Phase I of Art at the Centre ran from 2001-04 and awarded contracts to regeneration schemes in Bicester, Reading and Slough. The scheme aimed to secure a greater role for the arts in creating and sustaining urban communities and to influence planning and public policy in areas of urban design whilst strengthening arts facilities. This stratgey would help to develop a new multi-partner approach to urban renewal, encourage the adoption of 'best practice' in urban design, create new opportunities for artists to become involved in inner-city renewal, and to facilitate an exemplary approach to cultural planning.
The locations were identified as embodying the South East's urban environment - where wealth and growth is prevalent but unevenly distributed - whilst offering energies and challenges particular to their locale. By embedding art within the plans for urban renewal, Art at the centre enabled the towns to address these issues from a fresh and invigorated perspective.
Phase II
Phase II of Art at the Centre was intiated between 2005-08 and sought to build upon the successes of the first phase whilst focusing upon areas where maximum impact might be achieved, rather than where there is necessarily a strong tradition of artists working in the urban landscape. It also introduced a more robust evaluation framework and clearly defined objectives whereby Art at the Centre should:
Act as a catalyst for sustainable creative regeneration
Encourage cross-departmental working within local authorities
Create the opportunity for artists to work with commercial developers during regeneration programmes
Encourage greater diversity within the regeneration sector
Actively involve young people in regeneration initiatives
Encourage a lively, creative and responsive area to develop green space in our towns and cities
Build upon the dissemination models established during phase I to create best practice information
On this basis, grants of £45,000 per annum were awarded to successful applications from Swale Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council and Isle of Wight Council.
