Kent arts organisation recognised on the European stage

6 May 2008 11:32 AM

Folkestone based Strange Cargo Arts Company has been recognised by the 5th European Prize for Urban Public Space, for their ambitious public art project ‘Other People’s Photographs’. The Prize is awarded every two years to projects that promote activities to improve public spaces and the quality of life in towns and cities across Europe. Strange Cargo gained a special mention alongside two other European projects for its work. This year, over 170 projects from 26 European countries presented for the Prize.

‘Other People’s Photographs’ involved local communities in collecting photographs of the people Folkestone and the satellite towns of Sandgate and Cheriton. The photographs feature residents outside in the streets, resulting in a collection of 1650 images representing life in the town over 120 years. All of the images together with voice recordings that tell the stories behind them, are included on an interactive 3D map of the town accessible via touch screen units at the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre, Folkestone, the main commissioning body for the project. From this remarkable archive, a photograph has been reproduced as a permanent street sign for each one of the town’s 540 streets.

‘Other People's Photographs’ has also been shortlisted for two other awards, the Arts and Business Award, (winner to be announced on Tuesday 17 June 2008) and for the Charities Award, to be announced on Thursday 19 June 2008.

Brigitte Orasinksi, Artistic Director of Strange Cargo Arts Company said: ‘Strange Cargo is absolutely delighted to be recognised for the innovation of our public art programme. ‘Other People’s Photographs’ has demonstrated that community engagement is no barrier to creating cutting edge work’.

Lauren Belle, Combined Arts Officer at Arts Council England, South East said: ‘This is a thrilling achievement. As one of the Arts Council’s regularly funded organisations, we take great pride in the work of Strange Cargo and it’s creative style and vigor. This acknowledgement is a credit to the company and its exhilarating way of working with the people of Folkestone.’

Notes for editors:
1. The European Prize on Urban Public Space is an initiative that the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) co-organises with the Architecture Foundation of London (AF), the Architekturzentrum Wien (Az W), la Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine of Paris, the Suomen Rakennustaiteen Museo of Helsinki (SRM) and the Nederlands Architectuurinstituut of Rotterdam (NAI). For more information on the prize visit www.urban.cccb.org/prize/

2. The jury met on 28 and 29 April at the CCCB and decided to award the following projects:

Winner: 5th European Prize for Urban Public Space:
Barking Town Square - muf architecture/art, London, United Kingdom .

Special mentions:
Other People’s Photographs - Strange Cargo Arts Company, Folkestone, United Kingdom

Torre del Homenaje - Antonio Jimenez Torrecillas, Huéscar, Spain

centrum.odorf - Froetscher Lichtenwagner, Innsbruck, Austria

3. Other People’s Photographs has been funded by:

• Interreg III European funding


• Arts and Business


• Bride Hall Developments and Warner Estates


• Arts Council England, South East


• Shepway District Council

4. For more information on Strange Cargo Arts Company, visit www.strangecargo.org.uk

5. Arts Council England, South East is the south eastern regional office of the national development agency for the Arts. Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places. We develop and promote the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm’s length from government.

Between 2006 and 2008 we will invest £1.1 billion of public money from Government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England.

We believe that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country. For 2006 2008 we have six priorities:

• Taking part in the arts


• Children and young people


• The creative economy


• Vibrant communities


• Internationalism


• Celebrating diversity

For more information and images contact:

Mark Bryant
Communications
Arts Council England, South East
01273 763062
mark.bryant@artscouncil.org.uk