Grizedale revealed as the location to launch major new Sky Arts series, Landmark

Grizedale revealed as the location to launch major new Sky Arts series, Landmark. This, the first of six programmes will air on 6 September 2021

It seems quite apt that Grizedale, the UK's first forest for sculpture, should have been selected as the location to launch Sky Arts’ bold new series Landmark. Since 1977 leading international artists have created sculptures at and for Grizedale Forest and now the forest welcomes three artists who are competing against each other to create local landmarks for their home region.

The first episode brings together Northern artists Sadie Clayton, Saad Qureshi, and sapien studio (Steve Anwar). They will build, weld and sculpt under the watchful eyes of two expert judges: Clare Lilley, curator and Director of Programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and artist Hetain Patel; and a celebrity guest judge representing their region – Mark Radcliffe, one of national radio’s most respected and distinctive voices for over two decades is guest judge for the North England heat. 

Each artist brough very different skills to the North of England heat, and three very different outcomes. Sadie Clayton has a background in fashion and is an expert with copper, and created ‘Home of the Rose’, longer established artist Saad Qureshi’s created ‘Flight’, and the deep-rooted connection to Sheffield of Sapien, short for homo-sapien and the alias of Sculptural Designer/Artist Steve Anwar, influenced ‘Only Breath’.

Who will win ? Over to the judges!

Landmark delves into the purpose and power of public art and forms Sky Arts’ mission to create the UK’s next major landmark. Sky Arts will invest £700,000 in public art over the course of the series, with £250,000 dedicated to the final piece. This covers materials, artist fees and maintaining the regional and national landmarks for years to come.

At the end of each heat, the landmarks will be unveiled to the local community, who will join the judges to deliberate on which piece best sums up their area. The winning artist will gain a coveted place in the final where they will pitch for a national landmark which one of them will be commissioned to create. The final landmark will be on display in Coventry, UK City of Culture for 2021.

Hazel Stone, Arts Development Manager, Forestry England said:

‘We were very excited when Sky Arts contacted us with their proposal for a new arts programme about public sculpture featuring such a strong line up of  artists and designers and delighted to hear that Grizedale would be the launch location for the public to see the works created in the North of England heat. We were pleased to be able to support the artist’s and production company in finding appropriate locations for their pieces within this working forest. The pieces add to the 50 plus sculptures currently in the forest sculpture collection which is sited over 24km2 of forest managed by Forestry England.’

The whole experience was very positive, meeting the artists, supporting the production team, bringing new work to the forest and then having to keep it all secret - it’s a relief to be able to finally share the news.’

The work by Sadie Clayton, Saad Qureshi, and Steve Anwar will be on display at Grizedale for a period after all the shows have been aired – the schedule will be announced after the final show – but there will be plenty of time for people to come and see them.

Contact Jeanette Edgar, netteedgar@me.com,07776 191412 for Images, visits, and interviews.