FOR THE FIRST TIME in 88 years, Blake’s Cottage has been on the market. A six-month option to buy was secured by the Chair of the Blake Society. To help, we the Big Blake Project are running the Golgonooza Festival, (18-20 September). Here, the
2014 Tithe Grant award (to be judged by Stephen Fry) will be presented for the best App...horism. Please help us make this festival suitably inspiring and/
or join the fundraising campaign. William Blake: poet, painter, printer and prophet. A genius of the imagination and one of the most radical thinkers Britain has ever seen. Today, his works are read, studied and loved all around the world but other than a handful of collections, nowhere in Britain celebrates his extraordinary craftsmanship and creativity. Felpham was the only place Blake lived outside London and in 1800 upon these, “banks of the Ocean” he beheld Jerusalem. On walks he saw with “four-fold vision” since “the doors of perception were cleansed”. Blake’s beloved “roof of rusted gold” nestled sweetly in “England’s green and pleasant land” and was where he produced the last copies of Songs of Innocence and Experience. With your support, this beautiful building will become a living hive for the imagination: a home that celebrates Blake, welcomes visitors, poets, radicals and schools to continue his legacy, creating new work in the spirit of Blake’s irrepressible imagination. To house the product of the cottage, a unique Visitor/Exhibition Centre in Bognor Regis is planned. A must-see Centre of the Imagination designed to connect with Bognor’s Georgian past and frontier achievements in Art, Engineering and Science. This, we believe, will regenerate Bognor Regis, a town overlooked today with some of the lowest literacy levels in the UK, but in Blake’s day, beauty being birthed by another visionary, Richard Hotham. Our aim is to raise enough money to preserve and protect the cottage and regenerate. Your donation in money or kind will be invaluable in achieving that goal. Please contact Rachel Searle on [email protected] or [email protected] 07775 893533
the Big Blake
Project
THE BIG BLAKE PROJECT PROPOSAL OVERVIEW presentation to Arun District Council
• Big Blake Trail/Brochure • Georgian Map • Signage • The London Link and Blake’s Cottage • Felpham Blake Festival
• Sculpture Trail • Centre of the Imagination
THE BIG BLAKE TRAIL
Background
THE BIG BLAKE TRAIL began last summer with a self-guided walk. The feedback on the 16-page colour brochure for the trail was that is was well researched and interesting. The uptake of the product has been popular especially around holiday times. Mary’s Church in Felpham has had a three/four-fold increase in visitor numbers from featuring in the Blake Trail. Father Timothy says that the increased numbers can be evidenced through their visitor’s book. Goodwood, Arundel Museum, Chichester Museum and the South Downs Trust have all taken the brochure and the copies in Chichester tend to fly out within a few days of arrival even though for display space reasons they are folded in half. The B&B’s in Felpham all carry copies and last year Butlin’s took 1,000 and said that they would be interested in many more copies in 2014. The demand for the brochures has been so high that the original run of 7,000 estimated to be enough for two years is now nearly exhausted and a second print run is needed urgently. MAP SECTION
RATHER THAN JUST reprint the brochure, we have asked Chris Price (renowned illustrator and artist) to draw a Georgian-style bespoke map of Felpham and Bognor Regis with references to the Georgian period and Blake’s anthemic words, inspired by his surroundings. Following a site visit, BBP founder, Rachel Searle, proposes that a large (A2) copy of the map would be good on a plinth in Hotham Park. In addition, because of the portfolio and high profile of this particular designer, The Big Blake Project believe that Bognor Regis would benefit the most if there was a copy on view at Station Square. We understand that permission needs to be secured with Southern Rail and a meeting is being set up to discuss this – we would appreciate the support of Arun District Council in doing this. The map will be of Blake’s Beulah which went beyond the boundaries of Felpham, hence the main focus of Beulah as Felpham and Bognor Regis but taking in important links to the wider area as well. The Georgian heritage is a really interesting angle and its unique to think that these, “banks of the ocean”, where William Blake claimed he imagined Jerusalem, are the same ones that Queen Victoria played on 20 years later. Jane Austin’s last novel (according to the British History online) was based in Bognor Regis and its main character was Richard Hotham. With the current trend for nostalgia, Bognor Regis has a lot to gain from reconnecting with it’s Georgian roots. the Big Blake
Project
Above is the first draft of Chris Price’s artwork
TRAIL SIGN DESIGNS
THE DESIGNS WILL ALLOW visitors to follow the trail signage and inform them of Blake’s legacy in this region. In addition to the trail signage (the detail of which is the result of a collaboration between The Big Blake Project and Parks and Gardens) the designs will be agreed with Arun Parks and Gardens and input is very
welcome from Arun’s regeneration team.
