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4 March 2010
At the recent Arts & Business East Awards 2010, together with our JV partner Annington Homes and Colchester Borough Council’s Cultural Services Department we received the prestigious Community Award for the public art at Fortuna Park in Colchester.
Divided into six categories, the Arts & Business East Awards celebrate the finest partnerships between the commercial and cultural sectors recognising excellence in everything from innovation & technology to cultural branding and young people.
At Fortuna Park we worked with the artist Richard Layzell and 800 community members in an project which created a distinctive artwork at the heart of a community recreation space.
The partnership worked with the community and actively included them in the art project, encouraging creative experimentation and enabling them to voice some deep-seated concerns. The result was the creation of ‘Bricole di Venezia’ a public work of art which drew on the town’s historical links with Venice.
Chris Crook, Subsidiary Managing Director, Countryside Properties, said: “We have worked closely with the Colchester Borough Council and the artist to create something that has connections with the local area and which residents at Fortuna Park can enjoy and appreciate.
Public art is increasingly popular and we try to include it in all of our new homes developments as it gives them a landmark , helps to create an identity and gives the development a ‘sense of place’. We wanted to include the community in the process, which is why we enlisted the help of the local school children. They now have something colourful and fun, which they can be proud to say they helped create.”
Lucill Curtis, Communications Manager, Colchester Borough Council said, “Colchester Borough Council is really delighted that this project has been recognised as a valuable means of celebrating and delivering regeneration and local community engagement with the arts, in partnership with Countryside Annington (a joint venture between Countryside Properties and Annington Homes).
The aim of the project was to add character and visual interest to the development and, with the help of artist Richard Layzell, it has helped to engage over 800 people, adding social and cultural value to the area.
This award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the benefits that the whole community has received from this project, including workshops with local schools.”
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Information correct as at 04/03/2010