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Safeguarding Per Cent for Art in Health and across the Public Sector
The Arts Council has produced a case in defense of Northern Ireland's 'percent for art' principle for public buildings.
The principle of Per Cent for Art is currently being reviewed by Northern Ireland's the Department of Health (DHSSPS), and has been the subject of some public debate and negative coverage in the media. Per Cent for Art ring-fences up to one per cent of capital budgets for the commissioning of new integrated art in building and public realm projects.
This is a comparatively very small but crucial injection of funds to provide the opportunity for artists to work in public buildings, professionally and with design teams, to improve the quality of public buildings. In the healthcare setting, in particular, much good work has been delivered over recent years, transforming often dull and/or intimidating environments into welcoming, stimulating and reassuring ones. Per Cent for Art from the government departments is needed more than ever.
The Arts Council has produced a number of points in support of the principle, including:
• Per Cent for Art’ is vital because it is ‘one-off’ (and not a rolling) investment. New facilities for health are designed for this and future generations: rather than building dismal, ‘bare minimum’ facilities, we have the opportunity now to build public buildings which will become civic beacons to be proud of.
• Integrated art is strongly connected to positive democratic engagement: encouraging creativity amongst patients, staff and users, both at the commissioning stage and for years to come. Integrated art is sensitively considered and contextualised during commissioning – it is not akin to simply acquiring an art ‘collection’ to be hung on walls or placed in courtyards.
• Integrated art improves the quality of life for staff; there is a huge workforce in healthcare and a related issue of losing staff through poor working conditions. Integrated art also improves the quality of life for users, perhaps especially long-term users of facilities. Artwork plays an important part in giving a sense of ownership to otherwise alienating surroundings.
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