• At the station: “Give me the end of a Golden Thread” It seems clear to us that the start of the trail should begin at the station with its innate message of arrival: “Bring me my chariot of fire”
• The weather station:
“O clouds unfold”
“He who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternities sunrise”
• Next to the sun sculpture, which could, perhaps, be better situated somewhere near the mounds or the sea where it will better relate to its surroundings:
“While our sports shall
be seen on the Echoing Green”
• Waterloo Gardens:
Next to Blake’s portrait of Catherine (and Blake himself?), “For you have been ever an angel to me” Rectory Gardens
• Simple symbol and label for the trail (right)
“O clouds unfold”
“He who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternities sunrise”
WEATHER STATION
THE LONDON LINK AND BLAKE’S COTTAGE
THE BLAKE SOCIETY has an option to buy Blake’s Cottage and although links to the wider area is important for the long-term success, The Big Blake Project is determined that Bognor Regis and Felpham will benefit the most from Blake’s legacy. However, with the exception of Felpham in 2007, Blake has been celebrated far more in Chichester over the last twenty years than in either Bognor Regis or Felpham. In particular, until the formation of The Big Blake Project, 90% of The Blake Society’s involvement in Sussex has been in Chichester. The opportunities for Bognor Regis that the axis with London represents through the two organisations should not be underestimated (even without the cottage). On the downside, there are quantifiable costs of this project, but on the upside – in terms of providing Bognor Regis with a positive identity and a platform for new cultural events – a new, exciting and unique potential is there to regenerate Bognor Regis. It is also no longer an unproven idea as it is already drawing in visitors and has helped facilitate a positive relationship with The Blake Society. Even locally there are still opportunities for further work with schools. To date we have arranged guest speakers for Havant College who, in turn, provided display materials for our Bognor Regis shopfront; Downview and Bishop Tufnell benefited from mosaic workshops and their tiles are soon to be displayed on the bridge next to the Leisure Centre. GOLGONOOZA
Felpham’s Blake Festival
FINALLY, THE REASON WHY raising the profile of Blake is so exciting is because of the number of fields he was a pioneer in. Michael Phillips (Oxford and Edingburgh University Blake Scholar) will be acting as curator for a six-month printing exhibiton at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. Blake never lived in Oxford (or indeed anywhere else outside London) and it is a measure of the importance of Blake’s legacy that this exhibition has been funded. The Big Blake Project is delighted that Michael Phillips has agreed to come down to Felpham’s very own Blake Festival, Golgonooza (18-20 September). Stephen Fry has agreed to be the judge of the Blake Poetry Competition and the Tithe Grant Award will be presented at Golgonooza. Local fashion artist, Rachel Smith, has built a fabric maze for Golgonooza and we are also hoping to secure an internationally-renowned poet. The cost of the festival will depend on the number of acts, and as ever with The Big Blake Project, we will be going for quality rather than quantity. Since this festival has already come to the attention of the national press, we all have a vested interest in making it a success. Therefore, we urgently need practical support from Arun and experienced organisations like Rox as well as financial support. The detail of the festival has not been finalised but the final cost is likely to exceed ₤2,000. Again, given the upside potential and its link to the cottage fundraising campaign, we ask that you take into account the full regeneration potential and help make the festival viable. SCULPTURE TRAILS
SCULPTURE TRAILS ARE BEING used increasingly in tourist destinations. Last year, the CASS Foundation gave us Cold Frames, a sculpture situated in Hotham Park. Michael from Arun Parks and Gardens gave up his own time to help us re-tile and install the work. It would make sense to add to the sculptures around the town and perhaps link them, through signage, to the words of Blake and suggestions from the Trail map. Ideas Above Our Station!
