Posted on 1st Oct
Following the success of the BookBench Sculpture Trail in Newark town centre, Newark Creates has revealed permanent locations for the works of art.
The trail, which ran in the summer, showcased the creativity and talent of 11 artists and community groups, in collaboration with Wild in Art.
The benches, uniquely designed to reflect Newark’s rich heritage and vibrant community, will be at:
Shimmer and Shine is at Newark Art Gallery; Tales of Newark and Corporal Ciapek is at the National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum; Newark by Day/Night is at the Town Hall entrance to the Buttermarket; Castles in the Air is at Inspire Buttermarket; Noble Newark and Nursery Rhymes is at the YMCA Nursery; Alphabets and the Newark College Bench are at Newark College; Portable Magic is at Newark Library; Rapunzel and the Lost Watering Hole is at The Governors House; and Roses and Castles is at Newark Town Lock Sensory Gardens.
The BookBench Sculpture Trail saw visitors encouraged to pick up a trail leaflet and explore the stories of each bench, with the ‘Meet Me At The Benches’ programme providing additional free activities to join in.
Coun Claire Penny, portfolio holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “The Newark Creates BookBench Sculpture Trail has been a fantastic initiative, highlighting the art and culture at the heart of our community and bringing colour and creativity to our town centre.
“I am thrilled that these beautiful benches will now have permanent homes where residents and visitors can continue to enjoy them. This project has been a wonderful celebration of the spirit of Newark, and I encourage everyone to visit the new locations and experience the magic of these BookBenches for themselves.”
The benches were created in co-ordination with Wild in Art, a creative producer of public art events that entertain, enrich, inform, and leave a lasting legacy. Wild in Art’s events have enabled more than £15m to be raised for charitable causes and engaged over a million people in arts activities across the globe.
Newark Creates is led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium, which is made up of several local organisations, including Inspire Culture, Learning & Libraries, Newark and Sherwood District Council Heritage and Culture, Newark Civic Trust, Newark Heritage Forum, Newark Book Festival, Newark Town Council, and Newark College.
Carol Newman, director of Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in the consortium, added: “The new funding from Newark Heart and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has allowed us to host a truly fantastic year of events in Newark with some of the most exciting projects still to come.
“The Bookbench Sculpture Trail has been a wonderful success, and we are delighted to see the benches find their forever homes.
“Our events in October and November will provide the perfect chance to make a day or evening of it in the town, enjoying the activities on offer as well as visiting the BookBenches and some of the town’s fantastic local shops and eateries.”
Louise Casey-Simpson, chair of the Newark Towns Fund, said: “It’s been brilliant for Newark Heart to be able to support Newark Creates this year. From these stunning BookBenches to events at Newark-on-Sea, Newark Festival and soon the Festival of Creativity, it’s all about bringing fun, creativity and excitement to the town centre.”
