WIREDGOV

Arts Council England is extending its consultation on the future of Architecture Week to include practitioners throughout the built environment sector.

After sharing the Architecture Week review with its partners the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Architecture Centre Network, the Arts Council will now carry out wider consultation with the sector, including the Architecture Foundation, IGNITE and local authorities, to help decide the most effective way of engaging the public with art and architecture.

The review was commissioned by the Arts Council and conducted by Leeds Metropolitan University to give an independent appraisal of the value of Architecture Week.

Discussions between Arts Council England, RIBA and Architecture Centre Network resulted in three of the review’s original seven options being taken forward for further consultation.

The three options are:
1. An annual or biennial programme of up to nine key architecture events located around the country.
2. An annual regional event – a form of Architecture Week to be held in a different region each year.
3. Supporting current and continuing activities taking place throughout the country related to art, architecture and the public realm that are not currently part of Architecture Week.

Consultation will take place throughout September and the Arts Council hopes to make a final decision about the future of Architecture Week later this autumn.

Andrew Brown, Acting Director, Visual Arts Strategy at Arts Council England, said:

“The Leeds Metropolitan University review was crucial and gave us an objective overview of the strengths and weaknesses of Architecture Week.

“Discussing the review with our partners at RIBA and Architecture Centre Network has been hugely beneficial, but it is important that we now consult the sector more widely before making a final decision.

“Whichever option is chosen, Arts Council England will continue to support art and architecture through its £149 million investment in visual arts over the next three years.”

The consultation document can be downloaded at: www.artscouncil.org.uk/architecture



For more information contact:
Julie Yau, Assistant Media Relations Officer, Arts Council England
020 7973 6557 / julie.yau@artscouncil.org.uk

Notes for editors:

1. Anyone interested in contributing their views to the consultation should contact Sara Trentham: sara.trentham@artscouncil.org.uk

2. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives.

As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of
artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography
to digital art, and carnival to crafts.

Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.

Between 2008 and 2011, we will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

www.artscouncil.org.uk