Stoke-on-Trent’s most well-known and treasured public works of art are to be safeguarded for generations to come thanks to new rules that have just come into force.
The introduction of the Public Art Protocol follows the demolition of Vincent Woropay’s Josiah Wedgwood Capo statue in January, which led to the then Deputy Leader of the City Council, Dan Jellyman, resigning.
Councillor Jellyman, now leader of the opposition Conservative Group, said it was his error in not challenging “officers’ poor advice” that led to the distinctive red brick sculpture being removed from Festival Way.
The new Protocol, approved by Cabinet on Tuesday 7 November, supports the protection of heritage assets on public land across the city. It covers works including statues, war memorials, murals, fountains and architectural features.
It outlines how any regeneration scheme in Stoke-on-Trent involving a site that contains a work of art, heritage asset or a listed structure on public land must be subject to an assessment of its cultural value and carried out in consultation with the Planning team and the Historic Environment Record Officer before it is approved by a director.
Council leader Jane Ashworth said: “We want to ensure that what happened to Capo will not happen again. I am confident that our new Public Art Protocol will support our efforts to safeguard our city’s heritage now and in the future.
“This piece of work is just one of a number of significant steps we are taking to protect our heritage assets including the development of a city-wide public art inventory which we will do in consultation with our local communities and stakeholders.
“We are also committed to developing a Public Art Strategy in the future, to help us continue to support and manage public art in Stoke-on-Trent going forward.”
The authority has listed an inventory of 72 public art installations across the city, and this list will be developed further following a public engagement exercise which is due to be launched later this month.
