A public meeting to discuss the latest news regarding the ambitious Big Art project will be held at the Small World Centre in Cardigan on Tuesday, September 2nd from 8pm onwards. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Cardigan’s chosen artist, will be at the meeting along with curator Wiard Sterk and representatives from a number of stakeholders including the technical feasibility team. Anybody wishing to post a question for consideration in advance of the meeting is asked to do so by either e-mailing Rhodri@cambrensis.uk.com or posting comments here.

The meeting will be an opportunity to present findings from the feasibility and technical studies undertaken on the river using prototype buoys. Although the large amount of data has yet to be fully evaluated, initial findings seem to suggest the Strand, rather than Prince Charles Quay, may prove to be a more suitable and practical location for the final artwork. More tests remain to be done, but the final findings from the research and recommendations on the way ahead will be presented at the meeting and a public mandate sought.

Wiard Sterk, said, ‘The trials on the river Teifi, which are still ongoing, are gradually shedding light on a number of issues concerning the practicalities of situating an ambitious art installation on the Teifi. Once the processing of this data is complete we will need, with the consent of the people of Cardigan, to make some concrete decisions.’

‘If the long-term suitability of the Prince Charles Quay location needs to be looked at then we will need to bite the bullet and present alternatives. I hope as many people as possible can attend the meeting to allow a fully informed and open discussion on this exciting project.’

For further information please contact Rhodri Ellis Owen, Cambrensis Communications on 029 20 257075.

The next public meeting will be held in Cardigan on Tuesday, September 2nd. The exact time and venue will be announced over the next few weeks. Visitors logging on to this site will however have an opportunity to post questions and comments on the proposed artwork in advance of the meeting.

In attendance at the public meeting will be Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Cardigan’s chosen artist, curator Wiard Sterk and representatives from a number of stakeholders including the technical feasibility team.

Wiard Sterk, said, ‘The feasibility stage of the project is progressing well, with trials using prototype buoys on the river Teifi to assess the potential impact on wildlife and the practicalities of situating the installation on the Teifi. Many of the previously voiced concerns and comments have been taken on board.’

‘Detailed results from this feasibility study will be presented for discussion at the public meeting on September 2nd. The findings, which will include the artwork’s detailed design, technical specifications and an impact assessment on river navigation and wildlife, will directly affect the future viability of the artwork and will be the basis for any final decisions made regarding the placing of the artwork.’

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