The Artworks

Facts and Figures

Cultural Mapping is one of the largest public art projects in the East Midlands: A partnership programme to create 15 site-specific artworks in a range of media. These artworks mark entrances, significant sites and routes through the city. The project relates the artworks to the city by drawing on ideas about physical routes and cultural roots, which form part of the unique identity of Leicester.

A wide-ranging programme of community engagement and audience development was integral to the delivery of the Cultural Mapping project, which included extensive public consultation and community involvement through artists in residence, presentations, exhibitions, displays, performances, seminars, design and art workshops, site and studio visits, feasibility studies, questionnaires, and media campaigns.

477 events directly engaged 41,500 people.

The project idea was originated in 1996 and in November 1998 was awarded £477,000 from Arts Council England Lottery Funding.

The overall programme generated further partnership funding and support of over £500,000 from a variety of sources, including Leicester City Council revenue and capital programmes, Leicester City Council Transport Plan, Percent for Art, Tesco Superstore Ltd, Single Regeneration Budget 4 (SRB4), Single Regeneration Budget 2 (SRB2), North West Leicester Single Regeneration Budget 5 (SRB5), Leicester Housing Association, New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, the City Gallery, the London College of Printing, and the Countryside Commission. The programme also attracted support in kind, including provision of materials, equipment, professional knowledge and expertise, from individuals, organisations, and service providers. Without this additional support the project would not have been realised.

Similarly, the Cultural Mapping programme would not have been completed without the dedication, commitment and support of all the artists, community representatives and groups, and staff at Leicester City Council, together with the many individuals – technicians, engineers, contractors, agencies, fabricators and suppliers – who provided support, advice, expertise and knowledge in the delivery and development of the project.