An appeal has been launched to save a well known Peterborough sculpture and see it restored to Nene Park.
Peterborough Arch sculpture, which has stood at Thorpe Meadows, overlooking the Longthorpe Parkway for over 35 years was taken down last year as it was in urgent need of repair. Nene Park Trust is now launching a campaign to see it restored and returned to its rightful place and is asking for public support in the fundraising appeal.
This much-loved sculpture was commissioned by the Peterborough Development Corporation in the 1980s as part of Peterborough’s expansion and was designed and created by renowned artist Lee Grandjean.
It is an important part of Peterborough’s modern history, the linchpin of the wider Sculpture Collection and was voted as Peterborough’s favourite sculpture last year in an online poll. A condition inspection in 2022 showed that the sculpture, made of rare iroko wood, had extensive damage and so it had to be removed for safety reasons.
With repair costs exceeding £50,000, Nene Park Trust is grateful for grant funding already received from The Henry Moore Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund but is now in need of additional public support.
The Fundraising team at Nene Park Trust is launching a public appeal, hoping to raise an additional £3000 towards repair costs and to go towards the ongoing restoration and the maintenance and development of the entire Sculpture Collection.
Matthew Bradbury, CEO of Nene Park Trust says, “Nene Park Trust, as guardians of the Peterborough Sculpture Collection has an important role to play in restoring and preserving our city’s cultural heritage for future generations and creating new opportunities for children and young people in the city to engage with art and our heritage.
"With the public’s help this much loved and admired sculpture will be given a new lease of life. It will be restored and reinstated. Whilst we will need to find the money to do so, we plan to protect and preserve this important collection for years to come.”
Look out for information on the Nene Park Trust website and social channels about how you can support this appeal. There are also two public art workshops being held in Ferry Meadows on August 8 and 12 from 10am-2pm and a creative competition being launched for 4-17 year olds running until August 15.
To find out more about Peterborough Arch sculpture, the activities happening this summer and to donate please visit https://www.nenepark.org.uk/Appeal/save-peterborough-arch
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