Public Art Gateway Group

The Public Art Gateway group was established in 2019 and maintains an overview of public art commissioning and ongoing management of public art within Coventry. This includes artwork commissioned for or designed into a public space, as well as artist-led projects and activities which reflect or comment on the local environment.

The group works on behalf of Coventry City Council and provides early advice, guidance and signposting relating to public art ideas and proposals. The group will also provide oversight for the commissioning, monitoring and decommissioning of public artworks and schemes across Coventry. This includes approving proposals when they satisfy requirements for artistic, planning and maintenance liabilities.

Aims of the Public Art Gateway group

The four aims of the Public Art Gateway Group are to:

  • provide a centralised function for supporting and ensuring the commissioning, monitoring and decommissioning of public artworks and schemes across Coventry have been undertaken correctly, including consideration of artistic quality, planning suitability and maintenance obligations
  • signpost organisations wishing to commission or install public artworks to relevant advice and guidance
  • work with partners to effectively and regularly communicate public art developments and opportunities; advocate for the inclusion of public artworks within the city, and contribute to relevant policies and strategy documents
  • respond to enquiries involving the planning and commissioning of public art and to relationship manage external organisations and individuals leading on public art projects as relevant

Meetings and Membership of the PAG

The Public Art Gateway Group meets a minimum of four times per year, additional meetings are arranged as necessary.

Terms of reference [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6288/public_art_gateway_terms_of_reference]  

The Group is made up of named representatives from the following City Council teams and partner organisations:

  • Sport, Culture and Destination, Coventry City Council
  • Transport Highways, Coventry City Council
  • Planning,  Coventry City Council
  • Public Realm, Coventry City Council
  • Parks and green space, Coventry City Council
  • Safety Advisor, Coventry City Council
  • Streetscene – Coventry City Council
  • Finance Coventry City Council
  • Advisor - Culture Coventry

Representatives and advisors from other organisations will be invited to meetings as and when required.  

Contact us

Please email ArtsDevelopment@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:ArtsDevelopment@coventry.gov.uk?subject=Public%20Art%20Enquiry] and mark your email subject as ‘PAG Enquiry’.

How the Public Art Gateway group can help you

The Public Art Gateway group is here to both advise on and approve new proposals as well as to hear your views and concerns about any public art already in the city. 

"I want to talk to you about an existing artwork"

Any member of the public can alert us to any issues or concerns about a piece of public art in the city through the Issue Notification Form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33388/pag_issue_notification_form]. For example, this form could be used to tell us about an artwork that is damaged, or you believe is inappropriate, or requires maintenance.

 "I want to talk to you about an idea or proposed artwork"

Any individual, business, or organisation in Coventry can benefit from initial the advice of the Public Art Gateway group by submitting a Stage One Enquiry Form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33389/pag_stage_one_enquiry_form] about your proposed work or idea. Phase one will help you think through and develop your idea even if it is only at the concept stage.

If your plans are more developed for example you know the scale size and nature of the work and where you want to site it you can submit a Stage Two Enquiry Form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33390/pag_stage_two_enquiry_form]

If you have any questions please get in touch and we will be happy to advise you.

Where possible, please provide a minimum of a four-month lead-in when submitting any forms to enable appropriate and timely advice to be sourced as this could take longer should the artwork be located in a conservation area, on/near a listed building or require planning permission.

To make an enquiry please download the correct form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6223/public_art_gateway_group_pag_enquiry_forms] and include as much information as possible, submit your form to ArtsDevelopment@coventry.gov.uk  [mailto:ArtsDevelopment@coventry.gov.uk ?subject=PAG%20Enquiry] and mark your email subject as 'Public Art Gateway group enquiry'. 

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