Exciting new Public Art Strategy for Thame

A draft plan for a Public Art Strategy for Thame is on the agenda for a meeting of Thame Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, which includes several ideas for public arts projects around the town.

‘Colour Spaces’ by Claude Heath (Cotmore Business Park)

Overseen by a steering group, the local community will be included in the creation of Public Art, through voting on designs, taking part in community events to help celebrate and unveil the works of art, participating in activities with the selected artist/s or by just meeting and inspiring the artist with stories and local knowledge.

Eight projects have so far been identified, which, if they go ahead, will be funded mostly by Section 106 agreements with Developers of new building developments around town. These are, in order of priority:

1. Town-wide wayfinding project that both improves communication routes through the town as well as raising awareness of Thames Heritage. Included in this
connecting all new estates into Thame, but also covering wayfinding throughout the rest of town (covering Lea Park).
Involve the whole community possibly through resident associations. Look at involving other community groups in locations that are relevant to them.

2. Co-op Alleyway to Dorchester Place Car Park: Boost the profile of this space by making it more inviting to walk through, not just a gap between buildings. Making the
alleyway more of a threshold that helps people to anticipate what is beyond the Alleyway – especially as a gateway to the Phoenix Trail.

3. Marking the gateways into the town centre using the roundabouts located at Chinnor Road, Kingsey Road, Aylesbury Road, Oxford Road, to celebrate Thame’s
identity as a Market Town.

4. Greyhound Lane: Create something that is beautiful in its own right, but also serves as a frame from which community groups and artists could hang a temporary art
display. Create a sense of busy vibrant community. Allows for more arts in the street.

5. Montesson Square: Meeting point of all directional signage boards in Thame: a place where these all come together and meet, in a central ‘meeting point’. Connect
different elements of Thame together in one place to raise awareness of Thames Heritage and Thame today.

6. Bridge on old Long Crendon Road: Make more of this area. Celebrate the connection of Tolkien’s short story to this location. Possibly improve access to the field for
dog walkers.

7. Information Boards: purpose built information boards on each new estate. Designed to link to Wayfinding project.

8. The Elms: focus on artwork to educate about the Burgage plots in Thame. Potential to look at further piece of Art work in some of the gardens. To be followed up
once progress has been made on the Sale of the land.

The meeting is on Tuesday, September 25, in the council chamber, at 7.30pm and is open to the public.