Architexture 17
Welcome to issue 17 of Architexture, the monthly newsletter from the Architecture Centre Network (ACN) - the independent body representing architecture and built environment centres in the UK.
ACN News
Benchmarking Study
Our major study evaluating the impact and capacity of the UK's architecture centres is nearing completion. Early results are revealing that after just five years since the Network was established the collective turnover of centres has increased to over £7.5m, they employ over 200 full and part-time staff and are supported by over 300 volunteers. Furthermore, the 50% of ABECs with membership schemes have attracted over 2800 members across the UK. Full results and analysis will be published shortly.
Living Together
Picture credit: Design Heroine Architects
The ACN has received the final report and recommendations from Design Heroine [link] for its cross-centre public participation project and national exhibition to link and reveal housing projects at architecture centres across the UK. Building Schools for the Future
On Thursday 7th September 14 architecture centres met with representatives from DfES, Partnership for Schools and CABE for a feedback session on inspirational tours piloted by ABECs during Architecture Week 2006 and funded by DfES. 
Picture credit: Catherine Williamson
Discussions, facilitated by School Works, addressed how centres might further develop their work linked to the government’s Building Schools for the Future initiative and involve schools in the design of their buildings.
Member News
Architecture Foundation
The 10th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale [link] opens on Sep 10th, dedicated to Cities, Architecture and Society and directed by Ricky Burdett.
The Architecture Foundation, in collaboration with The Museum of Modern Art's Department of Architecture and Design are broadcasting online from the Italian Pavilion at the heart of the Biennale's Giardini at www.VeniceSuperBlog.net
Architecture Centre, Bristol
The Architecture Centre celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2006 and in October will be hosting an exhibition exploring the many facets of its work in Bristol and the surrounding area since 1996.
In preparation for the occasion the gallery will be closed for refurbishment from 16th September and the shop will be closed from 30th September - all to reopen on the 14th October [more]. New London Architecture
Opening this week The Office - London's Workplace is the latest exhibition from NLA and examines the design and planning of a selection of new offices in London and the impact of changes in office technology. These will be set in the context of video interviews with office designers, office users and theorists. Until 28th Oct [more].
MADE
The architecture centre for Birmingham and the West Midlands is delighted to announce it is now taking bookings for its third annual international delegation.
Søren Kierkegaard Square, Copenhagen
Photographer: Cees van Roeden,
courtesy of WoCo
This year MADE will be visiting Copenhagen from 11-13th Oct 2006. The itinerary will have a housing theme, and naturally, being in Scandinavia, a focus on sustainability. For bookings and further information contact MADE [more].
Open House
Arts Council England, London has announced that Open House has been appointed as the host organisation to incubate a new agency for a two-year pilot period to promote and advise on art in the public realm in the capital [more].
The Lighthouse
As part of the Glasgow Mackintosh Festival 2006 and complementing its permanent exhibition - the award-winning Mackintosh Interpretation Centre - The Lighthouse has curated a special temporary exhibition in the Long Gallery. Focusing on four buildings, photographer Anthony Coleman invites us to look at aspects of Mackintosh’s architecture we all too frequently overlook [more].
arc
Clay City is a creative play programme and exhibition by arc. As part of the city’s summer play programme arc has worked with over 300 children from Hull in making clay models of buildings.
Clay City making at arc, Hull
Picture credit: Gillian Dyson
These delightful and curious models are being collected together to form a map of Hull – on exhibition at arc from Saturday 9th September [more].
Public Arts
Recent building work at the Orangery in Wakefield has transformed the east wing of the historic building into a dedicated and professional exhibition space.
The space will be used to present a range of work by architects, artists, and others - opening this week with Small Structures - showing work created during a special event at the Orangery during Architecture Week [more].
Other News
September Open Days
Thousands of buildings and places across England will be opening their doors free of charge for Heritage Open Days (HODs) 2006 from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th September co-ordinated by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage [more].
Many UK architecture centres participate in HODs including this year Bristol, Hull and Wakefield.
Open House London takes place the following weekend on the 16th and 17th September co-ordinated by Open House. 
London’s biggest architectural festival, this annual event gives everyone the opportunity to visit buildings new and old across London - many of them normally closed to the public - completely free of charge [more].
CABE
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) - the UK government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space - has published its Corporate Strategy for the years 2006-8 [more].
CABE has also recently appointed Jonathan Davis as director of Knowledge and Skills and Sarah Gaventa as director of CABE Space [link].
The Public Garden
A major conference concerned with the collaboration of landscape architects and designers with artists on public realm projects. The Public Garden will look at the effect of art and regeneration in shaping experiences of green public and private spaces. London -18th Oct 2006 [more].
Arts Council England
In August 2006, the Arts Council celebrated its 60th anniversary of the granting of its royal charter.
In 1946, the Arts Council had a budget of £235,000 and supported just four organisations. Today, their budget for 2005/06 is £410 million from the Treasury and £160 million from the National Lottery and its gives regular funding to 1100 arts organisations across England - including the ACN and many member centres [link].
Arts Council England has recently been working with Arts & Business and The Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) exploring the role of the arts in Town Centres and Business Improvement Districts. You may download a copy of their collaborative report from the ACTM website [link].
Architecture Centres International
VAi
The Flemish Architecture Institute has this summer published its 7th Architectural Yearbook featuring 34 selected projects together with an overview of publications, exhibitions, lectures, competitions and architecture prizes from the Flanders region [link].
Arkitekturmuseet
The 'understated elegance' of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma's work is being celebrated at a new exhibition at the Swedish Museum of Architecture this September [link].
AAA
The Australian Architecture Association delivered a sell-out series of 30 tours in Sydney as part of the city's SD06 Design Festival from 5 to 20 August, details on their website [link].
CISA
Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio, Vicenza has recently completed its 48th annual study course on Palladian architecture. Meet Palladio is a two week exploration of the work of Andrea Palladio, with lectures and visits to all Palladio's works in the Veneto [link].
Architexture is a free, subscription only, email newsletter of the Architecture Centre Network - the independent body representing architecture and built environment centres in the UK. We are always happy to consider articles for submission, please email Architexture editor: John Elcock
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