Green Heart Partnership receives a high commendation at the Community Partnership awards, second place for the prestigious award of Best Community Partnership >>
From regenerating struggling communities to tackling health inequalities, the Community Partnership Awards acknowledge dedication and endeavours towards improving the quality of life for current and future generations. The awards play a vital role in celebrating this success, as well as providing a benchmark for the industry to develop and grow.
Green Heart Partnership received second place for the prestigious Best Partnership award for the work GHP has developed throughout the 11 local authorites in Hertfordshire, and was also nominated for the Best Project award, for the work delivered on the regeneration of Stevenage Town Centre Gardens.
This major one-day national seminar will explore strategic commissioning and how local authorities may need to adapt to meet the growing demands for continuing cultural service development against the downturn in the national economy. It will consider how local authorities can get responsive delivery systems in place which are fit for task and how to access commissioning areas, with consideration of alternative forms of service delivery to meet the needs of the crosscutting agenda.
The seminar will also launch a new case study report ‘Outside In’ which looks at options and issues concerned with externalising local authority arts service delivery.
As well as considering option appraisals of how we can get good service delivery systems in place that are fit for purpose, the seminar will also offer different models of delivery, including contracting out to trusts and the commercial sector to provide future cultural services. With case studies, keynote presentations, breakout sessions and discussion forums, the seminar will seek scope the future landscape in which we will all work across England and Wales.
Transforming Northamptonshire
Haring Woods present at a symposium hosted by the Northampton Institute of Urban Affairs, part of the University of Northampton 18 November 2009
The County of Northamptonshire is facing complex and significant challenges which will severely test their ability to deliver services for a changing population. Successful towns and regions are defined in part by clarity of vision and good leadership. What is Northamptonshire’s vision for the future and how will this vision be realised and resourced?
The Northampton Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) delivered an important symposium which discussed the challenge to explore radical solutions to current and future issues facing the county. Attendees included a cross section of decision-makers charged with delivering Northampton's future, and was chaired by Chris Durkin, Associate Director of NIUA.
Tony Beckwith, Senior Consultant on the Public Realm for Haring Woods made a presentation on how to reinvigorate a sense of 'we' back into the public sector and local government through arts and culture. The morning of presentations was followed by interactive workshops where Michael Woods, Eileen Haring Woods and Tony led workshops to further explore the issues presented, drawing on our models of creative visioning and inter-disciplinary collaboration with local and regional governments.
The overall aim of the symposium was to explore the options available to Northampton in the context of creating a very different future. The outcome of the discussions will be published in the form of a “Green Paper” produced by the Northampton Institute for Urban Affairs which will then form the basis for continuing dialogue with relevant audiences.
Creating safe spaces for the whole community
Haring Woods run workshop on community ownership at Green Space's conference Making it Safe, Royal Geographic Society, London
17 November 2009
Haring Woods’ practice builds interdisciplinary working teams across local government departments, positioning stakeholders and artists to manage creative approaches to sustainable design, use of space, funding and achievable action plans. Tony Beckwith and Adriana Marques from Haring Woods presented a current Green Heart Partnership scheme, the Hertsmere Community Spaces project, providing three new shelter designs for the whole community benefiting from our PerceptionAREA consultation process. The workshop explored how interdisciplinary working enables partners to resolve potential conflicts of interest, and how interdisciplinary creative working can achieve innovative, and valued public space facilities that all can enjoy.
Haring Woods Consultant Benjamin Barber speaks at the Barbican as part of British Council’s 75th anniversary 4 November 2009
Patriotism, Autonomy or Subversion? The role of the arts in democratic change
In his lecture Ben Barber urged the democratic state to promote alternatives to a heavily commercialised, monochrome artistic climate. His animated and at times controversial address, explored the history and relationship between the arts and democracy, culminating in the long-raging question - can or should the arts be a driver for social change?
Joined by a panel of leading cultural commentators and arts practitioners, including Turner Prize winning artist Grayson Perry, comedian Natalie Haynes, Paul Heritage of People's Palace Projects and chaired by BBC Arts Correspondent Razia Iqbal, Ben discussed whether an industry goal of instrumentality would be an act of patriotism, autonomy or subversion.
Ben's talk was part of the British Council's 75th anniversary. Activities to celebrate this special anniversary include a programme of events and sharing of inspirational stories. By hearing from people around the world who have been involved with our work and enhancing our existing cultural relations activities, our 75th anniversary programme aims to help more people to benefit from our cultural relations work in the UK and globally.
