Press Release- Henry Moore Square. October 2008 In partnership with the Arts Council England, the local community and Wakefield Council is to commission an art installation for the recently refurbished Castleford Town Centre. The process endorsed by the Castleford Town Centre Partnerships last meeting will see a new piece of artwork created for the new Henry Moore Square by autumn 2009. Local and national artists will be invited to submit outline designs for the artwork to a panel made up of residents from the local community, representatives from the Partnership, Arts Council and Wakefield District Council. A shortlist of artists will be invited to present more detailed designs to the panel before the general public are consulted in helping to decide which artist and artists design they would like to see worked up and installed in the Henry Moore Square in the town centre. Cllr Mark Burns-Williamson, Chair of Castleford Town Centre Partnership (CTCP) said "The art installation will enhance the new town square that was designed to create a safe, clean and user-friendly open space for events, such as specialist theme markets, festivals, and somewhere for visitors to the town centre to meet and enjoy their surroundings. They will be able to watch children from the local schools and performers take part in regular activities. As part of the Castleford Project it was always intended to include something extra as part of the plans". In parallel with the process, the Council, alongside the Town Centre Partnership, will kick start a campaign to get the new town centre square formally recognised as a tribute to a famous son of Castleford and arguably the countrys greatest ever sculptor, Henry Moore. This will involve lobbying of Royal Mail and the local traders to officially change the address of that part of the Carlton street to Henry Moore Square. New street signage will also soon highlight the square. Cllr Burns-Williamson continued It is important that Castleford continues recognise its culture, history and heritage, something that local people are immensely proud of as well as new structures like the Castleford footbridge which is attracting lots of interest from this country and abroad." |