HOLYWOOD ARTS TRUST - UPDATE
21 February 2008
LADY SYLVIA HERMON UNVEILS ‘PILLARS OF HOLYWOOD’
North Down MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, today unveiled Holywood’s newest public art installation – three sculptures which resemble large chessmen – outside the town library.
From Left: Tim Shutter, Lady Hermon MP and Paul Harron, Architecture and Public Art Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland
‘The Pillars of Holywood’, which consist of a Church, a Castle and a House, each 1.3 metres high, were created by renowned London stone sculptor Tim Shutter in his studio in Hackney.
Holywood Arts Trust, which aims to support the regeneration of the town through the introduction of public artworks, awarded the commission to Mr Shutter, who also attended today’s ceremony, after an open competition which attracted 120 entries.
He said: “My artwork takes inspiration from the works of the renowned 20th century Holywood naturalist and historian Robert Lloyd Praeger and his sister, the eminent sculptress Sophia Rosamond Praeger.
“I have created a small fantasy of an alternate reality, a Holywood within Holywood, where the gateposts of the big houses, long since gone, are appropriated for miniature buildings.”
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland supported the production of the work through its National Lottery Public Art Programme with a grant of £15,000. 25% partnership funding came from public and private sponsors including North Down Borough Council, Tesco, Kerr Art Group, Holywood Chamber of Commerce, BTW Cairns, Sainsbury, Brian W Murray Ltd and Povall Worthington.
Paul Harron, Architecture and Public Art Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “This is a great initiative by Holywood Arts Trust to commission new public art for Holywood’s town centre. These works are intriguing and unexpected in the streetscape, suit their context well and enliven the built environment.”
Deirdre Thomas, Chairperson of Holywood Arts Trust said: “We are thrilled with The Pillars and know they and our public arts programme will assist with the regeneration of Holywood as a vibrant town renowned for speciality shopping and a thriving arts and crafts centre.”
ENDS
Further information from Fiona McGarry, Bangor & Holywood Town Centres Ltd, tel (028) 9147 9651; email: tcm at bangorholywoodtcm.co.uk
Notes to the Editor:
- The project was supported by South Eastern Education & Library Board, and managed by Bangor & Holywood Town Centre Ltd and the arts section of North Down Borough Council.
- Holywood Arts Trust was set up as a charitable organisation in 2003 and draws its membership from Holywood Residents’ Association, Holywood Conservation Group, Holywood Chamber of Commerce, Bangor & Holywood Town centre Ltd and local government representatives.
- The architect for the project was Larry Thompson.
- Holywood is a town with a rich and diverse heritage. The establishment of a monastic settlement in the 7th century at the site of the Old Priory Church was when the first recorded reference to Holywood was made. In the mid-19th century, when the railway was extended along the North Down coastline, Holywood became the residence of choice for Belfast’s industrial elite who built magnificent mansions in the High Hills surrounding the town. Today, in acknowledgement of the architecture of that era, much of the town has been designated a conservation area. Holywood is also proud that its maypole is the only surviving one in Ireland and is still used as part of a community spring festival on May Day.
Tim Shutter has worked on a number of public art commissions for local authorities and charitable trusts throughout the United Kingdom and was assistant to Antony Gormley, carving the granite figures for the British Library forecourt.
(Photo of Tim Shutter with the delivered stone - August 2007)
October 2007 - Work in Progress
*Holywood Arts Trust Board Directors include representatives from: Holywood Chamber of Commerce, Holywood Residents Association, Holywood Conservation Group, North Down Borough Council and Bangor & Holywood Town Centres Ltd.
