Fieldguide to Big Track

After a few months of research, Hinterland Projects have completed a document containing recommendations, advice and proposals for artists engagement for The Big Track. Titled Fieldguide, the document takes the form of a comic book or visual essay and investigates different kinds of artists projects in the public realm. It also presents a detailed account of the consultation process with artists and curators and recounts early discussions and ideas shared with Greater Nottingham Partnership and Nottingham Contemporary. In addition to the comic book and an equal part of a proposal for a way forward, Hinterland curator Jennie Syson has produced a collection of writings which present different methodologies used by artists, curators and designers working directly with specific communities.

Examples of site specific temporary work and the issues surrounding such projects include Freee Art collective, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Jeremy Deller, Mark Dion, Tue Greenfort, Doris Salcedo and Francis Alys. Through presenting examples of this way of working, Fieldguide touches upon how public art can provide a political point about regeneration; how artists encourage engagement with 'social sculpture' and how the focus of different interest groups can encourage an interest in wildlife and ecology. Artists projects highlighted concerntrate on the creation of a spectacle or myth with temporary physical work or create an epic response to a performative action or live event.

Fieldguide also presents different models of curating in the public realm including approaches concerning cultual ecology, curatorial consultancy and taking the role of wayfinder or guide. For more information about this report, please contact jennie@hinterlandprojects.com

What's the Big Idea?

This week, artists and curators visited the Big Track, to mull over ideas about placing art along the 10 mile car free route. We visited Attenborough Nature Centre - and spoke to the centre manager Louise Buckley about how the eco-friendly venue and reserve was transformed from gravel pits to provide a new home for Greater Crested Grebe, Kingfisher and Tree Sparrow (Much to the delight of Marcus Coates...) and also a buzzing hub for more than 200,000 human visitors a year.

We also visited Beeston Marina and Weir and stopped off for some tea and toast at The Boat House Cafe, where cafe owner Tony enlightened us about how many Big Track users and cyclists he regularly serves in the cafe. We happened to be there on the first anniversary of Tony taking over the cafe, so we were lucky to get a table. It was such a great atmosphere - we started thinking.... Would art spoil that? Did the Big Track really need any art work? How would an artist work considerately with the local community?










The evening saw a lively debate with presentations of past work undertaken by the Marcus, John, Neil and Sophie, and a consultation/workshop exercise to establish a 'perfect scenario' for public art commissioning. (It was a bit like a very large game of consequences...) This took place at the Boat Club by Trent Bridge and was attended by local independent artists and local artists in groups including members of Oldknows Studio group, MOOT, Lady Bay Open Studios, Tether, Stand Assembly, and Via Vaudeville! There were also representatives from Arts Council England, Groundworks Trust, English Partnerships and local residents who live in the Big Track catchment area. An Urban Planning research expert, a green city planner, and an elected Member of Rushcliffe Borough Council (Green Party) also joined the discussions.


Sophie, who had agreed to devise the workshop, asked participants to imagine themselves in the position of someone else's shoes to commission a piece of artwork for the public realm. Groups were divided into 'curators/project managers', 'artists', 'funders' and 'the general public'. Each group then presented their recommendations, which along with the feedback from consultant artists, will go towards a report detailing different ways to present art along the Big Track.

Big Track at the Boat Club

Monday, 28th January
7.00pm – 9.30pm
Free admission (buffet included).
No bookings required, but prompt arrival by 7pm is essential.



The Boat Club (Also known as Nottingham Rowing Club), Middle of Three, Trent Side North, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5FA (Near Nottingham Forest Ground)

This event is free and open to anyone with an interest in the subject. We would especially like to hear your views about art along the Big Track so the discussion will be particularly relevant for residents of (or regular visitors to) West Bridgford, Wilford, Clifton, Dunkirk, Colwick, The Meadows, Attenborough and Beeston.

The evening will be led by curator Sophie Hope and will focus on differing views of public art projects and how the community receives them. Collectively, the topic will be examined from the standpoints of commissioners, curators, artists and local residents.

There will also be presentations from artists Marcus Coates and John Newling and artist/curator Neil Cummings who are conducting research with Hinterland and Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham for Big Track.

click here for MAP TO BOAT CLUB click here for additional TRAVEL INFO BUS ROUTES FROM CITY CENTRE There are a variety of NCT buses which stop at or near Trent Bridge. These include 5, 5a, 6,7,8,9,10, N6. Visit this link for timetables.

Expert advice

Next week we have invited internationally respected artists and curators for a visit to Nottingham. We plan to tour the Big Track and hold a public workshop at Nottingham Boat Club.


Sophie Hope
We have invited Sophie, a curator and researcher, to advise the project because of her interest in presenting art work in interesting social and political contexts. One half of curatorial partnership B+B, Sophie has a proven track record of hosting innovative workshops, meetings and residencies, establishing a platform for critical discussion and debate on the role of the artist in a changing society. Her current project, Reunion, is described as 'action research'. She is also working on The Manifesto of Possibilities - about commissioning art in an urban environment.

Marcus Coates
Marcus was was invited to give his input because of his experience of working closely with individual members of the general public, nature experts and enthusiasts to create highly original pieces of contemporary art. Marcus was part of British Art Show 6 which toured to Nottingham. The overarching aim of the Big Track is to promote a green, nature-friendly alternatives to transport – conservation is a topic clearly close to Coates’ heart and this enthusiasm manifests within his work.

John Newling
John lives and works in Nottingham and is professor of Installation Sculpture at Nottingham Trent University. John is currently working on The Preston Market Mystery project, which, as the artist describes, 'aims to inject a little more mystery into the lives of Prestonians.' Recent winner of the Rowse Kent Public Art Award for his spiritually uplifting Chatham Vines project, we thought John would be the perfect person to give advice closer to home.

Neil Cummings
Neil often works collaboratively with artist Marysia Lewandowska and together they form Chance projects. Their work is often concerned with re-claiming public space, whether interlectual or spiritual, in an age of relentless privatsation. Installations often include working with old archives of beautiful amateur films - presenting them in new contexts to new audiences. Neil was also part of British Art Show 6 where he worked with MACE, (Media Archive of Central England) to present an installation at Angel Row Gallery. Neil has visited Nottingham before in his capacity as a board member for CCAN. This will be his second tour of the Big Track.

We will be touring the Big Track and visiting sites at Attenborough, Beeston, The Meadows, Wilford and the City Centre. Accompanying us on this journey will be local historian and artist Chris Matthews who will aid us in creating new perspectives to the city by delving into Nottingham's past.

Big plans for Big Track

The Big Track is a 10 mile, car-free loop formed by the River Trent and the canal in Nottingham.

Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership, Hinterland Projects and Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham have come together to research potential art projects in the public realm along the route. This research is funded by GNTP and Arts Council England.


The Big Track itself runs through city and countryside, and takes in many interesting histories and contemporary developments. An important aspect of this research is to involve artists and curators with experience of working in public places from the outset. Key advisors to the project include Alex Farquharson, director of the Centre for Contemporary Art Nottingham; Jennie Syson, director of Hinterland Projects; Lynn Hanna, (previously of Big Track) Head of Marketing & Development at CCAN.