Beyond the Cut
Seven commissioned artists respond to The Galton Valley, Smethwick: January – April 2004
In December 2003 I was approached by British Waterways to devise and deliver a large-scale creative project in the Galton Valley area of Smethwick, Birmingham. Together with colleagues at The Public we devised the outline for 7 participatory art projects that would creatively explore this beautiful part of the West Midlands canal network and engage with the many people who live and work alongside.
Working in close consultation with British Waterways, we commissioned seven local and nationally based artists to undertake a variety of projects that would all be realised in time for a celebratory weekend event in April 2004. The seven artists -Nettie Edwards, Gregg Wagstaff, Peter Hill, Carolyn Morton, Harry Palmer, Joseph Potts and Cathy Rogers – were invited to participate in several planning workshops during the three-month project in order to generate a deeper understanding of the area, develop a sense of sharing and community, and to support each other in the realising of their own project. Each artist produced their own unique rich response to the brief, and together the projects are a diverse reflection of the many strands of life of this area.
All of the projects were shown at the Beyond the Cut event in the Galton Valley during the weekend 3rd – 4th April 2004.
The project was closely supported by three experienced facilitation artists – Bobby Bird, Dave Pollard and Andy Scholes – who worked very closely with each commissioned artist to help develop ideas and practically realise their work.
Beyond the Cut was devised and managed by myself and Angela Hind of The Public, and supported by Lorraine Murphy and Alexander Downes of British Waterways.