“BRING ME MY CHARIOT OF FIRE” could be a powerful interactive artwork for Station Square. Because of the links to transport it could be any form of transport. Southern Rail may need to be approached first to see if they would like to commission or provide something suitable. Alternatively, Goodwood Estates, Rolls Royce and Suzuki could provide exciting candidates for a Blake “Chariot of Fire”. The attached sketch is for illustrative purposes only and is not planned as the final design. The Big Blake Project would like Arun’s support in trying to secure an iconic piece for the station. The area is already well-loved and this singular piece – providing it was of high quality and made with the support of traders and residents – could help create a statement about having arrived somewhere. CENTRE OF THE IMAGINATION
Anchor’s away
BLAKE HAS INFLUENCED so many spheres as mentioned earlier: psychology, mysticism, philosophy, modern art just to name a few. We believe that Bognor Regis could really put itself on the worldwide map by setting up a significant exhibition centre with Blake’s Cottage as the anchor tenant. Early soundings suggest that William Blake is indeed a credible anchor tenant to a Centre of the Imagination. For example, the Tate could provide two-three paintings in rooms designed to show his oils. Some of the unique output from the cottage could provide a changing display – creative spaces that artists could transform – and another area, a small-screen sized space maybe large enough to house the latest Rolls Royce motor car, or a computer- generated display of the brain. Careful choices of president and patron, secured with the help of The Blake Society in addition to the Blake and Georgian heritage reflected in public spaces, could make Bognor Regis a destination of first choice. We have the endorsements of Tate Britain and the Cass Sculpture Foundation. SCULPTURE ROUNDABOUT
WE HAVE PROVIDED IDEAS for the Felpham roundabout which were well-received nationally, due both to the design and the reputation of the local artist and Littlehampton Welders for the quality of the proposal. We are keen to promote art that works with the area, so are considering three options:
i) A redesign of the angel sculpture, designed by Abby Wilkinson of Loosemarbles (pictured) taking on board comments ii) An open competition (example judge – Andy Goldsworthy iii) Run local workshops to provide initial ideas for the design
We would like Arun to support us as there is some Site Six money for art in applying if necessary for grants so that a high quality work of art can be provided. COMMUNITY MOSAIC
IN ADDITION TO the iconic pieces, we believe there is a place for community art in sculpture trails as evidenced by our community mosaic run with a local school to be put up this summer on the Bognor side bridge near the ALC. There is still room on the bridge for more schools to be involved. We would like Arun’s support in promoting the Blake Trail Mosaic as part of promoting tourism in Bognor Regis. Schools worked with in the last year: Downview (Mosaic), Bishop Tufnell (Mosaic), Edward Bryant (Bognorphenia), St Mary’s (Angels project), Havant College (Blake’s poetry workshops), Felpham Community College (Guest Speaker). Costs
Brochure costs for 7,000 copies ₤3,399.17. Net website contribution ₤100, domain ₤35.96
New bespoke website under construction with the flexibility and capability of supporting trail, poetry competition, Blake’s Cottage, festival, etc estimated net contribution, ₤450. New estimated all-in brochure costs for 20,000 copies including the map, research, promotion, design etc ₤6,300. All management and co- ordination has been provided free by The Big Blake Project. Estimated signage costs ₤2,200 dependant upon final content agreed with Arun Parks and Gardens (these can be paid by
Arun direct) plus plinth costs 2x ₤400 = ₤800. Estimated festival costs ₤2,000.
*We would be grateful of financial assistance in any forms and would be very happy for ADC to cover any costs direct. BBP accounts have been passed at a public AGM and detailed figures for 2013-14 can be provided. Centre of imagination
How bright ideas change everything
Endless possibilities with William Blake as the anchor tenant in a Centre of the Imagination located in Bognor Regis. Should the regeneration plans be changed to incorporate this potential? CONTEMPORAY ART
VISITING EXHIBITIONS Science and engineering and art
VISITOR CENTRE
BLAKE’S COTTAGE
Centre: Blake’s original paintings plus unique output from cottage
Local cultural pride
Contemporary art, creative spaces, performance poetry, Georgian heritage
A BETTER CONNECTED TOWN: The Blake Society, links with Tate Britain and Pallant House Local AND international
HIGH PROFILE FIGURES
New Connections: University creativity circles, Blake Society, other international poetry societies, University of Chichester, other universities, local schools
Exhibitions: Creativity and Play, developments in neuroscience, Rolls Royce, Air-travel innovations (Gatwick), chemical engineering, environmental, technogical, chemotherapy, (GlaxoKlineBeecham)
Consider this:
1million visitors, £23million income – Victoria Pomfrey, Turner Contemporary, Margate
