Progress meeting for the Sutton Heritage Mosaic

Commission Consultation

Listening to your desires - the brief

Once you are happy with the estimated cost of your artwork the first task is to draw up a brief. This can range from a simple word to a complex document defining exactly how you would like your mosaic to look. For instance the mosaic right, for a school in Chicago began from a brief which simply said "Feathers".

Whereas this one below, on a rail bridge in south London had a complex brief incorporating: heritage; sustainability; recycling; youth inclusion; black history; transport past, present and future and the involvement of many community groups.

Site Survey

Alongside the brief a site survey is carried out, this will identify what needs to be done to prepare the area for the receipt of your mosaic and also what is particular about your site that may influence the design, this would include: the surrounding architecture; site specific history; the landscape; or perhaps the local community.

Involving the community

Engaging the local community can prove vital to a site specific artworks success and this can begin right from the outset of a project.

Initial community consultation can take a number of forms:–

• Surveying residents, passers by, local residents and business owners on their views on a proposed artwork.

• Talking to local stakeholders, such as: a local historian or historical society; planning and council officials; local councillors; community and tenants groups, to draw out themes and ideas.

• Running design workshops with local schools and interested community groups. (LEFT: A pre design school workshop explores themes of time and layers through the earth as part of an initial series of workshops for the Earth Core Columns project) (BELOW: An Asian youth groups discusses and draws ideas for a sculpture project in Leicester)

• Mounting an exhibition of initial proposals for an area.

• Taking part in local events, such as fairs and open days to offer people the chance to talk about the project.

Whatever your wish for your own artwork Gary can guide and advise on the possibilities so that the commission begins on the right track to creating a work that is both artistically exciting and reflects your own particular identity.