April 2007 and the start of the home strait for The Big Art Project, yet there’s still a long way to go… Having worked in the industry for nearly 5 years, I can honestly say that this is one of the most exciting, fulfilling – and yet at times exasperating projects I have ever worked on – but the thought of standing here in 5, 10 or even 20 years time and perhaps being able to travel to St.Helens and see a sculpture still standing on the hillside; to visit the Waterworks Park in Belfast and see people wandering through a sea of artworks started by The Big Art Project; making my first visit to Mull and Cardigan to see what Art has created on the Island or the Quayside; standing on the Olympic Greenway in Newham looking up and seeing what the Alp has become; Driving up the M1 and (hopefully) seeing the Towers still standing in all their cultural glory.

Personally, I find the Burnley project the most exciting – there is something amazing about watching a group of Young People developing in front of us, and becoming more articulate about their wants and desires by the day. They truly embrace the spirit of the project – finding Art a fun and exciting way of bringing their community together. I’m not sure whether it’s childhood innocence or not – but I think there, more than on any of the other sites, they believe they are part of something big and amazing in the future… (I could be wrong – and I’ll allow the other nominees, and people in the office to come back at me on that one!!)

Sitting in the production office for the most part, I think that people out on the sites can forget that we’re also living the rollercoaster ride with them (except 7 times over!!) There are days when the team sit at our desks buzzing, because funding is falling into place and we’re hearing positive feedback from the sites with news of Artist visits, community projects getting off the ground, and some of the proposals feeling like they are about to become a reality.

When I joined the project 9 months ago and there was little money on the table it was hard to believe that we would actually make it to the point where we are now, standing on the brink of something amazing. That said, it’s not all fun and sunshine, and we sit here on other days feeling the frustrations and concerns from nominators on the site, when it seems like all of our efforts are running into a brick wall. Fortunately, the team behind this project are exceptional – and when one person is feeling project fatigue, there is someone else there to pick them up – and I hope that over the next year, that is something that will continue not just in our production office but out on the sites too. As much as I’d like to think that the next year will just be an exciting upwards surge towards the unveiling of each project, I have a feeling that there will be a few bumps along the way!

Over the last few weeks, with the transmission of ‘Watch This Space’ – the series of 3 Minute Wonders that broadcast on Channel 4, I began for the first time to believe in this project becoming real. Watching them for the first time made the hairs on my neck stand on end – it was a shame that we couldn’t produce one for every site. However, the response I have received from friends, family, colleagues and members of the general public is one of overwhelming support for the project. People are gaining interest in how the sites were chosen, what is going to happen, and how, and by who – and the one thing that for me makes this project, is how each one of us can bring something to the table – no matter how small. This project won’t happen if everyone sits back and waits… we have to make it happen….

It’s a challenge that I think we can rise to… talking of which – I should get back to work!

Jo Taylor
Jnr Production Manager - Carbon Media