ENTRY LEVEL VIDEO

Follow this link to view the completed work

CAUTION
artists working on roof

Concept Design _Video Still

Lighting Test

Press Release for Entry Level Exhibition. May 2009

Brewhouse Theatre & Art Centre

23 May- 12 June Café/Bar Area

Artist Simon Lee Dicker has been working with the local community and Project Taunton to look at how, through public art, The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre can improve access and dismantle physical, language and perceptual barriers through participation. This exhibition documents the process so far and presents its continuing forwarding vision.

 The Entry Level project aims to engage with this renewal of the area by challenging the barriers on access to The Brewhouse and effecting physical change that is holistic in its response to the site’s redevelopment.

 This exhibition will outline how artist Simon Lee Dicker intends to creatively address access to the building by directly influencing the physical structure of The Brewhouse’s exterior.

 “Avoiding a singular artistic vision created in isolation and imposing it on the Brewhouse my ideas have been built on a foundation of knowledge based on dialogue with stakeholders, groups that face specific barriers to participation and the flow of people that pass the Brewhouse who live, work, play in and visit Taunton.”

 Alongside the proposed work for the exterior of the building Simon has been working as part of the cross-disciplinary design team developing designs for the area directly outside the Brewhouse. Involvement in this has allowed the underlying principles of access, inclusion and creativity that are integral to the Entry Level project to become part of the overall development of the area, effecting real physical change.

 The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre is currently undergoing a renewed period of engagement with its different communities. This dialogue has been exploring how best the organisation can serve the cultural demands of all members of society and, in turn, questioning the nature of an arts centre in the 21^st century.

 Exhibition continues until 12^th June 2009

Exhibition 23 May - 12 June

This exhibition documents the process so far and presents its continued forward vision.  I have been busy working on on designs over the past 2 months and this exhibition is the first chance to see drawings, animations and sculptural proposals for the exterior of the Brewhouse.

Moving on

Thanks to all of you that shared  your ideas and took time to visit the Entry Level exhibition. There have been a broad range of ideas submitted, addressing practical and perceptual issues effecting access to the Brewhouse.

Ideas include developing links between the building and the outside area, moving the entrance to the South East facing wall, better links with the river, improving the lighting scheme, removing the steps, and a whole host of other suggestions.

Alongside developing ideas for an artwork for the façade of the building I have been working as part of a design team with Landscape Architects SwanPaul, and Architects ADP Yeovil, looking at the possible future development of the Theatre and Art Centre and the surrounding landscaping.

This joined-up approach  encourages a cross fertilisation of ideas that has helped to broaden the scope of the original Entry Level brief. Working closely with SwanPaul,  myself and the Brewhouse team have been able to promote an integrated approach into to the inclusion of art outside the building in the form of a series of 'creative spaces' that reflect the vibrancy and creativity with in the building.

On a practical note, we were really happy to discover that SwanPaul's plans include removing the existing steps at the front of the building and replacing this with a unified surface that has a slight ramp up to the entrance, running all the way from the river bank. This has addressed one of the key practical access issues and has encouraged me to focus on access at a perceptual level.

Exhibition

An exhibition of work showcasing ideas for creative improvements to the exterior of the Brewhouse runs from today (Thursday 12 march) until Sunday 15 March in the Green room at the Brewhouse Theatre & Art Centre.

Work includes over 80 responses from Brewhouse staff, visitors, artists, landscape architects, local business, passers-by and groups that face specific issues regarding physical access. This is also the first chance to see concept drawings by artist Simon Lee Dicker, based on this research.