Kiel is thus taking on a pioneering role. The city will become a blueprint for other municipalities that want to adapt and implement citizen-commissioned art to their context and needs in the future. Mayor Renate Treutel is looking forward to applying the New Patrons model in her municipality: “This will be an exciting process of initiating an art production with the residents of Mettenhof, who will be the ones fully directing it. As a municipality, we are providing financial security for the development phase of the project and, through the initiative of the art advisory board, we are clearly demonstrating that we are serious when we talk about ‘culture for all’. A high level of identification in Mettenhof with the art to be created in the public space is a new dimension of participation.”
The citizens will decide what kind of artwork will be created in the end and at which specific location in Mettenhof it will find its place. From a new Kiel landmark in the form of a large sculpture to street furniture, architecture, urban art, painting, installation, photography, dance or theater performances, performance, literature, music, film, design or even scientific research commissions, anything is possible.
Art historian, curator and art mediator Pascal Simm will accompany the people in the peripheral large housing complex throughout their commissioning process. As mediator in the New Patrons network he will advise them on formulating a commission for Mettenhof and finding a suitable artist who responds to the concerns of the Mettenhof residents.
Pascal Simm says: “I'm looking forward to getting to know the Mettenhof district and its residents over the coming months in very personal conversations, with joy, curiosity and excitement. I want to know what this district is all about, what is needed and what can be achieved through a joint project. For me, working on a major art project with people who have lived here for a short or long time means, above all, finding out how people here live their everyday lives, what stories they have to tell and how they see and assess their own district in terms of the past, present and future. We can look forward to seeing how these ideas are transformed into art. I'm looking forward to many contacts from residents, as they are simply the experts of their neighborhood.”
The art advisory board of the state capital Kiel is responsible for the project and initiated its implementation. Dr. Peter Kruska, Chairman of the art advisory board, is delighted that it has been possible to win over the New Patrons model for Kiel and to develop a cooperation: “I hope that with this ‘Kiel model’ we can also transport the understanding of art in public spaces from the purely professional world to current realities of life on the ground and be an impetus for other municipalities.”
The Kiel-based association Netzwerk für interkulturellen Austausch (Network for Intercultural Exchange) run by Shi Shi and Ying-Chih Chen supports the process as the project executing organisation and assists with the networking of all those involved. As a partner of the Neue Auftraggeber network, it also provides spaces, helps with the organization of project events and contributes its expertise and contacts as an easily approachable player in Kiel's cultural scene.
Interested citizens can get in touch at: mettenhof.at.neueauftraggeber.de
The draft phase is supported by the funds for art in public spaces of the State Capital Kiel.
CITIZEN-COMMISSIONED ART GOES KIEL
The State Capital Kiel is the first municipality in Germany to implement the New Patrons model in its own local structures. In the Mettenhof district, a three-year participatory process for a public artwork has now been launched, commissioned by local residents and accompanied by mediator Pascal Simm. In connection with the district and in the spirit of the community, the commission is intended to address site-specific local issues, wishes, pressing concerns or challenges.
