Derby public art
Public art in Derby
Derby has a rich and impressive portfolio of public art that has evolved for many years and guided by Derby City Council. In the last 25 years, over 35 contemporary public art schemes have been implemented, generating over a million pounds of funding to date. Nearly all of this is through the support of private developers and different types of regenerative funding. This helps improves the identity of places especially when projects engage local communities from the outset. Whenever possible, funding is also invested in local artists, manufacturers and other businesses to promote this sense of ownership but also to support the city’s growing creative economy.
At the core of public art projects is the ‘Made in Derby’ ethic, conceived in 2017 by artist Timothy Clapcott for the ‘Derby Star Walk’ that runs through the city centre from the Derbion Centre at Albion Street to outside the Cathedral at Iron Gate. Star Walk is where Derby’s most notable figures past and present are immortalised in a series of approximately 20 cast iron plaques with a mosaic star at the centre with the name of each person.
Made in Derby is about what is made here, both in terms of world-class product, innovation and design, and the people who made it through collaborative effort and community spirit. We created the Derby Stars with ‘Made in Derby’ at the heart of the idea and this can be continued with all Derby’s future public art projects. Derby needs to showcase its DNA as a world class city
Tim Clapcott, Derby Stars' artist
Another public art scheme with the ‘Made in Derby’ ethic at its core is the ‘Creative Pathways’ initiative. This is where young people are involved in helping build 'Engineered Artworks' such as sculpture and street furniture for the public realm as part of their welding training at locally based company Engineered Learning. The artworks are located along Derby’s cycle networks and funded by Section 106 agreements sought by Derby City Council. The most notable artwork so far is the ‘Poppies’ sculpture at Chaddesden for the British Legion. The scheme enables young people to train, build and take pride in structures that are about their place but made by them. Creative Pathways is an ongoing initiative made possible by private sponsorship.