SAVE 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE

We are appealing to save the 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE project after permission to display has been refused by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council planning services.

12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE is a public art project, self funded by Wakefield born artists Victoria Lucas and Richard William Wheater. The red neon lyrics that alternate monthly have quickly gained worldwide recognition and support, and are now in danger of being cut short a third of the way into the time frame. This is due to a decision to refuse the artists retrospective application.

After 11 weeks of documenting the 52 week project entitled 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE, Lucas and Wheater received the devastating news that the Council have declined their advertising consent application. The artists are now working on gathering support over a two week period before the appeal deadline. If the appeal is not submitted before the 26th May 2011, the enforcement officer has ensured he will remove the work. This is something the artists wish to avoid at all costs.

We hope that the council realise that 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE is a positive engagement with the city's cultural aspirations, and that it should be allowed to continue with the remaining critical time frame, ending on 14th February 2012. The project has already enjoyed a great deal of positive interest. We invite the general public and champions of the cultural community to now sign this petition and support our appeal to save 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE.


What is 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE?

This self funded Project marks the first collaboration between Wakefield born artists Victoria Lucas and Richard William Wheater and began on St Valentines day 2011. A sequence of twelve quotes will be presented over twelve months in large red neon text. Visible from the railway, the work is erected on the roof of the Neon Workshops studio in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

12 Months of Neon Love is formed using lyrical statements borrowed from well-known songs that feature the many configurations of love. Expressions of intimacy, adoration and heartbreak are visually re-presented to an unsuspecting audience going about their everyday lives. On the 14th of each month, these significant and unique neon works will be auctioned on Ebay to the highest bidder. The next sentiment will take its place above the roof tops of Wakefield; a human heart felt voice burning above the industrial setting of warehouses.

There are plans to have a limited edition book published early next year, documenting the project. Visit www.12monthsofneonlove.blog.com for further information.


Refusal of Consent to Display an Advertisement
WMDC refusal letter statement:

The sign by virtue of its scale, design, temporary nature and illumination would introduce a feature that appears incongruous and significantly harmful to the visual amenity of the locality contrary to Local Development Framework Development Policies Document Policy D16 and the guidance contained within Planning Policy Guidance note 19: Outdoor Advertisement Control.
April 2011

Evidence to support our appeal:
During the application period, there have been no objections or criticisms logged by anyone, including the general public and the Highways Development Control Engineer.
Dozens of online websites, blogs and tweeters around the world continue to find out about the project and positively promote it.
Train commuters have taken the trouble to contact the artists to express their interest with the work.
The sign is only visible from the railway, a small section of George Street and at a distance from Ings Road.
There are far more prominent signs and banners in the immediate vicinity of the roof installations industrial location.
The installation box frame is barely visible during the day and the neons are only illuminated for several hours on an evening.
This is not a conservation area and faces onto the rear aspect to the main development of the area.
In the WMDC Cultural Strategy 2007-2012 (p6) it is stated that Culture is playing an increasingly important role in transforming the Wakefield district. They also state culture will play a role in changing local peoples lives for the better. This outlines the main objective for the project. From online comments and growing interest, it is believed 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE is helping to raise the profile of Cultural Wakefield and how it is seen locally, nationally and internationally.