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A new creative space at the Waterfront or Fort Regent, a ‘culture curriculum’, a public art panel, collaboration with Health and the sports sector, and an annual private fundraiser are among the suggestions put forward in a new five-year 'roadmap' to help the arts thrive in Jersey.
Commissioned by the Government, the ‘Arts Strategy for Jersey’ was developed by Dr Tom Fleming of Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy, an international consultancy for arts, culture and the creative economy.
The 53-page document recommends recommended the creation of an 'Arts Development Unit' within Government, which would include a maximum of three people, to champion and advocate for the arts across Government and oversee investment and work with other partner,; as well as a ‘Jersey Creative Island Partnership’ to “boost the profile, connectivity and investment across the arts and build strategic relations with other key sectors”.
It also aims to demonstrate the art sector’s contribution to island life socially, economically, environmentally and culturally, with recommendations for each theme.
Express delved into the recommendations...
Pictured: The Arts Strategy recommended the creation of a local arts and cultural curriculum.
With a limited number of schools and education settings, Jersey could have “the most joined-up arts education offer in Europe”, according to the strategy.
This would require the creation of a ‘Jersey Arts and Cultural Curriculum’, based on a review of global best practice and co-designed by arts and cultural organisations, creative professionals and the schools.
The strategy also recommends connecting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects to the arts and cultural sector, building on the current STEM programme led by Skills Jersey, to create a ‘STEAM pathfinder’. This could involve commissioning environmental scientists and artists to create new learning tools and experiences.
A Young People’s Creative Makers Space and creative making programme should also be established, possibly with links to the Barclays Eagle Lab Maker Space at Jersey Library, to enable young people to explore digital fabrication alongside arts-led workshops and project activities.
A Youth Arts Council and a Jersey School of Arts, to build the professional capacity of the arts in Jersey and boost long-stay sustainable ‘residency tourism, have also been suggested for consideration.
Pictured: Local arts would benefit from shared facilities with local sports.
There is evidence that arts and culture are already “making a big difference to the health and wellbeing of Jersey’s residents”, according to the report, but their role is not “widely understood or invested in”.
To enable arts to play a “central role” in tackling issues related to mental health and physical recovery, “an arts and cultural prescribing model” based on best practice and developed with the Arts in Healthcare Trust has been recommended.
The strategy also notes that the arts would benefit from sharing community infrastructure with local sports, such as the wellbeing hubs being planned as part of Jersey Sport’s Inspiring Active places programme.
It is also being suggested that the Government should commission an annual project celebrating the island’s “full diversity” and enabling artists and audiences of all abilities to fully participate in island life.
A programme of “socially-engaged arts activities” shining light on recovery and promoting the arts as a key part of a healthy Jersey for the future has also been proposed for 2023.
Pictured: Arts can help enhance the built and natural landscape, thus helping improve Jersey’s “distinctiveness”.
The strategy argues that the arts can not only help build and inspire environmental responsibility among residents and visitors, but also enhance the built and natural landscape, thus helping improve Jersey’s “distinctiveness”.
The main recommendation in this area would be to establish a distinctive “arts and cultural tourism product”, developed and delivered by arts and heritage organisations, while Visit Jersey would focus on the development of the cultural tourism package/itinerary.
This could include site-specific commissions for public art works at key sites, as well as arts education and wellbeing interventions connecting different communities to the island’s natural and cultural landscape.
This could support Jersey Heritage’s ‘Aspiring Jersey Island Geopark Visitor Centre’ project, which the consultants say could involve a strong and imaginative role for the arts.
The Strategy is also recommending changing the way the ‘% for Arts’ policy is applied, with a panel advising on artworks and contributions pooled together to avoid a ‘piecemeal’ approach.
The document also notes a variety of facilities are needed from art studios, maker spaces to a “cross-art-form facility”, combining space for production, rehearsal, exhibition / presentation, and a set of social and wellbeing functions, either at the Waterfront or Fort Regent, which is due a multi-million upgrade.
While the consultants supported the idea of a National Gallery originally floated in major plans from the States of Jersey Development Company to transform the Waterfront, they didn’t recommend it as a short-term priority.
Pictured: The strategy is proposing a new Arts Investment Framework.
To ensure that existing arts organisations can “operate sustainably, with a healthy balance of public, private and revenue-based income”, a new Arts Investment Framework has been suggested.
It would see current regularly funded arts organisations, such as the Jersey Arts Centre, Jersey Opera House and ArtHouse Jersey receive “in principle revenue funding” over a three-year period, rather than the current one-year.
In addition, efforts should be made to encourage private investors to support the arts, which could include an annual arts fundraiser and a renewable arts investment fund.
A Creative Entrepreneurship booster programme has also been proposed to provide tailored specialist advice and guidance to artists, creative freelancers and micro enterprises.
The strategy is also recommending Jersey exploit its international networks and partnerships to create “tangible opportunities for artists and organisations”, noting the potential of such work with France.
“By positioning Jersey as a creative hub for intercultural and pan-European exchange, this will boost the attractiveness of the Island as a place to develop arts and creative enterprise,” the document notes.
“It will also invigorate the arts and cultural life of the Island, connecting its own world class assets to those of other countries – such as Portugal, Poland, France and the UK.”
Pictured: Deputy Kirsten Morel, the Assistant Minister with responsibility for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Commenting on the launch of the strategy, Deputy Kirsten Morel, the Assistant Minister with responsibility for Arts, Culture and Heritage said it provided “a roadmap for development of the arts sector over the coming years and is an opportunity to reaffirm the role and value of art to the life of our community”.
“This is an important step forward for our arts and cultural sector and is enormously important to the Island’s future because, among other things, successful delivery of the strategy will help young islanders build their careers around the arts, cultural and creative industries.”
Islanders are invited to share their views on the strategy in an online consultation over the next six weeks.
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