Situations, 2004 – 2012

Changing perspectives on public art

I began working for Situations as an intern when I was a second year Fine Art BA student. When I started it was a fledgling university research programme at the University of the West of England. When I left it was an independent arts charity  applying for Arts Council NPO status.

Over a period of 8 years I had the opportunity to “cut my teeth” as a public arts producer on a series of ground breaking commissions as well as develop as an experienced project manager and arts administrator. My role was incredibly varied given the small creative team, the ambitions of the programme and variety of commissions we undertook.

“No harbourmaster, tug-boat pilot, deep sea diver, car parking attendant, health and safety officer or accounts clerk could escape her ability to resolve a problem, she was ‘the fixer’.” Claire Doherty MBE and founding director of Situations.

During my time at Situations I worked across the following commissions:

• Thinking of the Outside, 2005 with Phil Collins, Susan Hiller, Nathan Coley, Silke Otto-Knapp, Kathleen Herbert and Joāo Penalva
• I lost her near Fantasy Island. Life will not be the same… , 2006, by Heather & Ivan Morrison (opening commission for the British Art Show 06)
• The Black Cloud, 2009, by Heather & Ivan Morison
• Follow Me, 2009, by Jeppe Hein
• The Wonders of Weston, 2010 with Wrights & Sites, Tania Kovats, Lara Favaretto, Ruth Claxton, Tim Etchells and Raumlabor Berlin. Commissioned jointly with Field Art Projects
• Ruined, 2010, by Hew Locke
• Missorts, 2010, by Tony White and Jamie Telford
• Nowhereisland, 2012, by Alex Hartley (an Artists Taking the Lead project part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad)
• Snowflakes, 2013, by Anna Barriball

I was also involved with planning and producing the following events, research and strategies:

• Material City Talks Programme, 2006-2007
• Locating the Producers, 2006-2010
• Slow Space: A Curatorial Vision for Oslo Harbour, 2009-2010
• University of Bristol Public Art Strategy, 2010
• Slow Days Research Event in Oslo, 2011
• ENPAP (European Network for Public Art Producers), 2010-2012

After 15 years, in 2018, Situations was brought to a close. The physical archive of the programme is held at Bristol Records Office and the website acts as a resource as well as a digital archive of the work. www.situations.org.uk