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Public Art can play an important role in the regeneration of our urban and rural areas: it can enhance buildings, civic spaces, or even major transport schemes.
Artwork can range from the large scale, such as highway sculptures – to the small scale, such as decorative brickwork or sculptural entrances, and can involve a wide variety of techniques.
The community can directly participate in projects, such as a park entrance mosaic; and the psychological benefits of artwork to those in hospital or clinical environments have been well documented.
Dudley borough is proud of its local heroes and has celebrated their lives in projects commemorating footballer Duncan Edwards, actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke, film director James Whale and comedian Billy Dainty among others.
Public art provides appropriate art in a range of environments.
Benefits can include:
an improved sense of wellbeing through sensitively constructed or therapeutic environments such as hospital gardens or clinical areas.
something as simple and necessary as sensitive lighting, beautifully (and locally) constructed pathways, fences, or doors - all of which create artistically enhanced and integrated architectural essentials.
adding quality and distinctiveness to projects, captivating the imagination of those who see the work and instilling in them a sense of civic pride.
it also creates employment opportunities for regional artists, craftspeople, manufacturers and technical staff.
For twenty years, Dudley Council was one of the few local authorities in the country to have its own public artist – Steve Field (now retired). The post was recognised at a national level and collected awards such as the National Art Collections Fund Award for an outstanding contribution to the creation of art ‘outside the gallery’ and the Royal Society of Arts ‘Art for Architecture’ Award.
Public Art in the borough of Dudley will continue to be delivered through bespoke commissions, and in the majority of cases through planning obligations and external funding opportunities. Please contact the Placemaking Team on the email address given below, for advice on public art commissions, art strategy documents, also art and restoration opportunities.
For information on funding opportunities for your projects, take a look at the Arts Funding page, and then come back to the Placemaking Team on the email address given below for more advice if required.
As well as the direct design and creation of artworks, the Public Art Unit can provide other advice, for example, the organisation of public art competitions, the production of art strategy documents; or general research, illustrated talks and tours of public art.
If you think a piece of public art will add value to your project please do get in touch.
Dudley Public Art is a website created by keen supporter of public art, Brian Carr, documenting much of the borough's public art, it is an excellent resource.
We recognise that borough residents want to remember and honour the deceased or a significant event in a public way, we manage this through the commemorative plaque scheme (blue plaques).
