Could Cumbria soon be home to its own version of Angel of the North?
A new £1 million project for Copeland includes plans for a ‘major landmark artwork’.
Leading artists, including Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread, will unveil four proposals for the artwork in September.
The commission is being led by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, who is known for using mirrors and water in his work.
Contemporary sculpture Angel of the North, which overlooks the A1 in Gateshead, is thought to be seen by around 33 million people a year. Although controversial when it was completed in 1998, it is now considered to be a major North East landmark.
No sites have been identified for the landmark installation.
It is part of a project called Deep Time: Commissions for the Lake District Coast, set to launch next spring.
A spokesman said: “Deep Time will build on and celebrate West Cumbria’s terrain, bringing artists into a dialogue with its ecology, history, industry and rugged beauty.”
The proposals will go on display at the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, and Windermere Jetty Museum from September.
Deep Time will also include six other artworks across the borough.
A new building will be created on Silecroft beach by Turner Prize winner Martin Boyce, who is working with architects Konishi Gaffney.
Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz has been working with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners to develop a new artwork, taking a cue from the Georgian town’s seafaring past, including its role as a major port of the rum trade.
Yelena Popova is working with Whitehaven’s Solway Hall and is creating a giant textile artwork which will be a backdrop for performance and celebration.
Artist Marcus Coates has been working in Drigg and the Ravenglass near Muncaster Castle. This area includes over 1,000 acres of dunes which are home to the rare natterjack toad.
Ryan Gander OBE RA has been commissioned to create a sculpture that comments on time as a new currency and Atelier van Lieshout is creating a new architectural space where people can take relief from the weather and a quiet space for farmers to use as an outdoor office.
Deep Time has been commissioned by Copeland Borough Council and is funded by the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, Sellafield Ltd’s Six programme and Arts Council England.
Also included in Deep Time are five new writers’ commissions by Kate Davis, Issi Nanabeyin, Himali Singh Soin, Richard Skelton and Ruth Sutton; a public engagement programme supported by Arts Council England and a programme of artwork and moving image work at landmarks and sites across the West Cumbrian coast.
Mike Starkie, Copeland mayor, said: “There are already lots of reasons to visit Copeland, and we have a vibrant art scene.
“Our impressive coastline is the perfect location to inspire creativity. And now, by commissioning this project, we’re providing a way for artists to spotlight our hidden gem.
“The wide range of projects shows what we have to offer and celebrate here – the art will be inspired by everything from our World Heritage Sites to our status as an international leader in the nuclear industry.
“Next spring will be an incredibly exciting time and I look forward to seeing residents and visitors enjoy all the Deep Time projects.”
Deep Time has been developed by curator and producer Aldo Rinaldi. He said: “It has been wonderful to spend time exploring Cumbria’s west coast with the artists and writers involved in Deep Time. Creatives have been visiting this area for centuries, to experience and depict its varied landscape, culture, and people.
“The site-specific artworks that have emerged are a direct result of these experiences of ‘place’. From its lost textile industry, to its iconic nuclear status, to its UNESCO World Heritage Status and flora artists are adept at getting under the skin of a place, and making us see things anew. I am looking forward to sharing their ideas with the public over the coming year.”
The Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP added: “Backed by more than £1 million from the Coastal Communities Fund, this project will help Cumbria reach its full economic potential through new facilities for visitors and unlocking sustainable employment opportunities for local people. By investing in ambitious projects like this, we’re levelling up communities across the country, boosting tourism and helping communities build back better from the pandemic.”
Deep Time is part of a wider coastal improvement project called Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast Programme.
Spearheaded by Copeland Borough Council, other key elements include the enhancement of the river Irt crossing with Natural England, footpath and route improvements for walkers and cyclists, new signs and interpretation and a major new building at Silecroft beach.