ISLANDERS are being invited to Grève de Lecq this week to take part in creative workshops with a difference.
Attendees will use clay to create a 3D vision for the future of the area acquired by the National Trust for Jersey with a grant of £3.6 million from the government.
Sasha Gibb, of Public Voice: Common Ground, is working with London-based artist Jo Pearl to help members of the public visualise the future of the site.
“Because clay is infinitely malleable, can be modelled into any idea, is the natural material found beneath our feet and can be made into the bricks of the buildings that surround us, it’s a great way to envision the future of Grève de Lecq’s public space,” Mrs Gibb said.
Last year, as part of the government-funded Public Voice: Common Ground pilot project, Mrs Gibb brought the artist to Jersey for a similar project at the Weighbridge. Now she describes the opportunity to focus on Grève de Lecq with the National Trust for Jersey as “a dream”.
“There is often a misconception that public engagement slows things down, costs more money and achieves nothing. However, asking the right questions of the right stakeholders and creating a proper commission brief based on the problems and aspirations of those on the ground is the secret to delivering the best outcome. The NTJ understand the need to make decisions based on fact, on multiple perspectives and dares to ask questions they don’t yet know the answers to,” she said.
The workshops form the second phase of consultation on the future of Grève de Lecq run by the trust. A public survey, open until the end of this month, has afforded a more traditional means of soliciting the public’s opinions but now the focus shifts towards an approach the artist describes as “more creative and fun than a questionnaire”.
“BeachWorks will be a highly engaging and playful way to draw out ideas, co-make and envision new possibilities for the future of Grève de Lecq. Participants spend time thinking, discussing and modelling their ideas in clay for how the site could be improved. Not intended as an architectural masterplan, it will instead be an ideas-scape capturing hopes and suggestions from Islanders,” Ms Pearl explained.
Mrs Gibb said that all Islanders were invited to join the team at the Seaside café on Friday from 2 to 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Parking is available in the reopened car park and the number 9 bus goes from St Helier daily, while the Ugly Oyster food truck and an ice cream van will be at the site on both days.
“BeachWorks is suitable for all ages from three to 103, and all abilities – although children must be accompanied by an adult. No pottery experience necessary, clay enthusiasts will be on hand to explain or remind us of the basics. Intriguing questions will focus the vision and conversation,” she added.
