Lottery cash hope for sculpture

By Sarah Chambers

A FUNDING body has expressed a “strong interest” in a project to build a shell sculpture in honour of Benjamin Britten.

The sculpture, by renowned Rendham-based artist and sculptor Maggi Hambling, is currently under construction.

Ms Hambling hopes to site it on Aldeburgh beach and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, which is funded from the football pools, has now expressed an interest in the work.

Grattan Endicott, secretary to the foundation's trustees, suggested the project could attract a grant of up to £10,000 if it met the criteria for such funding.

“The composer concerned is famous and British. We tend to like to support things that are British and it's nice to see some more formal tribute to him being produced. We think it's a good thing,” he said.

Mr Endicott said Chris Smith, the former Culture Secretary, had drawn its attention to the plan and he added: “We are hoping we will be able to do something.”

Ms Hambling said the foundation's interest was “terrific news” and added fundraising for the sculpture, which is costing in the region of £70,000, was going well.

Once the sculpture is completed, it will be donated to Suffolk Coastal District Council for the benefit of the general public.

The council has applied for funding from Arts Council England towards the cost of installing the sculpture.

A proposal to site a metal sculpture on Aldeburgh beach is due to be discussed by Suffolk Coastal District Council's development control sub-committee at its meeting today.

Planning officers have recommend it should be approved with conditions “upon confirmation from English Nature and the Environment Agency that the sculpture and its siting would not adversely affect the nature conservation interest nor coastal processes”.

sarah.chambers@eadt.co.uk