building culture: procurement of UK arts construction
building culture: procurement of UK arts construction
Year
2019-2021
Services
Research & Publication.
Authors Bridget Sawyers
and Walter Menteth,
Project Compass CIC
building culture: procurement of UK arts construction
building culture describes how cultural buildings are conceived and procured, through a review of data, case studies and interrogation of the processes - an invaluable resource for anyone commissioning arts and cultural buildings in the UK.
building culture is a uniquely comprehensive investigation that offers research, guidance, analysis of Covid impacts and recommendations for communities, arts professionals, commissioners, clients, architects, project teams and policy makers for future best practice.
“Building Culture is a comprehensive survey and commentary of the processes and power of cultural development and its reach across the United Kingdom. The authors … then present some of the urgent and important challenges and issues of our time … expertly framed through a diverse set of exemplar projects as case studies … situated … within the complex … world of planning, policy, and funding regimes. The result will prove an essential resource to students, practitioners and others looking to understand the world of cultural development with all its many challenges and opportunities … The recommendations the authors present to us here are central to a dialogue which is much needed about the values and principles needed for our society in the future.” Donald Hyslop, Chair of Creative and Cultural Skills UK.
building culture looks at the procurement data for 421 arts and heritage capital projects across the UK between 2013 and 2018 to establish what procurement route was taken, what guidance was provided and by whom, who were the consultants appointed, some examples of best practice and some less good, and lessons learnt.
Based on this evidence and previous research, building culture then makes recommendations for the key funding bodies and those advising or undertaking arts and heritage capital procurement and projects.
In order to understand the landscape of arts and cultural buildings and their procurement it has also been required to understand the funding ecology and specifically that of the national arts funding bodies. This is seen in the light of the current context as the sector responds to Covid, Brexit, austerity and the future challenges of a Climate Emergency.
building culture contains a foreword by Donald Hyslop. Ten case studies by eminent architects, competition programmers and a client, including: Ian Ritchie, Brian Heron, Tim Ronalds, Sarah Featherstone, Hana Loftus, Alex Reedijk, Nicola Walls, Angus Morrough-Ryan, Jim Roberts, Chris Coleman-Smith, Luke Cooper and Sylvia Hebden.
“This in-depth study of how cultural spaces are conceived and procured is highly valuable to clients and design teams who often work in seeming isolation creating and adapting projects.”
Over 204 pages of research, case studies, illustrations and appendices. The publication contains:
• Unique data analysis of the procurement processes of the sector
• Procurement analysis
• Sustainability, inclusivity and social value overviews
• Strategic insights and recommendations
• Resources and references
“Building Culture invites reflection and consideration of what has been achieved and what has been learned, so that better processes of commissioning and construction, grounded in evidence and experience might follow. In conducting such an extensive and intelligent review, Building Culture, offers those seeking to build for culture a productive place to begin.”
About the Authors
Walter Menteth FRIAS is an architect, planner, writer and educator. He is director of Walter Menteth Architects, Project Compass CIC, Trustee of the North Southwark Environment Trust and Regeneration Partnership Manager at the London Borough of Enfield. He holds the inaugural 2015 RIBA President’s Medal for Research and an RIBA President’s Award for Practice-located Research for his work on procurement reform.
Bridget Sawyers ARB, RSA is cultural producer, architect and urban designer. She is director of Bridget Sawyers Ltd and Project Compass. She was previously Chief Executive of the Architecture Centre Network, Head of Regions at CABE, Senior Architecture Officer at Arts Council England and a Capital Assessor for Arts Councils England, Wales and Creative Scotland – all with a focus on improving design quality in the built environment.
Hear a bit more about the authors in an interview with Donald Hsylop as part of his regular show Listen. Let’s Talk for Resonance.fm
The publication is available now. RRP £35 + £3.60 UK post & packing
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This publication is one in a series produced by Project Compass CIC whose aim is to improve procurement to create better design. Other publications include:
> Design Contest Guidance: for selecting artists and design teams, May 2018
> Glossary of UK Terms: design contests and competitions, May 2018
See: Project Compass CIC