The idea
A boldly imaginative 2 m. piece of public art, inspired by the history of the Pendle Witches, will be the first town centre sculpture in Clitheroe, reflecting its history. The artist approaches the story from a new angle looking at accounts of familiars and exploring the strange and wonderful connections we have had with animals through time.
The sculpture gives residents and visitors the chance to engage with the setting of the town, the landscape of Pendle Hill, and the history of the area, creatively and imaginatively.
Booths Supermarket has offered a great public space on Railway Road above the shop. A panel gives background information and flyers will suggest related activities and places to visit, boosting the local economy.
Education packs will be distributed to schools and groups working with young people.
The unveiling event will celebrate the launch, drawing together young and old, sharing the story and celebrating the town as a place where story and creativity thrive.
What we'll deliver
- Prepare Plinth and Foundation
- Install sculpture
- Design and create sign/interpretation board
- Create flyer telling the story behind the sculpture and promoting local businesses
- Create a celebratory unveiling event involving young and old
- Create an Education Pack and distribute to schools
Why it's a great idea
The sculpture will become a permanent focal point for the town’s history, its geography and its connection to the Pendle Witches’ story. It will draw visitors and give a boost to the town’s confidence and identity. It will enhance Clitheroe’s profile and generate interest in its high street shops. It will intrigue passers-by and will become a topic for discussion. A flyer and a web-page accessed by QR Code will give background information and suggest other places to visit bringing economic benefit to the town. All visitors and residents will enjoy interacting with the sculpture which is freely accessible to all. Young people will be inspired to explore the history of their area and they and their teachers will enjoy using the sculpture as a springboard into a variety of curriculum subjects. The launch event will engage all and engender a sense of local pride. Clitheroe will be able to promote itself as a place of culture, history and the imagination.
Steps to get it done
- Purchase sculpture for the town
- Prepare area and create plinth, foundation and lighting
- Planning and design of flyer
- Planning and design of interpretation panel
- Planning of launch event
- Planning and design of Education Pack
- Print and distribution of flyer
- Fabrication of interpretation panel
- Installation of sculpture and interpretation panel
- Launch Event
- Publicise and promote sculpture through links to websites and QR code
The sculpture will become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors to the area and encouraging them to spend more time and money. The Pendle Witches’ story is already a big draw locally. Here is a new and thought-provoking approach to it, taking us into a world when people believed in familiars. It explores what animals mean to us now and the strange and wonderful connections we have had with them through time.
Widely distributed flyers will suggest related places of interest in the town and the area, and places to eat, drink, shop or visit.
The sculpture will prompt questions and new reflections on the story. It will enhance attraction to our town, boost confidence and pride of place and give residents and visitors alike the opportunity to encounter and engage with public sculpture at its finest.
A piece of sculpture is a powerful tool to share images across social media, enhancing Clitheroe's attraction to visitors and pride of place to residents of the town.
