About Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative

The project is working with a number of Partners:

Arts Council England

We have received support funding from the Arts Council England.

Oswetry Community Action

Oswestry Community Action Arts Development, (Qube Arts) with support from local people and businesses, previously managed extramuros. It will provide support through its multi-media facility, manage its website and assist with the production of promotional and resource materials. It will host an exhibition of commissioned artists work at Qube to run concurrently with the Sculpture in the Landscape exhibition in August 2009.

University of Wolverhampton

Web link to Wolverhampton University [external website]
The University of Wolverhampton, School of Art and Design previously collaborated in extramuros by identifying regional artists to participate in the project.

It now provides curatorial and academic expertise in the delivery and assessment of ESI’s core projects. Additionally, ESI benefits from access to the University’s educational and cultural network including links to other universities, both in the UK and abroad.

British Waterways

British Waterways collaborated with ESI on commissioning 3 sculptures located in Ellesmere along the canal and will promote the Ellesmere Trail through its promotional literature and festivals.

Shropshire Council

Shropshire Council Arts Service supports the development of new activities in North Shropshire as an area with a low level of cultural facilities. The project has potential to contribute to the measure 'Arts as an Indicator of Health'.

Ellesmere Primary School

The school participated in extramuros through workshops and collaborated in making one of the commissions. The benefits of this experience have brought them fully on board as partners in this initiative. They have designated 2009 as an Arts Year and the whole school will fully participate through workshops with participating artists, the children will work on a sculpture exhibition using recycled materials in conjunction with the theme of this proposal.

International Partners

ESI has developed international partnerships in Asturias, Spain and Evora, Portugal. This has been through exchange of artists between galleries and sculpture symposium and will continue through the Network of Small Museums and through a joint Culture 2009 - 13 European Funded Programme. We will work with our international partners to attract international artists to the Ellesmere Symposium in 2009.

Business partner - Tudor Griffiths

In the first year Ellesmere Sand and Gravel a major local business will sponsor the event by providing a venue at the quarry, equipment and materials for the symposium.