News
'Fleet: Art in the Haven Ports' artists appointed
Commissions East's international partnership project 'Fleet: Art in the Haven Ports’ is now underway with the appointment of Gavin Turk as lead artist. Gavin Turk is one of the Young British Artists (YBAs), who came to prominence in the 1990s following the Frieze exhibition organised by Damien Hirst. His work has been included in many international exhibitions and collections. Gavin will contribute to Fleet’s overall artistic vision and support the other artists.
Two artists in residence have also been appointed. Photographer and film-maker Sarah Dobai will be based at Jaywick Martello Tower near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. The tower was built in 1809 as one of a string of over a hundred towers along the South and East Coasts to prevent invasion by Napoleon’s forces. Today it is an innovative arts and community venue. www.jaywickmartellotower.org
Artist Mary Lemley will be based at the HMS Ganges Museum in Shotley in Suffolk. Located at the Marina, the volunteer-run museum houses memorabilia from the Royal Navy’s HMS Ganges shore training establishment for young recruits. www.hmsgangesmuseum.org.uk
Both artists will start work at the sites in mid-November with the culmination of their projects due in Spring 2010.
'Fleet' Background
‘Fleet’ is a major programme of visual arts projects taking place in the East of England’s Haven Ports. Sites along the Rivers Orwell and Stour in Essex and Suffolk will host events, commissions and residencies. These projects will be open to the public and will be connected by widely promoted bike, boat, train and walking routes, encouraging visitors to explore the coastline and experience contemporary art in an environmentally sustainable way.
Following on the 2009/2010 residencies, six artists will be commissioned in Summer 2010 to respond to an additional four sites (Landguard Fort in Felixstowe, Pin Mill in Suffolk, St Mary’s at the Quay in Ipswich and Mistley in Essex), while Jaywick Martello Tower and the HMS Ganges Museum will host further residencies, this time with French artists.
As well as the six commissions and two French residencies, over Summer 2010 Fleet’s ‘Face2Face’ partner organisations from France, Espace Croisé, Saison Vidéo and artconnexion, will present an exhibition and a film series to the UK. Exploiting the area’s proximity to mainland Europe and encouraging cross border links and cultural exchange is an important element of Fleet - as is its involvement with Turner Contemporary in Kent.
With its emphasis on high quality visual arts in unusual coastal locations; on sustainable transport; participation and inclusiveness, and its international reach - plus its role attracting tourism to the area, Fleet is a unique cultural programme which will test new ways of working and investigate the role and impact of public art.
Fleet is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund Interreg IV A, with additional support from Arts Council England, East and Essex County Council.