QDT spent 12 months talking to people online, 1-2-1 and in groups and below are the summary topics and opinions that we heard and discussed. These will form the artist brief for the 2 new pieces of public art and are a starting point for the wider Public Art Plan for the area.
Our findings are divided into themes, values, feelings, function and format which aligns with the questions we asked people.
Themes
Everyone mentioned nature as an important daily experience and the desire to bring back birds and wildlife that would have been in the area before the development. The history of the area before the construction was thought to be an important building block for the new community- one participant said ‘use local history to connect people with the past and anchor them in order to build for the future’. A young person at the focus group mentioned that there were listening posts stationed in farmers sheds in the area during the war which sent messages to Bletchley Park and the themes of code cracking/puzzles/treasure hunts were discussed to encourage people to move across both areas. Bringing in themes which reflect local people’s existing interests like dog walking, cycling, keeping fit and drawing felt important and these could incorporate other themes. One person said it was important not to ask this commission to do too many things at once and there was broad agreement that an unfocused piece would lose its impact.
Values
Everyone felt that the commission should reflect the community’s values but people have different ideas about what that looks like. Some people highlighted the value of the multicultural nature of the community, others talked about the importance of the young families in the area and others expressed a desire to include young, professional adults who may have moved to buy their first home. The other value that was often mentioned was well-being and specifically its relationship with being in nature.
Functions
People agreed that if we want the commissions to actively support community building they need to have functions beyond seating or furniture (although seating and comfort is still an important element). In line with the values and themes people suggested structures that encourage nature/wildlife back alongside spaces where people can sit alone or in groups. These are very creative neighbourhoods and people would like something which supports their creativity. There was a preference for something interactive and/or multisensory (touch/sound/smell) which could connect with people on different levels and make the pieces more accessible.
Formats
In terms of the options for formats people felt that something that could change and grow with the community would be good. People also talked about something that changes with the seasons and gives people a reason to linger outdoors in the winter. A few people discussed the idea of something that connects the two areas together – either visually or by reference – but most people preferred the idea of developing something that is unique to their community.
Feelings
One young person described the existing community as safe, diverse and respectful of difference. It feels very important for this to be reflected in the way the commission makes people feel. Currently people are wanting something which contrasts with the hard edges of development – something soft, warm and inviting. They want something colourful and playful that creates surprise/joy/unexpected feelings. One resident said’ something tactile for young children would be great – a piece where you could encourage nature but also be amongst it. Somewhere relaxing/to relax- somewhere with curves to balance the straight lines of the new development’. Some of the young people at the school discussed the idea of something that blends nature with the interests of the community e.g. music/skating which felt really exciting.
Locations
People mentioned the Lake behind the primary school in Whitehouse as a favourite place to walk, cycle, skim stones and take a break. There is also a hill with a nice view at the top. Hazeley Wood was mentioned by lots of people as a place to spot wildlife or build dens. There is a piece of land between the primary school and Barrosa way which isn’t being used and at the focus group we discussed an extension of the school’s secret garden which has a focus on sustainability and the importance of looking after/working with nature for the future. In Fairfields people highlighted the old tree and the potential for storytelling and creativity there and the allotments and football pitches as spaces where the community already gathers.
Next Steps
Milton Keynes Council will now use these findings to write an artist brief which will call for responses to the community consultation in the form of ideas for artistic interventions in Whitehouse and Fairfields. These designs will be shared with a community panel who will help decide on the final pieces. If you would like to be involved in the next steps for the public art please email Louise.Izod@milton-keynes.gov.uk