In our final episode we talk to artists Nicole Mollett and José den Hartog. About: the rewards of community engagement and tapping into local knowledge; making things that people can use in their everyday lives; a shared love of books and drawing; and the importance of trust and letting artists do their job. Plus: fountains and follies, grotesques …

In this episode we talk to Caroline Hicks, Director of Growth & Community for Dartford Borough Council. About: the days when local authorities still had money; getting young creatives into Canterbury Market; commissioning bronze sculptures of Mick and Keef for Dartford Town Centre; the fear of a blank canvas and stretchy parameters. Plus: capturing…

In this episode, we talk to Paul Cowell, Head of Culture & Libraries at Medway Council. About: growing up in Bradford and being inspired by his Mum’s involvement with Am Dram; creating environments and loving pavilions; the importance of words in public art. Plus: the positive power of beauty, dreams of a giant bobble hat and Take That. We talk abo…

In this episode, we talk to artist Kerry Lemon About: escaping being pigeon-holed as an illustrator and getting into public art; being a one-woman B Corp; mentoring and supporting women to do what she does; leaving a societal and environmental legacy. Plus: being open, honest and sharing; why she can’t believe her own luck, and tap dancing! Contact…

In our first episode, we talk to Mark Osborn, Assistant Director of Housing at Gravesham Borough Council. About: the role of public art in giving a place an identity; why a landscape-led development is usually a more successful one; and why public art should be thought-provoking and never designed by committee. Plus: reinventing town centres, a fun…

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Writer Mark Hewitt about their own work as Public Art Consultants at FrancisKnight and: the challenge involved with keeping public art as a priority on large-scale projects the importance of bringing artists in at the beginning of a development understanding how artists work reflecting on the key themes th…

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Maria Amidu about: why she turned from craft-maker to working in the public realm the importance of rooting a project in the community the interplay between the initial brief and what you eventually decide to do Plus: looking out for Wivelsfield on the London to Brighton train and the delights of Ag…

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Chris Tipping and Landscape Architect Mark Fisk about the importance of: - not always having a plan and allowing processes to evolve - responding to local flavour and the feel and history of a place - the High Street and outdoor space - making places distinctive Plus: biscuits at long meetings, swim…

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Katayoun Dowlatshahi about: how being an outsider can add value to a development working around the challenges of budget limitations being environmentally conscious and our role as caretakers for the planet Plus: bee-keeping, fungi and willow weaving Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Tweet us at @…

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with planning director Kathy Putnam about: her journey from being a Conservation Officer in Liverpool and Hampshire to overseeing urban design in Medway working as a woman in a male-dominated sector why Anywheresville and mediocrity is no longer good enough Plus: Conningbrook Lakes, being Irish and talking to s…

Whether you’re involved in planning, design or architecture, whether you’re an artist interested in public art or whether you’re just simply passionate about public spaces and the role art can have in making spaces better, this is the podcast series for you! Each podcast is a lively conversation with a different practitioner, focused on a different…

Week #2

By Adeline K