After a gruelling few days and evenings trying to collate and log all of the expressions of interest, we presented them all to the shortlisting panel, consisting of internal and external stakeholders, art commissioning specialists and local borough representatives. After five hours of debate and discussion, the panel were able to shortlist eight fantastic artists to take through into the next stage.
Some of the shortlisted artists:
On Monday of this week we took those artists through a rigorous and comprehensive briefing session, which included a variety of presentations to give context and background. The presentations ranged from the detail of the bridges and underpasses to an outline of how the development of the area will be planned given by London Development Agency, and from sustainability and ecology to community engagement and inclusive design given by ODA teams.
It was also an opportunity for the artists to ask challenging questions of the design team and interrogate the brief that would enable them to develop proposals to integrate art into the fabric of the bridges and underpasses. The artists were asked to consider the bridge parapets, decking and bridge supports as well as underpasses to create a lasting and safe environment during and beyond 2012.
And if four hours of presentations and questions wasn’t enough, we then took the artists to Holden Point (a building adjacent to the Park) to view the site in context to the other major developments in Stratford including the Channel Tunnel rail link and Stratford City development.
A view from Holden Point:
After a long day of briefing, the artists left with lots of food for thought and hopefully ideas buzzing around in their heads which, I expect, will lead to many more questions over the next six weeks as they work up their proposals.
We’re really looking forward to the next few weeks and 22 September, when we receive proposals on for the final panel to make the decision on which artist(s) will be awarded the bridges and underpasses commission.
Watch this space!
