Liverpool's Year of Environment commissions waterside public art work
Date uploaded: September 13, 2009
In Liverpool’s Year of Environment, Liverpool Biennial is collaborating with local and regional agencies to commission artworks with residents neighbouring on a four-mile stretch of the Liverpool and Leeds canal, from Seaforth, through Bootle, to where it currently terminates in Stanley Dock.
Since 2008 a Sefton Art for Places steering group comprising representatives from a range of local stakeholders and the community have been working with us to select a site and develop a project brief based on the criteria laid down in the Art for Places development plan.
After much research and deliberation the Leeds and Liverpool canal, which runs through the HMR neighbourhoods in Sefton, was chosen as the site for the commission.
The public art commission for Sefton, with a provisional title Sefton Waterworks, will see a new artist/architect designed structure built for the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
The aim through this commission is to unlock the potential of the Leeds and Liverpool canal as a catalyst for the social and physical regeneration in this part of South Sefton.
An open competition was held in early 2009 for initial design proposals for the competition. 69 entries were received from all over the world with 5 designs having been shortlisted for the commission. A decision will be made in mid-September 2009.
A substantial Art for Places community engagement programme has been running in Sefton alongside the main commission.