Great Yarmouth sculpture trail work to begin next month

But soon ten striking sculptures – part of a new public artwork trail across Great Yarmouth – will step into the light.

Work is set to begin next month on a trail celebrating the town’s maritime and medieval past, its arts heritage, seaside charm and energy industry.

Visiting the artworks Daniel Candon, borough council cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: “It will be a culture trail which will reflect our heritage, our culture and our local community.”

Project manager, Tracey Read, unwraps one of the artworks, The Juggler by Rutter and Bennett, part of the project to put art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley) He said it was “right” that the council invests in projects which satisfy the needs of the community – but it was “also great to see projects that bring some brightness to Great Yarmouth”. 

“The sculpture trail is an example of the local community and the council recognising a sense of pride in the area and wanting to reflect that,” he added.

Ruben Cruz of Reprezent, with one of the artworks, called Goody Two Shoes by Wesley Harland, part of the project to put art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley) Installation of the artworks will begin next month with the trail officially launching in June. 

As well as the ten sculptures, Bungay artist Mark Goldsworthy has also created a statue called ‘Yarn with Ernie’ which will be positioned at the southern end of the Market Place.

The sculpture is a tribute to the people of the town using the late Great Yarmouth artist Ernie Childs as inspiration.

Work to begin the installation of ‘Yarn with Ernie’ is scheduled to begin this week and will take about two weeks to complete.

Natasha Hayes, executive director of Place, with one of the artworks, VORTBREATH by Sapian, part of the project to put art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley) The trail also features an 11th artwork – a section of tiled paving outside Christchurch created by Great Yarmouth’s Reprezent Project to reflect the cultural impact of the town’s Portuguese community.

An example of Portuguese pavement, or the art of creating patterned sidewalks with small stones, it is believed the mosaic will be the first of its kind in the UK.

The paving has been designed by artist Rui Ferreira and it will depict King John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster, who were married in 1386.

The art on the Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty by Lois Cordelia, part of the project of art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley) Councillor Graham Plant, the borough council’s deputy leader, said: ”It is incredibly exciting that the new trail will start to be installed shortly.

“We were delighted to secure Government funding for this new attraction which will be a real asset for the town and improve our tourism offer. 

‘’We have an incredibly rich range of high-quality sculptures that I know people will take to their hearts and be able to enjoy for many years to come.’’

READ MORE: Great Yarmouth gasholder tank could be turned into artwork

The art on the Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty by Lois Cordelia, part of the project of art around Great Yarmouth. (Image: Denise Bradley) As part of the planning process for the trail, impact assessments were completed for the sculptures positioned close to trees and Norfolk County Council has issued licences for artworks that are on its land.

Wilson Architectural Services has been contracted to make sure the sculptures are installed safely and the company agreed to carry out the work for free because its director, Terry Wilson, lives in Great Yarmouth and is a supporter of the project.

The artists have all provided detailed installation guides for their pieces, which have been reviewed by structural engineers before contractors fix them in place.

The sculptures will provide an outdoor gallery and circular walking route from the Market Place to the seafront, taking in St George’s Road and park, Regent Road and Church Plain.

The trail is designed to celebrate Great Yarmouth’s cultural diversity and create a sense of pride in place.

The £330,000 project has been funded by the government via Town Deal finance, with the money being ring-fenced for use only on the sculptures, which are intended to create a major new cultural asset for the town.

The council also secured an additional £50,000 of government Future High Streets funding to commission ‘Yarn with Ernie’ as part of the improvement works nearing completion at the Market Place.