Eileen Woods, Senior Partner and Artistic Director for Haring Woods Studio with writer Paul Shepheard at the pre-talk reception
BBC Arts Correspondent Razia Iqbal with Eileen Woods and Haring Woods Seinor Consultant Jan-Gustav Strandenaes
Benjamin R. Barber is a Walt Whitman Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University, a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, and President and Director of the international NGO CivWorld at Demos, and its annual Interdependence Day event. An internationally renowned political theorist, Dr Barber brings an abiding concern for democracy and citizenship to issues of politics, culture and education in America and abroad. He consults regularly with political and civic leaders in the United States and around the world. Benjamin Barber's 17 books include the classic Strong Democracy and the international best-seller Jihad vs. McWorld, which has been translated into twenty languages. Barber's honours include a knighthood from the French government and the Berlin Prize of the American Academy of Berlin.
Interdependence Day is an international initiative developed by Haring Woods associate Benjamin Barber and his NGO CivWorld, with think tank Demos, USA which aims to raise awareness of the interdependent character of global society and foster transnational and interdependent solutions to global challenges.
HWA has participated in Interdependence Day 2006, in Morroco, 2007 in Mexico City, Brussels in 2008, with The Art of Common Space featuring as a leading theme.
Eileen Woods is a member of the Global Steering Committee, which includes Jacqueline Davis (USA) Executive Director of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Sebastian Escultor (Mexico) one of Mexico’s most prominent living sculptors and co-host of Interdependence Day 2007, Guy Gypens (Belgium) Artistic Director of the Kaaitheater, and Host of Interdependence Day 2008, Lord Frank Judd (UK) parliamentarian and international negotiator, Adam Michnik (Poland) co-founder of Solidarity (Solidarnosc), editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, the first independent Polish newspaper, Claus Offe (Germany) Professor of Political Science at The Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, Saskia Sassen (USA) one of the foremost thinkers on cities in a global context and Cornel West (USA) Professor at the Center of African American Studies Princeton University.
Istanbul, Turkey is host to this year's Interdependence Day.
Read more at www.civworld.org >>
Herts Association of Cultural Officers (HACO), Borehamwood,
Hertfordshire
Green Heart Partnership 19 June 2009
Executive Director, Michael Woods and Green Heart Partnership manager Nicola Paddick presented an overview of the Green Heart Partnership's work over the last six years. HACO were unanimous in recognizing the Green Heart Partnership’s success and strength of brand, and how this can be further developed for the county of Hertfordshire over the coming years. Of particular interest was the fact that ‘Perception AREA’ - the innovative arts led public consultation process developed across the county - has now been utilized to work with the United Nations Habitat on a global scale through ‘Place on Earth’.
Arts Council England, East, Cambridge
How the arts can help address the economic downturn by making use of empty retail space and animating town centres 17 June 2009
Eileen Woods was invited by Arts Council England East to present to members of the eastern region Local Government Arts Forum as part of their initiative to stimulate arts led activities in vacant shops.
Shop windows are a major element of the eye level urban landscape and can impact positively on the sense of place, the economy and well being of the community. Equally empty windows and shops can have significantly detrimental effects on city centres and high streets.
HWA senior partners Michael Woods and Eileen Woods were directors of Vantage Design and Vantage Productions & Events, one of the UK’s most successful and influential promotional companies. Their creative strategies, design and build of store window and in store displays for international brands produced landmark work for every major department store group, high street flagship stores and shopping centres throughout the UK.
Over 20 years, HWA has created and produced arts led shop window installations, as part of the programme content for arts and environment festivals, seasonal parades and special events.
This short powerpoint presentation, prepared for the Arts Council East meeting on June 17th provides a background to arts led activities in both empty and trading shops together with a sampling of current approaches and achievements. Download ShopTalk/TalkShop presentation >>
Responding to the need for strong private / public sector partnerships to re-animate city centres and high streets, HWA are exploring a range of creative concepts for individual sites, regional and national initiatives.
UN Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya
Introducing 'Place on Earth' 2 April 2009
Haring Woods Associates were invited by UN-HABITAT programme to propose a new concept for their youth and climate change initiative. On 2 April 2009 the Haring Woods team represented by Michael Woods, Eileen Woods and Jan-Gustav Strandenaes presented Place on Earth at the UN-HABITAT Governing Council 22, at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, to an audience of Council delegates, NGOs and international youth programme specialists.
HWA are now working in partnership with UN-HABITAT to develop the Place on Earth initiative.
Arts & Environment Network Steering Group, CIWEM
"Putting creativity at the heart of environmental policy and action” Ongoing
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is the leading professional and examining body for scientists, engineers, other environmental professionals, students and those committed to the sustainable management and development of water and the environment. As part of CIWEM’s commitment to widening public understanding of the challenges to our planet, a major new strategic programme on Arts and the Environment was launched in 2007.
Eileen Woods was invited to be a part of the Arts & Environment Network Steering Group, contributing to the development of this new initiative’s creative, strategic and policies and activities: "Putting creativity at the heart of environmental policy and action”. Fellow members include Michaela Crimmin, David Haley, Clive Adams, David Pritchard and Mark Flecther.
