SA1 art plans to boost waterfront development

New artworks could be on their way to Swansea's landmark SA1 development.

A new SA1 Swansea Waterfront Public Art Strategy has been commissioned to guide and inform the installation of a sequence of public artworks that will enhance Swansea's SA1 area for the benefit of all.

Swansea Council's Cabinet will on Thursday be asked to approve the strategy aimed at best investing £1.11 million worth of funding provided by developers for public art as part of planning agreements for that area.

As such this money can only be used for the specific purpose of providing public art.

In terms of the development value of SA1 as a whole- which has involved £250m in private and public sector finance- this sum represents a very small percentage of SA1's entire development value.

But it will provide for the creation of a variety of artworks including sculpture, walking trails in stones, metal and glass as well as landscape projects and street furniture.

And every attempt will be made within procurement regulations to obtain as much as possible locally to ensure the money remains within the local economy.

The strategy would also sponsor a limited number of temporary events in the SA1 area, the exact nature of which is still being considered.

It is hoped the pieces will be commissioned over the next two years and will ornament the area as well as signalling investment, activity and economic vitality to attract future development.

Sites for permanent projects could include Ice House Square, Riverside Walkway, an area around the Prince of Wales Dock, the Leisure Quarter Area and Dock Edge Area as well as a landmark feature at Lock Channel Park and a landscape feature at West Channel Park.

Other sites include East Bank (the site of former East Pier) and the main entrance to SA1.

If Cabinet agrees, a steering group will advise Swansea Council's Director of Regeneration and Housing who will have the power to approve artworks and events commissioned in accordance with the Strategy.

Cllr Gareth Sullivan, Cabinet member for Cabinet Member Economic and Strategic Development, said: "The ambition for SA1 is to create a vibrant addition to the city of Swansea; somewhere that combines places to work, places to live and places to relax and enjoy leisure time.

"It has long been recognised that public artworks can make a positive contribution to the environment by ornamenting public space and engaging with the onlooker.

"These projects can enable spaces to offer different experiences for people of all ages, such as places to relax in, places to be active in and places to be entertained in.

"Examples of public art in place in Swansea include much loved features within the Swansea Marina development including the Dylan Thomas and Captain Cat sculptures.

"This strategy aims to ensure that the funding for artworks available through section 106 agreements with developers is best spent in SA1 and is an asset to the area for generations to come."