On Saturday 11th April 2015 the ‘Imaginarium of Common Understanding’ (2015) officially opened to the public! As an ‘On Your Doorstep’ Transported commission (http://www.transportedart.com/strands/) the project has been developed in consultation with over 350 members of the community in a bid to engage more people in arts activity, improve the sustainability of the site and develop a sense of legacy and ownership.
Nick Jones, Programme Director, Transported: ‘we decided to get artists to take their art direct to communities and to the places that they had suggested were in need of attention, spaces ranging from cemeteries to woodland walks, unloved play areas to muddy duck ponds.’ (http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/279/case-study/art-their-doorstep)
The installation responds to a series of specific points raised by residents of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, including the following:
“Create something refreshing, stimulating, interesting”
“Improve the ecology”
“Make sure the history of the site is not lost”
“Attract more visitors”
“Maintain the privacy of the site”
“Celebrate/illuminate the history of the region”
Tim Machin, chairman of Long Sutton and District Civic Society, said: “The society is delighted to be working with Transported and Robyn Woolston in this project to make the pit an even more enjoyable place to visit. The artwork installation has been inspired by, and chosen, in wide consultation with the community as a whole and we hope that they will enjoy visiting the Common Pit for many years to come.”
Transported is a strategic, community-focused programme which aims to get more people in Boston Borough and South Holland enjoying and participating in arts activities. It is funded by the Creative People and Places fund from Arts Council England.
The Creative People and Places fund is focusing investment in parts of the country where people’s involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average, with the aim of increasing the likelihood of participation.