The A&E Network’s unique offer is to provide a link between the professionals charged with managing environmental issues and creative practitioners The details of the Network’s remit are published here: http://www.ciwem.org/arts/
A&EN is not a funding body, but an invaluable resource to support artists as makers of change in the development, planning and realisation of a sustainable environmental.
For more information, or if you are interested in becoming part of the Arts & Environment Network, please email arts@ciwem.org
Goldsmiths College, University of London - MA in Culture Industry
The reality of socially engaged practices 17 March 2009
Tony Beckwith delivered a lecture to MA students at Goldsmiths Centre for Cultural Studies, led by Dr. Matthew Fuller. This MA uses an innovative mixture of advanced cultural theory, and practice-based elements including placements and student-led research and experimental projects, aiming to put debates about organisation and production at the forefront of cultural thinking. Tony spoke about HWA's practice at the forefront of cultural regeneration practice and especially focusing on the juxtaposition of developing a socially engaged practice through a commercially successful business model.
More information on the MA in Culture Industry at Goldsmiths >>
Forum for Local Government and the Arts (FLGA), Belfast,
Northern Ireland
Plenary Session: Influencing Change in the Public Realm through
Arts and Culture 17 February 2009
Due to his inspiring presentation at the 2008 conference, requests were made by members asking for a return visit from Tony Beckwith from Haring Woods Associates. Joined by Michael Woods and Eileen Woods, HWA discussed their practice, where the arts are positioned at the centre of regeneration and growth and how this can be successfully delivered through local government.
Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF)
How the arts can explore environmental sustainability 20 November 2008
Tony Beckwith presented to Hertfordshire Environmental Forum the latest environmental projects in development by HWA. He spoke primarily about the Art of Common Space project which looks at exploring a new use and potential for our commons spaces, and in particular the Energy Cafe by artists Amy Plant and Ella Gibbs, known as Pilot Publishing, who have been creating a community led off-grid cafe at Gunpowder Park with self built bicycle powered generators and stoves. Tony presented this scenario as an ideal example of how ‘the arts’ can turn a space, in this case an underused overflow car park, into a vibrant hive of creative activity that explores real every day solutions to global issues of environmental sustainability through hands-on projects; remembering that old adage: “I read I forget, I see I remember, I do I understand”.
Annual Forum for Local Government and the Arts (FLGA), Belfast,
Northern Ireland
The role of arts in sustainable communities 4 November 2008
Held in the Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena, Tony Beckwith was one of the key speakers at the annual FLGA forum, discussing the role of the arts and creative industries in building sustainable, mixed communities across various local government areas of the UK, including delivery and evaluation of impact. This was also a valuable opportunity for elected members, arts officers and activists to address key issues for the sector.
From left to right: Tony Beckwith, HWA, Rosemary Kelley, Chairman, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Noelle McAlinden, Chair FLGA, Nick Livingston, Head of Strategic Developement, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Jackie Barker, Arts Policy Officer, FLGA, Esko Rainkainen, Arts Development Officer, Monmoutshire, Wales
Image courtsey of FLGA
Renaissance East of England, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Museums, Sustainability & Growth conference 24 October 2008
The conference brought together two strands of work in the current Renaissance East of England programme and discussed the sustainability and growing community agendas. Tony Beckwith was invited to present the work that HWA had developed in partnership with Essex County Council Creative Partnerships and private sector developers to develop a Cultural Strategy for Tendring District and subsequently an Arts Strategy for Jaywick.
The challenge in Jaywick was to establish a neutral way to positively engage the community with their changing environment. Haring Woods Associates (HWA) were chosen because of their track record in consulting with the public in creative ways to inform policy and development. They worked in Jaywick for 3 years on a series of interdependent arts projects designed to engage the community in framing a positive future for the town.
Interdependence Day, Brussels, Belgium
The Art of Common Space 9 - 12 September, 2008
Interdependence Day is an international initiative developed by CivWorld and Demos, USA which aims to raise awareness of the interdependent character of global society and foster transnational and interdependent solutions to global challenges. As an annual event led by political theorist Dr. Benjamin Barber, Interdependence Day 2008 was co-hosted by Kaai Theatre and the European Parliament, Brussels and featured a dialogue on The Art of Common Space programme and the potential art, architecture and design have to deliver truly common and democratic spaces.
Eileen Woods chairing the Art of Common Space panel.
Eileen Woods, Senior Partner and Artistic Director for Haring Woods Studio with writer 
BBC Arts Correspondent Razia Iqbal with Eileen Woods and Haring Woods Seinor Consultant Jan-Gustav Strandenaes
Speakers from the plenary session
From left to right: Tony Beckwith, HWA, Rosemary Kelley, Chairman, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Noelle McAlinden, Chair FLGA, Nick Livingston, Head of Strategic Developement, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Jackie Barker, Arts Policy Officer, FLGA, Esko Rainkainen, Arts Development Officer, Monmoutshire, Wales
Eileen Woods chairing the Art of Common Space panel.