Posted on 23rd Jan
Ten brightly decorated benches will adorn Newark this summer — and local artists are now being offered the chance to design them.
Newark Creates has partnered with Wild in Art, the organisation behind the Lincoln Imp Trail and the Shaun the Sheep sculptures at Clumber Park, to produce the BookBenches.
Now it is searching for 10 artists to give them their own colourful and unique flair.
Suggestions for BookBench design inspirations include books, Newark’s history, rivers, nature, Newark Castle, nursery rhymes, education, storytelling, and animals.
Five of the artists commissioned will be from Newark and Sherwood and have the opportunity to work with local community groups to develop their ideas and design.
The other five artists can be from the wider East Midlands area and will work independently to design and paint their sculpture.
Newark Creates was set up in 2021 as one of the Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programmes and is delivered by the Newark Cultural Consortium.
Responsible for last summer’s umbrella installation in the Market Place alongside ADHD Foundation – The Neurodiversity Charity, its aim is to celebrate and animate Newark by rejoicing in its history, creating new experiences, and making the high street a more attractive, engaging and vibrant place for people to live, work, and spend time.
Carol Newman, director of Culture at Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in the consortium, said: “The sculpture trails Wild in Art have created throughout the country have always been astounding and it’s wonderful that Newark will now boast its own.
“The BookBenches are sure to create a buzz this summer and I’m excited to see the designs which the artists and community groups create.”
The BookBenches will launch across Newark town centre on 11th July to coincide with the first day of Newark Book Festival and will remain for eight weeks. Artists can obtain a copy of the brief, design template, and technical specification by emailing sara.bullimore@inspireculture.org.uk
Expressions of interest should be submitted by Friday, 23rd February.
