The Phoenix Initiative, Coventry

The Phoenix Initiative,Coventry is a major inner-city regeneration project led by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects and advised by Modus Operandi Art Consultants. Seven artists and a poet have been appointed to collaborate with the Design Team, including Jochen Gerz, Francoise Schein, David Ward, Susanna Heron, Alexander Beleschenko and Kate Whiteford. The first of these proposals, a landscaped garden maze by Kate Whiteford, was completed on site in late 2000; the other commissions will be realised by 2003.

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre,

As part of a major Arts Lottery funded refurbishment Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre advised by Modus Operandi Art Consultants has commissioned an interactive and kinetic sculpture for the prow of the theatre by Mark Goulthorpe of Paris-based Atelier dECOi. Other commissions include a design for the Safety Curtain by artist Balraj Khanna and a glass wall and contemporary chandelier by Liz Rideal.

University of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales

University of Aberystwyth invited Modus Operandi Art Consultants to research and organise an invited competition for the redesign of the main piazza. Shortlisted artists were Tony Cragg, Vong Phaophanit, Mark Pimlott and Paul de Monchaux. Mark Pimlott was selected and is currently engaged in design development for La Scala, a contemporary and innovative sculptural viewing platform and performance structure; in collaboration with Nick Hanika of Price & Myers.

Dolcis House, London

Modus Operandi Art Consultants has recently researched and presented an artists shortlist for a large-scale retail and office development by Allies & Morrison in London's West End. Brad Lochore has been invited to develop detailed designs for the exterior of the site.

Birmingham Mailbox

Modus Operandi Art Consultants researched and managed a limited competition for The Mailbox, an important new development in Birmingham which links previously separated parts of the city. One of the winning proposals, entitled Guinguette by Mark Pimlott, transforms a once austere car park underneath a motorway flyover into a highly innovative and contemporary space illuminated constantly by an eclectic mix of many coloured lights. The other selected commision is an extensive linear paving installation/street furniture scheme by Thomas Heatherwick Studio.

Marunouchi Development, Tokyo

Modus Operandi Art Consultants was appointed as art consultants for the Marunouchi project, a new office/ retail development and adjacent public spaces in central Tokyo, located between the main railway station and the Imperial Palace. The consultancy includes extensive research of appropriate artists for a number of major commission opportunities; both inside and outside the new Marunouchi development. Modus Operandi Art Consultants liaises with architects and designers at the Marunouchi Design Office in Tokyo and is advising on appropriate themes, commissioning methodologies, budgets and programming timescales.

Liverpool Housing Action Trust

Modus Operandi Art Consultants was appointed in April 2000 to research and draft a comprehensive Public Art Strategy for the HAT, leading towards three major public art commissions for HAT sites in Liverpool. Over a six month period Modus Operandi Art Consultants carried out extensive research and consultation with a broad range of key players. The resultant strategy includes a framework for adopting a Percent for Art policy as well as a methodology and guidance for implementing an adventurous art programme over the next 3-5 years. This will include large scale international commissions, medium and small scale projects and temporary and celebratory events. The four shortlisted for the fist phase are Gilbert Boyer, Janet Hodgson, Vong Phaophanit and Francesc Torres

West Cambridge Development, Cambridge

Modus Operandi Art Consultants is currently researching a Public Art Strategy for the new West Cambridge campus, an ambitious science and technology park being masterplanned by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects. The University of Cambridges Estates Management & Building Services has appointed Modus Operandi Art Consultants to research and develop a strategy and funding policy for a number of commissions and collaborations for the newly designed park. This work is monitored by a steering group, desk and telephone research, consultation meetings with university staff, ongoing meetings with the masterplanners, consultation with on-site research organisations (including the Cavendish Physics Laboratory, Microsoft, Schlumberger and Marconi), liaison with regional and national arts organisations and the exploration of additional funding sources.

Wessex Water Operations Centre, near Bath

Modus Operandi Art Consultants researched and organised an invited competition on behalf of client Wessex Water for the companys new Operations Centre outside Bath. Commissions for the interior and landscape were carried out by by Susanna Heron (internal water feature) and Bettina Furnee (external seating with carved text), in association with architects Bennetts Associates

Victoria Street, London

Modus Operandi Art Consultants researched and organised the competition for a major work of art for a planned new development in Victoria Street, London designed by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard. The three shortlisted artists were Tom Heatherwick, Charles Hooker and Katayoun Dowlatshahi. Tom Heatherwick was selected and is currently developing the proposal.

111 Strand, London

Modus Operandi Art Consultants recently managed an invited competition for a new office development at 111 Strand in central London. The selected artists are Langlands & Bell, who are creating a stone carved relief panel for the facade of the building, taking as its source material Londons A-Z Map.

City Inn Hotels, London

Modus Operandi Art Consultants is currently public art consultants for the research and selection of artists as part of a major new hotel development next to Tate Britain, London. The architects for the development are Bennetts Associates. Shortlisted artists include Bill Culbert, Susanna Heron and Kate Whiteford.

Hitchcock Commemorative Artwork, Leytonstone, London

Modus Operandi Art Consultants was appointed by London Borough of Waltham Forest and O-Regen to carry out a feasibility study towards the commission of a commemorative artwork celebrating the early life of Alfred Hitchcock in Leytonstone. Greyworld wer selected for the comission.

Public Art Strategy, Birmingham City Council

Modus Operandi Art Consultants completed a Strategy for Public Art for Birmingham City Council, informed by the outcome of a Pilot Project for artists' involvement in four urban villages. Artists were Andrew Sabin, Elizabeth-Jane Grose, Nayan Kulkarni and Alison Turnbull / Trevor Shearer.

Means of Production: A placement programme for established London designer/ makers

A career development programme for established London artists. Modus Operandi Art Consultants has been engaged on behalf of London Arts, the capitals regional arts board, to research, initiate, facilitate and administer a programme for mid-career designer-makers based in London. Modus Operandi Art Consultants role thus far has been to develop a framework for an appropriate programme following in-depth research into previous placement/ residency models in the creative industries and manufacturing sectors. In addition to this, work to date has included the formation of an advisory steering group, the management of a nomination process to select makers and the selection of four artists for the first placements. The four designer-makers selected are Lise Autogena, Rebecca Earley, Michael Marriott and Laura Potter and their backgrounds have been in glass, fashion design, furniture design and jewelry design respectively.

A primary aim of Means of Production is to foster genuine collaboration and opportunity between practitioners and other professionals/ manufacturers taking their work into a new realm in terms of conceptual and creative approach, scale, collaborative scope and marketing. Modus Operandi Art Consultants anticipates that the critical debate surrounding the placements will offer new models of partnership to the sector as a whole.

Although targeting London based artists the project is not isolated to the capital. Indeed, following initial discussions with the selected artists regarding the direction of their proposal companies, institutions and organisations internationally may be contacted as potential hosts or partners. Means of Production will be promoted and publicised through the dissemination of both printed and electronic material to all sectors of the media.

The programme has recently received grant support from the Year of the Artist for the four designer-makers, as well as a research grant from the Wellcome Trust, allowing Laura Potter to develop her proposal within the context of Public Health Institution. The Arts Council of England has offered an award towards the programme for 2001/2002, enabling the four artists to allocate dedicated time to the development of their creative practice.