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© 2025 Talking Public Art
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A series of stylishly produced conversational podcasts about the ins and outs and highs and lows of making high quality art in the public realm.Louise Francis and Laura Knight, co-directors of FrancisKnight, talk with a number of recognised experts in the field about best practice and why public art is so important.
16 Episodes
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Whether you’re involved in planning, design or architecture, whether you’re an artist interested in public art or whether you’re just simply passionate about public spaces and the role art can have in making spaces better, this is the podcast series for you! Each podcast is a lively conversation with a different practitioner, focused on a different area of practice as our interviewees discuss their personal approach to placemaking and how they got involved in this area of work as well a...
In this episode Louise and Laura talk with planning director Kathy Putnam about: her journey from being a Conservation Officer in Liverpool and Hampshire to overseeing urban design in Medway working as a woman in a male-dominated sector why Anywheresville and mediocrity is no longer good enough Plus: Conningbrook Lakes, being Irish and talking to sheep Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ FrancisKnight Ltd Email us ...
In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Katayoun Dowlatshahi about: how being an outsider can add value to a development working around the challenges of budget limitations being environmentally conscious and our role as caretakers for the planet Plus: bee-keeping, fungi and willow weaving Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ FrancisKnight Ltd Email us at office@francisknight.co.uk Thanks for listeni...
In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Chris Tipping and Landscape Architect Mark Fisk about the importance of: - not always having a plan and allowing processes to evolve - responding to local flavour and the feel and history of a place - the High Street and outdoor space - making places distinctive Plus: biscuits at long meetings, swimming in the sea and Rochester Riverside Phase 3 Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbi...
In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Maria Amidu about: why she turned from craft-maker to working in the public realm the importance of rooting a project in the community the interplay between the initial brief and what you eventually decide to do Plus: looking out for Wivelsfield on the London to Brighton train and the delights of Agatha Christie Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ Franci...
In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Writer Mark Hewitt about their own work as Public Art Consultants at FrancisKnight and: the challenge involved with keeping public art as a priority on large-scale projects the importance of bringing artists in at the beginning of a development understanding how artists work reflecting on the key themes that have emerged in this Talking Public Art podcast series Plus: work/life balance, having fun, the wow factor and wheth...
In our first episode, we talk to Mark Osborn, Assistant Director of Housing at Gravesham Borough Council. About: the role of public art in giving a place an identity; why a landscape-led development is usually a more successful one; and why public art should be thought-provoking and never designed by committee. Plus: reinventing town centres, a funny story about the Flying Geese in Ashford, and the joys of getting out a sketchbook. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us a...
In this episode, we talk to artist Kerry Lemon About: escaping being pigeon-holed as an illustrator and getting into public art; being a one-woman B Corp; mentoring and supporting women to do what she does; leaving a societal and environmental legacy. Plus: being open, honest and sharing; why she can’t believe her own luck, and tap dancing! Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ FrancisKnight Ltd Email us at office@francisknight.co.uk ...
In this episode, we talk to Paul Cowell, Head of Culture & Libraries at Medway Council. About: growing up in Bradford and being inspired by his Mum’s involvement with Am Dram; creating environments and loving pavilions; the importance of words in public art. Plus: the positive power of beauty, dreams of a giant bobble hat and Take That. We talk about links to several projects mentioned by Paul: Peveril Gardens by Sanchez Benton Together by Lucid Creates You & Me & Me &a...
In this episode we talk to Caroline Hicks, Director of Growth & Community for Dartford Borough Council. About: the days when local authorities still had money; getting young creatives into Canterbury Market; commissioning bronze sculptures of Mick and Keef for Dartford Town Centre; the fear of a blank canvas and stretchy parameters. Plus: capturing the magic, measuring wow and glass fusing! Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ Franc...
In our final episode we talk to artists Nicole Mollett and José den Hartog. About: the rewards of community engagement and tapping into local knowledge; making things that people can use in their everyday lives; a shared love of books and drawing; and the importance of trust and letting artists do their job. Plus: fountains and follies, grotesques in old churches and a stuffed cat called Willem. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ Fran...
In our first episode for Season 3 we talk to Artistic Director Brigitte Orasinski of Folkestone-based arts company, Strange Cargo. About: community participation and working with large numbers of people; on bringing the best that the arts can offer to people’s doorsteps; and on having a hand in the restoration of Folkestone Station. Plus: the importance of celebration, 29 years of carnival and big old chunky guide books. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: LinkedIn connect @Fran...
This week we talk to Chris Dixon, Arts and Cultural Industries Manager at Ashford Borough Council. About: surviving (or not surviving) in the arts; building networks and relationships, creative hooks and creating the conditions for public art to happen; and the need for vibrancy, fun and innovation. Plus: ‘Network Rail grey’, fibre glass dogs and public art in football stadiums. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ FrancisKnight Ltd ...
This week we talk to Jo Verrent, Director of Unlimited. About: Supporting disabled artists; getting too big for your boots, rubbish off-the-shelf policies; and Grantium, the dreaded Arts Council application portal. Plus: being bloody-minded, life/work balance and reducing exploitation in the cultural sector. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk Linkedin connect @ FrancisKnight Ltd Email us at office@francisknight.co.uk Thanks for listenin...
In our fourth episode for Season 3 we talk to Victoria Jones the founder of T Projects an Arts consultancy delivering public art, creative strategies & artist development initiatives in Australia and the UK. About: Waffle, shonky behaviour and the importance of being credited; On curating internationally and why public art can be a gateway drug to culture; And on her public art mentoring programme. Plus: Liking BIG, stalking artists and the stress-free joys of pot...
For our final episode in Series 3 we talk to Birmingham-based landscape architect, Joe Gerrard. About: His fascination from a young age with design and engineering; On understanding the landscape and designing with spaces and blobs; And on learning the language of artists and creativity; Plus: winning a lego competition as a kid, playing his retro synth and putting Birmingham’s jewellery quarter on the world stage. Contact Talking Public Art Podcast: Instagram us at @artbirdsfk ...
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