‘Chaingin the Outluik’, East Ayrhsire Arts and Museums services first Artists’ Work in Public Places project was unveiled on Friday 19th March at 4pm at the Kay Park, Kilmarnock.

East Ayrshire Council believes in its’ communities, and as such engages in a dedicated, progressive and challenging programme of development across it’s services. The five year Artists Work in Public Places (AWiPP) programme is one such development, which engages communities in dialogue in reference to areas identified for regeneration and investment, and the decisions made surrounding these areas.

The Kay Park in Kilmarnock was identified as the first area for the AWiPP, as part of the wider investment in the park with the new Burns Monument Centre. John Crosby was selected from 17 applications from artists working across the UK in the public realm. John’s proposal encompassed using Burns and new Scottish poetry, as well as linking with genealogy and the new centre as the inspiration for the works. This proposal included the desire to work with school pupils to develop the project, and to enable young residents of the area to gain ownership of the works and the park.

The project is the first of five planned projects and on this occasion celebrates family history, Scots language and modern poetry.

John Crosby worked alongside Poet Rab Wilson, Library staff and 56 pupils from Loanhead and Silverwood Primary Schools to research their family history and write a new book of poetry which will be available for viewing at the Burns Monument Centre.

The titles of the poems and the names of the authors form the spines of the physical seating aspect of the park. Two sculptural benches made from galvanised steel books standing on their sides, curve around the beginning of ‘To a Mouse’, the carved red granite poetry path, paying homage to our National Bard and allowing the viewer to meander along through the park.

The Kay Park project has achieved a number of aims, over and above the visual, sculptural and aesthetic appearance of the park. Creativity, inspiration, friendship, learning, sharing and citizenship are the real outcomes of the Kay Park Artists Work in Public Places project. As well as two beautiful, functional and sculptural benches, and an engraved poetry path, it has brought generations of families together, talking about life through the centuries in Kilmarnock and beyond.

Leader of the Council, Douglas Reid said, ‘Year one of this project has produced some really fantastic outcomes – not only does the art work aesthetically compliment the Kay Park, but the artists, staff and young people have all benefited enormously from this way of working. I am looking forward to seeing the results of the remaining projects and I would urge people to take a trip to the Kay Park to see what can be achieved by our very talented young people.’

Year two of the project will take place in Howard Park with Gargieston Primary School and centres around ‘The Lady’s Walk’ poem by Aston Carle. Primary 6 pupils will work with John Crosby and Anne Errington to bring the eight verses of the poem to life through visual imagery. Each verse will be illustrated by the pupils, and the visuals will be translated into design for circular tree seats which will be installed at the Howard Park in Summer 2010.

The second stage of the project will see the pupils work with John, Anne and Alison Burns to develop a movement procession with props which will take place to mark the formal unveiling of the public art in the Howard Park in Autumn 2010.

The AWiPP five year project is led by the Arts and Museums section of East Ayrshire Council, with support from the Creative Minds team, Outdoor Amenities and Finance and Asset Management services.