About Ginkgo

Ginkgo Projects is an independent consultancy offering art curation and commissioning services to a wide range of clients.

Our philosophy is driven by a desire to create unique opportunities for artists and designers. We aim to contribute fresh perspectives to built and natural environments that challenge assumptions about the spaces we inhabit.

Our clients include developers, local authorities, landscape and architectural practices and environmental and arts organisations. We create real opportunities for clients and artists to produce innovative work appropriate to the context, whether this is a new building or public space, work that is integrated into a space, stand-alone work or exhibition.

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Our Services

Studies and development plans
Ginkgo undertakes feasibility studies and development plans for a wide range of projects involving artists and the built/natural environment. We often engage artists and curators as part of the study development process. This practice-based engagement ensures the development of grounded and creative solutions.
Activities include:

Feasibility studies and commissioning strategies
Programme research, development and implementation
Funding strategy / development
Project assessment / development

Programme development
Our project managers are often seconded to Local Authorities and public institutions to work over the medium term to develop a programme of art in public activities.

Project development and implementation
We work with clients and artists in a range of different ways and art forms to bring creativity into new or existing buildings or public spaces to develop a sense of place and identity. We seek to develop projects that will promote the values of the client or building environment through art, so creating a new and perhaps unexpected cultural perspective.

Activities may include:

Managing the process of involving an artist within a design team
Project curation and creative direction
Artist selection and management
Stakeholder consultation
Budget management
Contract management
Managing the process of design development and
Community consultation.
Project documentation and promotion
Managing the process of design development and community consultation
Exhibition management
Evaluation

The Team

Tom Littlewood

Director

Tom founded Ginkgo Projects in 2001 after having led the arts charity Independent Public Arts. Originally a landscape architect he broadened his practice to encompass the pioneering concepts of linking cultural planning and placemaking in the mid 1990’s. He has wide and grounded experience in generating and leading creative projects that integrate art and creativity as a key element of environmental, architectural and regenerative schemes.

Tom has undertaken a range of advocacy activities including lecturing at Glasgow School of Art and the University of Plymouth, providing assessment advice on public art to various public bodies and has been recently appointed as a panel member for the Bristol Urban Design Forum.

Sophie Scott

Associate Director

Sophie joined Ginkgo in 2003 having worked in contemporary arts education especially within the National Galleries of the Scottish Education Team and at Stills gallery. In addition to managing a portfolio of projects particularly within the commercial sector, she is expanding our strategic working practice into new areas of developing projects to bring business and cultural interests together through exhibition and arts led activities. Sophie is Chair of Spike Island Print Studio.

Jan Hogarth

Project Manager

Jan manages Ginkgo’s public art curation activities in Southern Scotland. Jan combines her project management and development activities with her continued role as a visual artist with a particular interest in the environmental art movement, leading on to her gaining a practice led PHD in environmental art at Sunderland University. She studied sculpture at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen and read for an MPhil in Public Art and Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. Jan taught 3D design and visual studies at Newcastle College for 10 years.

Linda Mallett

Project Manager

Linda Mallett has a degree in Fine Art (Sculpture) and comes from a background as a professional practicing visual artist. For the past 15 years she has worked in the field of public art project management, whilst maintaining her own practice. From 1998 to 2004 she held the post of Public Art Development Officer at North Ayrshire Council. She has also undertaken strategic development projects for East Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and East Lothian Councils.

Jane McArthur

Project Manager

Jane has wide experience and knowledge of the cultural sector. She has curated and managed both for private and public contemporary art galleries, worked in visual art and craft development and instigated and managed successful regional cultural events. She has an excellent knowledge of contemporary visual art and craft and has advised on this subject on discussion and assessment panels including those for the Scottish Arts Council. She has an excellent track record in fundraising, arts marketing and economic regeneration through visual art and craft.

Jane Porter

Project Manager

Jane has a degree in Fine Art and an MA in Film and Video. Over the last five years she has worked for Arnolfini, Watershed and Bristol City Council Arts team. She has a particular interest in artist led projects, having worked for LOT and advised Plan 9 and Rhys and Hannah Present in acquiring spaces in central Bristol. As well as working as a Project Manager at Ginkgo she is developing the marketing strategy for the company.

Jane also works as Production and Events Coordinator at Picture This, a commissioning agency and exhibition space in Bristol dedicated to moving image projects. Jane is a Spike Associate and was recently a member of the curating team who put together the show Part-ilha at Spike Island.