We're aming to be big on art (From St Helens Star)

We're aming to be big on art

8:00am Saturday 12th May 2007

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AN exclusive Channel 4 preview event has officially launched the St Helens Big Art Project.

The event, opened by the station's Director of Arts and Performance, Jan Younghusband, showcased the progress made on the iconic new regional artwork in St Helens, part of the UK's biggest ever community-led public art commissioning scheme - Channel 4's Big Art Project.

The project involves the creation of seven landmark artworks across the UK as part of a major new Carbon Media TV series airing in 2008.

Exclusive film footage from all seven sites was shown at the event, which was attended by key figures from the region's media, business, regeneration and wider arts community.

Jan Younghusband thanked the St Helens Big Art Project team, saying: "I feel very privileged to be here at the start of this important and exciting project for St Helens and the Region.

"Art can change people's lives. We all really hope this major new public artwork will contribute to building a vibrant future for St Helens and the North West, at the same time as celebrating your rich cultural and economic heritage."

The former Sutton Manor Colliery site in St Helens was chosen for its cultural importance and visible location beside Junction 7 of the M62 between Liverpool and Manchester.

The aim is for the artwork to symbolise the positive post-industrial transformation that St Helens has gone through in recent years as well as becoming the new regional icon for the North West at the gateway to Merseyside.

St Helens council is working in partnership with the Channel 4 Big Art Trust, in addition to the expert input of Liverpool Biennial and the involvement of a community Focus Group consisting of Sutton Manor's former minors.

More than £500,000 has already been secured for the project, including £200,000 from the Forestry Commission, £228,000 from the North West Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme and £100,000 from St Helens Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.

Bob Hepworth, Director of Urban Regeneration and Housing at St Helens Council said: "The significance of the project is clearly reflected in the fact that Channel 4's Head of Arts and Performance was present to launch it in person.

"Local partners want to send a clear message from this even that we are committed to delivering this project, not least as we believe the new artwork is hugely important for both St Helens and the North West as a whole in terms of major economic and cultural benefits it will bring."

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