, said. “I hope as many people as possible – be they individuals or members of additional interest groups - will be encouraged to come along to Cardigan Secondary School Hall on Friday to hear what we have to say, state their own suggestions or concerns and work with us on mutually acceptable solutions. This fantastic project needs the full support of the people of Cardigan if it is to work and I know Rafael is extremely keen to hear as many views as possible and address any concerns, before finalising the design and location.”

The Big Art Project in Cardigan is part of one of the UK’s biggest public art commissioning schemes. It was set up by Channel 4, and is supported by Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts and The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity. Channel 4 has commissioned Carbon Media/Princess Productions to produce a series of programmes tracing progress across the seven UK sites. This will be broadcast later this year. More information is available on the website: www.channel4.com/bigart

Big Art seeks solutions through dialogue

Constructive discussion was the order of the day at a recent meeting held at Creative Mwldan in Cardigan to address a number of issues relating to the proposed design and location of the Cardigan Big Art project.

In attendance, alongside the chosen artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Cardigan’s Channel 4 Big Art curator Wiard Sterk were representatives of key stakeholder, regulatory and interest groups heavily involved in this ambitious project. These included the Afon Teifi Fairways Committee, Menter Aberteifi, Countryside Council for Wales, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Environment Agency, Chamber of Trade and the Otter Consultancy.

The meeting was an opportunity for all involved in the project to discuss concerns raised locally and to seek practical advice and guidance on how to make the proposed Prince Charles Quay location work in reality.

Wiard Sterk, curator of the Big Art Project, Cardigan, said. “The meeting was called in response to perceived problems with the proposed location of the finished art work. It is important that as many views as possible are heard, and in particular those people or groups with specific expertise and responsibilities relating to the river Teifi. These include those from stakeholders and members of the public who feel that the current proposed Prince Charles Quay location might prove problematic for passage along the river Teifi. It is our duty to allay these fears, find practical solutions and deliver a project of which Cardigan and Wales can be proud.

“The talks were extremely constructive and good progress was made. While the perfect solution may not yet have been arrived at, I am confident that with expert advice, the constructive support of all interested bodies and further public exploratory meetings we can make the original location work.

“The Channel 4 Big Art Project offers such great opportunities for the town. It is important therefore that Cardigan not only gets a truly great public art installation but one which finds itself in the right location, creating maximum impact for residents and visitors alike.

“A follow up public meeting will be held in Cardigan at the end of February, the date and location of which will be issued shortly. By this time, following the recent meeting, the draft design will have been further refined and I hope that as many people as possible – be they individuals or members of additional interest groups - will be encouraged to come along to hear what we have to say, state their own suggestions or concerns and work with us on mutually acceptable solutions to make this fantastic project work for Cardigan and its people.”

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer added, “The response from the people of Cardigan who have seen the project so far has been overwhelmingly positive and I look forward to the public meeting where I can meet more locals and consider and address any concerns they might have about the project.”

The Big Art Project in Cardigan is part of an ambitious UK wide public art commissioning scheme. It was set up by Channel 4, and is supported by Arts Council England and The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity. Channel 4 has commissioned Carbon Media/Princess Productions to produce a series of programme tracing project progress. This will be broadcast later this year. More information is available on the website: www.channel4.com/bigart

For further information please contact Rhodri Ellis Owen or Lleucu Cooke at Cambrensis Communications on 029 20 257075.

Artist selected by Cardigan community

Internationally-acclaimed multimedia artist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, has been selected by a Welsh community to develop a new public artwork for the Prince Charles Quay in Cardigan, as part of Channel 4’s Big Art Project.

Innovative Montreal-based Mexican-Canadian multimedia artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is best known for enormous hi-tech interactive works, using lights and shadows that take over public spaces, sometimes for weeks at a time.

The site’s nominator is Jim Evans, who is working with fellow steering group members Barbara Myers and Paul Oakley. Jim says he wants the new artwork to help put Cardigan more firmly on the tourist map, and to create a new, attractive and unique public space at the heart of Prince Charles Quay and the Teifi Estuary regeneration programme. The curator for this commission is Wiard Sterk, Executive Director of Public Art Wales.

Rafael recently visited the site and the Big Art community in Cardigan to share his initial ideas and to explore the site in detail. He will now begin work towards a detailed proposal for a new artwork for this small and vibrant West Wales town.

Channel 4’s Big Art Project is a major public art commissioning initiative. The Big Art Project opened in 2005 with a call for the public to nominate sites they felt would benefit from an art installation. Channel 4 received over 1400 nominations from which seven sites were selected across the UK, including Cardigan. The progress of the project is being filmed for a major TV series to be broadcast in 2008. It will offer a candid account of the successes and pitfalls on the journey towards achieving new public art works.

About Public Art Wales

Public Art Wales is a new agency formed through the merger of Cywaith Cymru – Artworks Wales with CBAT the Arts & Regeneration Agency. Together they form a unique organisation with a combined track record of 25 years. Based in Wales, PAW works throughout the UK and internationally, developing projects in which artists have a central role in shaping and reflecting our built and natural environments. With offices in Cardiff and North Wales it employs some 15 staff and receives generous funding from the Arts Council for Wales and Cardiff County Council. It has and extensive portfolio of projects, working in partnership with its public and private sector clients and communities. Current projects include a major Public Art Strategy for the Heads of the Valleys region, a £1.5million commission’s programme for the St David’s 2 retail development in central Cardiff and the development of a large commission for Derry city centre.

More information from www.lozano-hemmer.com and www.channel4.com/bigart Rhodri Ellis-Owen Cambrensis Communications 02920 257075