Helensburgh Outdoor Museum - Arts Strategy Update June 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 June 2024
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 11 June 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 11 JUNE 2024 HELENSBURGH OUTDOOR MUSEUM – ARTS STRATEGY UPDATE JUNE 2024 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides background to the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum, its governance and funds, and invites Elected Members to take up the Chair and Vice Chair roles on the Design Panel as well as seeking approval for a minimal change to the Terms of Reference. 1.2 At its meeting on 13th December 2016, the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed to allocate £55K from CHORD Surplus Funds for the continuation of the Outdoor Museum. A Design Panel was constituted and now has a remit of assessing and awarding applications for art works. A budget of £50K remains. 1.3 The Design Panel members meet a maximum of four times per year and last met on 2nd February 2022. The Outdoor Museum Website is in the process of being re-designed and there has been an initial inquiry regarding installing an artwork. The Design Panel did not meet in 2023 and it would be prudent to re- establish the group to enable any applications coming forward to be dealt with timeously. The Design Panel’s Terms of Reference state that the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee are to hold the Chair and Vice-Chair positions on the Design Panel and this report therefore invites those Elected Members to take up these positions. 1.4 At the 2nd February 2022 meeting and subsequent Area Committee report of 17th March 2022, members of the Design Panel highlighted that the Terms of Reference should be revised to allow for small scale financial decisions to be made by email rather than necessitating the co-ordination of a meeting. This was in response to a request for a £190 increase in grant from a previously approved grant recipient to allow for increased costs. This report therefore requests that any increase or decrease can be agreed by the Design Panel by email where the total grant is within the 50% maximum funding criteria of the total project cost.
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RECOMMENDATIONS 1.5 The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee are invited to: 1.5.1 agree that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Area Committee be invited to the fill the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Design Panel; and 1.5.2 approve the change to the Terms of Reference to allow the Design Panel to approve variation to funding amounts of approved applications that do not amount to more than the 50% of the total project costs.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 11 JUNE 2024 HELENSBURGH OUTDOOR MUSEUM – UPDATE JUNE 2024 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides background to the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum, its governance and funds, and invites elected members to take up the Chair and Vice Chair roles on the Design Panel as well as seeking approval for a minimal change to the Terms of Reference. 2.2 The Helensburgh Outdoor Museum is an awarding winning heritage-led attraction developed as part of the CHORD programme with the first artworks installed in 2014. It consists of 131 granite plinths distributed across Colquhoun square with 13 of these containing artworks telling a story of Helensburgh and a corresponding website which provides details on the art works The Outdoor Museum – Scotland's First Outdoor Museum. It plays a significant role as part of Helensburgh’s offer to attract visitors to the area, provides opportunities for creative industries and encourages civic pride. 2.3 Funding of £55K CHORD surplus funds to continue the Outdoor Museum was agreed by the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on 13th December 2016. As part of this, it was envisaged that members of the community would identify and organise the development of appropriate histories to be installed in the museum. To this end the Arts Strategy Fund was developed with an application process and guidance which is governed by a Design Panel. The Arts Strategy Guidance Note is attached to this report at Appendix 1. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee are invited to:
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3.1.1 agree that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Area Committee be invited to the fill the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Design Panel; and 3.1.2 approve the change to the Terms of Reference to allow the Design Panel to approve variation to funding amounts of approved applications that do not amount to more than the 50% of the total project costs. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Outdoor Museum Website is in the process of being re-designed and there has been an initial inquiry regarding installing an artwork. The Design Panel did not meet in 2023 and it would be prudent to re-establish the group to enable any applications coming forward to be dealt with timeously. Governance 4.2 The Design Panel is governed by the Terms of Reference that were most recently agreed by the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee in December 2018. These Terms of Reference state that the role of the Design Panel is ‘to consider and make recommendations on applications from individuals and organisations for new artworks for inclusion in the Outdoor Museum Collection.’ 4.3 The Design Panel is expected to meet a maximum of four times a year to consider new applications. The Terms of Reference state that ‘The Chair and Vice Chair of the Design Panel will be the Chair and Vice Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee respectively.’ This report therefore asks that these positions are taken up by the appropriate Elected Members. 4.4 The Design Panel is supported by a Lead Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Development Officer, to facilitate the smooth operation of the Design Panel and membership includes representatives from local organisations and community representatives with experience in the arts, culture and heritage disciplines. 4.5 As the Design Panel did not meet in 2023, members of the Design Panel will need to be contacted to ascertain whether they are able to continue with their role, and it may be necessary to seek further members to the panel. If so, it is proposed that this process is an open call for interested local organisations and community representatives with experience in the arts, culture and heritage disciplines, as per the Terms of Reference. 4.6 Current members of the Design Panel are as follows: • Argyll and Bute Council • Helensburgh Community Council • Rhu and Shandon Community Council
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• Lomond and District Fine Arts Society • Member of the public. Changes to Terms of Reference 4.7 The Design Panel met on 2nd February 2022 to consider a request for a £190 increase in grant from a previously approved grant recipient to allow for increased costs. Subsequently the Design Panel highlighted that the terms of reference should be revised to allow for small scale financial decisions to be made by email rather than having to co-ordinate a meeting and this was reported in the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee Report of 17th March 2022. An amended Terms of Reference which reflect this request can now be found at Appendix 2. FINANCE 4.8 There is currently £50K CHORD surplus funds remaining for the museum. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Helensburgh Outdoor Museum is an award winning heritage-led attraction for the area with a budget to continue its development. The Design Panel plays a key role in assessing and awarding applications and its membership needs to be re-established to ensure that the museum can continue to grow. This report therefore outlines a process for this and asks for the appropriate Elected Members to take up position on the Design Panel. 5.2 In addition, the updated Terms of Reference would allow for better use of resources when it comes to making minor variations on awards by enabling this to happen by email. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: The delivery of this project fits with the Council’s Corporate Plan, Local Outcome Improvement Plan and the approved Development Plan key actions and policy for safeguarding our built heritage and town centre regeneration. 6.2 Financial: The Area Committee set aside £55K from the CHORD Surplus Funds for the future enhancement of the Outdoor Museum and £50K remains. 6.3 Legal: None. 6.4 HR: the Fund will be managed by the Economic Regeneration Officer, who will provide support to the Design Panel and updates to the Area Committee. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty:
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6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics: None. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty: The Outdoor Museum acts as a visitor attractor to the town centre helping to support local businesses. 6.5.3 Islands: None. 6.6 Climate Change: None. 6.7 Risk: None. 6.8 Customer Service: None. 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC): None. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth 30th April 2024 For further information contact: Arlene Cullum, Senior Economic Development Officer, Transformational Projects and Regeneration Team APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Art Strategy Guidance Note April 2024 Appendix 2 – Terms of Reference – April 2024