Wokingham Embraces the Art of the Possible

Newcastle has the Angel of the North, Headington has its Shark and Dublin has its Spire. Now, Wokingham has embarked upon a quest to find its own landmark work of art.

As part of an ambitious ongoing regeneration project, the Town will soon boast a new flagship arts and leisure complex, The Carnival Hub. The search is underway to secure a major permanent free-standing artwork which will be located close to the main entrance of the new Hub site (see images overleaf). It’s hoped that the work will not only symbolise the transformation of the Town and Borough but will also act as a significant artistic beacon to be enjoyed by all those who visit or live in the area.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Susan Parsonage, recognises the enduring impact that a major work like this could have:

 ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Wokingham to make a real statement and hallmark its cultural landscape. I can’t wait to see what sort of ideas artists come up with.’

Established artists are being invited to express their interest by the end of August 2021. They can find more details on the dedicated website www.arts4wokingham.com

Community engagement will be an important part of the process with the chosen artist being encouraged to develop ideas alongside workshops and various other activities involving members of the local community. The aim is that the work should be completed close to the opening of the new Carnival Hub in August 2022.  

Responsibility for commissioning, funding, shortlisting and selecting the winning submission rests with Arts4Wokingham, a local arts-based charity linked to the Borough’s Arts and Culture Alliance.