Public Art Commissions Agency (PACA) Archive

The PACA Archive is a business archive. It contains correspondence, financial records, project briefs and documentation for both realised and unrealised public art projects. It includes research notes, artist's curriculum vitae and proposals. There are a number of artists' sketches and drawings. There is an extensive slide and photographic record of the public art projects PACA managed. The PACA Archive also contains the administrative records of the company, including financial records and minutes of the Trustees meetings.

The PACA Library is an extensive collection of artists' books, exhibition catalogues, critical texts, and art journals and newspapers on the subjects of public art, urban planning and architecture. There are also a small number of videocassettes, CD-ROMs, audiocassettes and computer disks.

The Public Arts Commissions Agency (PACA) was formed in 1987 to act as consultant to the ICC and Centenary Square developments in Birmingham. PACA was a registered charity and company limited by guarantee with offices in Birmingham, and later London. PACA handled many large-scale, mainstream public art projects throughout the UK and some international projects. PACA were also contracted by local authorities to draft public art strategies, and promoted public art through seminars, publications and a series of Speculative Proposals . PACA ceased trading in the summer of 1999.

The majority of the Archive was donated in the original order in which it was used by PACA staff. This order has been preserved where discernable. The Archive has been arranged into three sub-fonds as follows - The PACA Library, Management and Finances of the Agency and Project Files.

The Arts, Design and Media Archive at the Parkside Building is currently closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Please email any inquiries to adm-archives-request@bcu.ac.uk.

Given the recent date and personal information contained in the collection, some files and documents are closed to researchers.

Donated.

This description was compiled by Sian Everitt.

The PACA Archive was donated to the Archives in August 1999. It has been catalogued in its original order.

None expected.