Peter Stark | Projects

			The development of public policy, strategies and funding programmes for arts and culture Current Projects Development of overall Strategy and Business Plan for the Greater Newtown Cultural Quarter in the City Centre of Johannesburg and Project Management contract (with Brian Debnam - www.briandebnam.co.uk) for the Cultural and Creative Industries development programme aimed at tripling productivity and increasing audiences/participation levels fourfold by 2006. Member of the Steering Group for the World Summit on Arts and Culture 2006 and commissioned by Johannesburg Tourism Company to provide Technical Assistance for Johannesburg’s bid to host the World Summit in 2009. Working with Dark Systems – George Robb (www.dsll.co.uk) on design of Grant Management System for the National Arts Council of South Africa. Commissioned to develop concept and a national design competition for the Statue of Freedom and within redundant port land at Port Elizabeth for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) and led the cultural and heritage component of the Strategic Spatial and Implementation Framework for the Madela Bay Development Agency as part of an overall Inner City strategy (working with GAPP Architects) Partnered ATI (Arts & Teaching Initiatives) in their development of a Cultural Policy for the NMMM. Commissioned through the Johannesburg Centre to research and draft a national policy for local arts and culture centres (with Joseph Gaylard) for the Department of Arts and Culture with the support of the Flemish Government. Commissioned to develop plans for the introduction of the night time economy into the City of Tshwane (Pretoria) and an evaluation of potential economic impacts in that context. Scoping of locational options for Arts Council England international engagement with policy and practice in the role of the arts in regeneration leading to engagement as an adviser and facilitator to ACE (NE) on developing arts and culture exchange programmes in South Africa. Previous Projects As Special Projects Adviser to Gateshead Council (1995 – 2000) developed the Gateshead Quays strategy raising £120 million as the catalytic cultural investment in a £600 million inner city regeneration strategy (www.gateshead-quays.com). Individual positioning and fundraising strategies for the Baltic Centre for the Contemporary Visual Arts (www.balticmill.com), the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the Regional Music Centre – now The Sage Gateshead (www.thesagegateshead.com) Commissioned to prepare an overall conceptual framework for Constitution Hill in central Johannesburg (www.constitutionhill.org.za) as a heritage site (Johannesburg Jail and Fort) and the home of the new Constitutional Court (2001 - 02) As Director of Northern Arts (1985 – 1992), the regional development agency for the arts in the North of England, introduced major policy, legal, budgetary and structural changes (1986). Innovations included: Incorporation; Programme - not Art Form - budgeting and committee structures; creation of Local Arts Development Agency network with 33 Local Authorities; international artist support and touring; Loans to Artists & Loans to the public for purchase of works of art. Awarded the OBE for this work in 1990. In 1990 – as above - developed initial Regional Arts Capital development strategy for the North based around major new facilities in “Central Tyneside” for Contemporary Visual Arts and Music. Directed the successful bid for the region to become national “Region of the Visual Arts” in 1996. As a freelance consultant (1993 – 1995) conceived and developed the proposal “Bridging the Millennium” for new bridges in the North of England to celebrate that event. Reviewed Johannesburg Inner City Cultural assets and proposed the concept of the Cultural Arc as a development framework and a suite of area specific development strategies along it (2000/01). Numerous advisory boards and committees from New Activities Committee of the Arts Council (1968/70) to the Advisory Board on Arts and Education of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (2001 – 03)