More than 170 designs for an outdoor sculpture at one of Suffolk’s most celebrated creative spaces have been whittled down to three outstanding entries.

East Anglian Daily Times: Myriad by David Rickard and Germano Di Chello - one of three fianlists in a competition to find a new sculpture to grace the grounds of Snape MaltingsMyriad by David Rickard and Germano Di Chello - one of three fianlists in a competition to find a new sculpture to grace the grounds of Snape Maltings (Image: Archant)

Aldeburgh Music and Suffolk Coastal District Council launched a competition in June to find a new sculpture to grace the grounds of Snape Maltings.

The top three entries have all been designed with children in mind, while offering visitors of all ages a new view of the landscape.

A jury of Suffolk children will vote on their favourite piece, informing a final judging session at the end of September.

The three shortlisted projects are ‘Myriad’ by David Rickard and Germano Di Chello, ‘The Universe is Very, Very Big, So Are You’ by Yonatan Vinitsky, and ‘Mound’ by Shiro Studio Architects.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mound by Shiro Studio Architects - one of three fianlists in a competition to find a new sculpture to grace the grounds of Snape MaltingsMound by Shiro Studio Architects - one of three fianlists in a competition to find a new sculpture to grace the grounds of Snape Maltings (Image: Archant)

The eventual winner of the competition, funded by the Coastal Communities Fund, will be announced on October 5.

Roger Wright, chief executive of Aldeburgh Music, said: “Snape Maltings is already home to a group of iconic sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Sarah Lucas and Alison Wilding.

“We are hugely excited at the prospect of a new sculpture joining them and providing children and people of all ages with a new focal point on the site.”

Further-refined submissions will be entered later this month, following consultation sessions between engineers and the three shortlisted designers.

After children have voted on their favourite, it will be up to the judges to pick a winner. Mr Wright will be joined on the panel by Aldeburgh Music’s head of education Phillipa Reive, along with artist Ryan Gander, engineer Sam Price, architect Patty Hopkins, and area planning officer for Suffolk Coastal and Waveney, Stephen Milligan.

Following the announcement of the winner, Aldeburgh Music will collaborate with the designer to build and install the sculpture in 2016, using local skills and suppliers wherever possible to make and assemble the various components.

Andy Smith, Suffolk Coastal’s economic development chief, said: “This is an imaginative way of engaging young people by creating an exciting new attraction specifically for them at Snape Maltings.

“It’s great to see what a huge response the competition has had, with more than 170 submissions.

“The three shortlisted entries are tremendous and exciting, and I wish the teams good luck for the final round of judging and look forward to then seeing the winning sculpture built next year.”

Myriad by David Rickard and Germano Di Chello

The judges said: “Myriad is a striking design offering a new ways to view the area and a structure which would be a powerful visual addition to the Snape Maltings site.

“Whether you choose to stand and view a single image or look up and see a new presentation of a well-loved landscape, fractured and re-presented almost as a collage, Myriad’s glimmering steel and its multi-perspective offer would intrigue and delight visitors.”

The Universe is Very, Very Big, So Are You by Yonatan Vinitsky

The judges said: “The Universe is Very, Very Big, So Are You is a playful, upbeat and accessible steel sculpture, inspired by the artist’s trip to a zoo with his daughter.

“Presenting a pair of figures in a touching way, the sculpture would encourage us to think afresh about perspectives and scale.”

Mound by Shiro Studio Architects

The judges said: “Mound is a beautiful and simple idea – a mound to run up, roll down, jump on and view from. It captures the joy one has as a child (and possibly as an adult too) and its attractive wooden structure is a gentle response to its proposed location.”