Independent curator and producer Theresa Bergne joins us at STEAMhouse to talk about commissioning art in the public realm. Drawing on her extensive experience, and referencing a range of previous projects, she will focus on the reality of the process involved in artworks being realised – discussing the different ways projects come about and the stages of development they involve.
The session will be invaluable for anyone interested in making permanent or temporary public art and will include lots of advice about what you should take into account whether you are an artist responding to a brief or devising your own project, or a curator or commissioner developing projects in the public realm.
Our Speaker
Theresa Bergne is an independent curator and producer working under the auspices of her own organisation, Field Art Projects, specialising in commissioning artists to work in the public realm. Her passion is to work with artists to develop new work outside of the formal gallery setting, both permanent and temporary; to broaden audiences for the visual arts; and to broker the often complex relationships with partners to make this possible.
This has included managing an exhibition and commissioning programme for the Canary Wharf Group in Docklands over ten years, curating and producing exemplar programmes in hospitals (Barts West Wing), student settings (University of Bristol), and for major regeneration programmes in London, Bristol and Weston-super-Mare. She also initiates her own projects including the acclaimed work by Janet Cardiff 40 Part Motet and is currently developing an ambitious gateway commission for the Nine Elms district.
Since 2011 she has been delivering participation projects in the southwest working with local neighbourhood partnerships and housing associations. Theresa is on the steering group for the new UK-wide Public Art Network and is also a member of the steering committee for Bristol’s DIY Culture Network that influences strategic thinking about arts and culture in the city. She has recently joined HS2 as part-time Arts, Culture and Design Specialist.
Image credits:
Serena Korda, Work As Movement Archive, 2012, Photo: MaxMcClure
Sarah Staton, Edith and Hans, 2016, Photo: Max McClure
