ARTISTS Karen Allerton and Hetty Chapman are hoping for a steady flow of ideas to help them complete an eye-catching sculpture piece in Ramsbottom.

The pair have been selected to complete one of the works of art which will eventually form part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail.

The trail has attracted £2.3 million of National Lottery Funding, making what is believed to be the biggest grant-backed public art project in the country to date.

Karen and Hetty are to create a sculpture which will stand on the award-winning Ramsbottom Wharf site, right next to the River Irwell and the highly popular East Lancashire Steam Railway line.

Recently they have been carrying out careful research among local people, including youngsters and community groups.

Hetty said: "We have discovered that despite pollution problems which have marred it in the recent past the River Irwell, which runs right through Ramsbottom, is still a major focal point for the town.

"Local people have a great regard for it and there has been a great deal of pleasure gained over the past few years seeing its condition steadily improving.

"As a result we have come up with the idea of creating an 80 metre-long winding sculpture at the Wharf, which will depict the flow of the river through the area."

But now the two artists are looking for ideas to complete their project.

Karen added: "We want to involve local people as much as possible in the project and make sure that the sculpture is very much part of the town.

"At every stage the river has contributed to the success of Ramsbottom from providing clean water, to nurturing the growing business of the Industrial Revolution, filling the water tanks of passing steam trains, while at the same time providing peace and pleasure to many over the centuries who have walked along its banks."

What the artists are looking for are the thoughts of local people on what the river means to them.

Their words will then be incorporated along the entire length of the sculpture.

An exhibition covering the project will be at Ramsbottom Library on Friday, June 13, until Thursday, June 26, where locals will be able to pick up a form and submit their own ideas for inclusion on the artwork.

Karen and Hetty plan to be at the Carr Street premises on Thursday, June 19, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm and on Monday, June 23, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, to talk through their ideas and answer questions.

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