Sunday Art Dialogue: Explore Another Heritage

Can contemporary art give Bath a new cultural dimension?

Bath is rightly celebrated for its extraordinary Roman and Georgian heritage. Its architecture, landscape and urban planning are recognised by UNESCO as being of Outstanding Universal Value. But Bath is not a museum. It is a living city - and a living city needs to continue creating its own cultural identity.

This is where I believe contemporary art has an important role to play in Bath.

Look at other historic cities. Edinburgh's World Heritage status protects its extraordinary Old and New Towns, while its cultural strategy embraces contemporary art. (Paolozzi)

Porto, is similarly developing contemporary artistic activity within its historic centre, including public art projects that deliberately bring contemporary creativity into the urban environment. (Jose Rodrigues)

And Bilbao demonstrates perhaps most dramatically how contemporary art can become part of a city's identity and visitor experience. Its streets and public spaces contain a substantial collection of sculpture integrated into the city, alongside the Guggenheim. (Louise Bourgeois)

Historic heritage and contemporary creativity do not have to compete. They can enhance one another.

Imagine contemporary sculpture, installations and temporary exhibitions thoughtfully placed within Bath — not imposed upon its heritage, but creating a dialogue with it.

Imagine visitors coming not only to see the Roman Baths, the Abbey and the Royal Crescent, but discovering what artists are saying about Bath today.

Bath already has the history as a centre for contemporary art from the list of distinguished artists who were part of Bath Academy to the current group of talented artists now exhibiting at the Victoria Art Gallery in the Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition or the Bath Artist Studios complex....

Perhaps the next chapter should be about how we bring together the past into dialogue with the contemporary one...

I would love to hear from you what you think!