The Public Art Think Tank 








ixia was established to promote and influence the development and implementation of public art policies, strategies and projects through creating and distributing knowledge to: arts and non-arts policy makers, public and private sector commissioners, curators, artists and the public.

ixia Public Art Support Pilot Update

ixia, with funding from Arts Council England, is supporting Barnsley, Darlington and St Helens councils with public art projects that form part of Levelling Up or Town's Fund programmes. Advisors Beam, Hazel Colquhoun and Emma Underhill (Founder & Artistic Director, UP Projects) have been appointed to act as critical friends until early autumn 2024, to boost the councils' knowledge and understanding of current contemporary public art practice and processes. This includes consideration of artist recruitment, project governance and community engagement. Findings from the project will be shared through webinars and a set of case studies later this year.

Public Art Support Pilot  

ixia is pleased to be delivering an Arts Council England funded pilot providing additional public art expertise for public art projects that form part of place-based development programmes in the North of England. The project will support best practice in public art commissioning and production. Places receiving advice will demonstrate learning that can be shared more widely across the sector. Projects will capture a variety of commissioning approaches, considering scale, timeline, stage of project, equality, diversity and diversity, and social engagement. Aspects of the learning will be made available later in 2024 through case studies and webinars.






The current board of directors are: Katy Beinart, Tom Freshwater, Suzanne Heath, Cathy Newbery and board associates and advisory members Katie Daley-Yates, and Odette Chalaby.

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ixia is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Charity no. 1106457.

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