(During this item Members will walk to the Rendezvous Car Park to view the site of the Turner Contemporary.)
Minutes:
32. Turner Contemporary – Presentation
(Item B2 – Report by Ms V Pomery, Director, Turner Contemporary)
(1) Mr Hill introduced this item explaining that Mr D Chipperfield and his team of architects gave a presentation on the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery on 15 February 2007 in Margate where they received good questions from the audience and good press coverage on the event. David Chipperfield Architects would be unveiling the drawings on 18 June 2007 at the Winters Gardens, Margate.
(2) Following on, Ms Pomery gave an oral presentation using overheads. The Committee viewed a selection of building designs of existing art galleries, and a site map of the land where the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery would be built.
(3) Ms Pomery highlighted some of the key considerations that needed to be made in the design of the new art gallery, such as:-
· the environmental conditions;
· focus on education and space;
· small scale auditorium;
· space for music, seminars and conferences;
· shop space;
· storage space;
· staff space;
· building had to be welcoming;
· access to public and deliveries was very important;
· sustainability of the building (not just on green/environment issues but cost effective such as the air conditioning will be able to be switched on and off when it is not needed)
· supports the regeneration of Thanet in creating jobs;
· the learning planning programme.
(4) Ms Pomery explained that the “Turner Contemporary” was a wider concept than just the building of the art gallery and included many projects such as:
· Youth tours;
· Art History courses;
· Drop-in workshops [created through grants];
· Street entertainment;
· Making contacts with the European Union.
(5) The Committee noted that Turner Contemporary had a website www.turnercontemporary.org.uk and a newsletter.
(6) After the presentation the Committee agreed to tour the proposed site of the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, the Rendezvous car park.
(7) The Committee asked the following questions and made the following comments. They were as follows:-
(a) Members enquired about the future of the life boat station which was sited on the Rendezvous car park Mr Hill advised that the lifeboat station would remain as the cost for resiting would be approximately £1m but the boat yard could be moved.
(b) Members enquired how the remaining land on the site would be utilised. Ms Pomery advised that this had not been settled although it was hoped it would include sculptures.
(c) There was concern raised about the lack of car parking space in Margate.
(d) An enquiry was made as to how the windows of the gallery would be kept clean from salt and bird droppings. Mr Hill and Ms Pomery advised that there were still issues to be resolved.
(e) In response to whether there would be a permanent art collection and what percentage of the total collection would be on display, Ms Pomery advised that there would not be a permanent art collection. There would need to be storage space for Art but this would be kept to a minimum;
(f) In response to whether there was a danger of gaps in the exhibiting calendar, Ms Pomery advised that there had been considerable work undertaken in forward planning for loans of art pieces mainly from the Tate Gallery, which was committed in making its collection accessible to regional galleries;
(g) In reply to whether Droit House would be part of the function of the art gallery, Ms Pomery advised that this had not been settled, although there were a number of options in the way Droit House could compliment the work of the art gallery;
(h) In response to whether there would be plans to link the rail network with entrance to the art gallery, Ms Pomery advised that there had been lengthy discussions with South East Trains. The Committee noted that consideration was also been given to links with Canterbury/coach tours;
(i) A suggestion was made that there should be promotion at the Kent County Show in July on the development. Ms Pomery advised that this would be taking place, in the Communities Directorate;
(j) Members of the Committee requested copies of the stages for the development. Ms Pomery agreed to provide this;
(k) The wall space dedicated for displaying art of the art gallery was requested. Ms Pomery advised that she did not have this information;
(l) In response to whether the gallery would be open 7 days a week, Ms Pomery advised that the art gallery would be open 6 days a week with varying opening times in the Summer, Winter and public holidays. Student projects would be held in the Autumn and in the Winter when there were less visitors, there could be academic programmes; and
(m) Ms Pomery concluded that the construction of the Art Gallery would commence in 2008 and would be completed in 2010.
(8) RESOLVED that:-
(a) the points raised in paragraph (11) be taken on board by the Project Managers of the Turner Contemporary, and;
(b) the oral presentation be received.