THE Angel of the North is an iconic sculpture in Gateshead which has firmly placed the region on the international arts map.
It has not only increased tourism and inspired local artists, but it is literally a symbol of the north east in the same way as Stonehenge is linked with Wiltshire or Barcelona with La Sagrada Familia.
Last year, Arts4Wokingham launched a project to commission a major sculpture by an award winning artist it claims will identify the town in a similar unique way.
It is that belief, coupled with a determination to raise £200,000 for The Arc, that has led Robin Cops to nominate the charity as Community Project of the Year.
“If you want to know what a place is like, you look at the public art there,” he explains.
“The Arc is a landmark piece by the international artist Nicola Anthony and will not only reflect what’s important to residents in Wokingham but will act as a draw for visitors in the future.
“Public art is about getting art out of the gallery. People need to see and feel art in the community. Arts4Wokingham is a local charity whose purpose is to encourage public artworks for all people to engage with art. It believes public art has the power to build strong local communities, rich in culture, storytelling and identity.”
The project is not being funded by Wokingham Borough Council, so the charity is seeking support from businesses, residents, philanthropic organisations, and arts lovers.
The council has backed a plan to locate the sculpture outside the Carnival Hub development, acting as a gateway to the town.
Added Robin: “Arts4Wokingham is working on an ongoing series of creative community workshops including with vulnerable groups. Their stories and recollections will be used to create the text, braille and audible stories embedded in The Ark.
“We hope that material from the workshops will be finally archived at the local library for future reference. This last year has also been focused on fundraising including activities like the postcard art gallery, dance studios and currently a Crowdfunder campaign.
“This exciting project will result in a permanent gift of public art for Wokingham from this small local charity.”
