£40,000 GBC Grant to Install A3 Roadside Sculpture Marking G F Watt’s 200th Birthday

Published on: 28 Aug, 2019
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2019

The Physical Energy sculpture a scaled up cast of which is to be installed by the A3 at Compton – Photo Watts Gallery Trust

A £40,000 grant to the Watts Gallery Trust was approved at the August 27 Guildford Borough Council Executive meeting to help install a cast of his famous sculpture, Physical Energy, alongside the A3 at Compton.

Cllr James Steel, lead for Leisure, Heritage and Tourism, said: “Our varied cultural heritage is a major local attraction and Watts Gallery celebrates this very important artist, with many thousands of visitors each year.

“Helping towards the costs of this inspirational piece of public art will benefit tourism and our economy, as well as creating a striking new landmark to be proud of, effectively Guildford’s own Angel of the North.

“One of our key priorities is to support the borough’s arts, leisure and culture and this exciting project will provide many benefits. This sculpture of a man and horse will be fully accessible for visitors and residents, providing an impressive addition to the wider landscape for everyone to enjoy.”

To celebrate the bicentenary of G F Watts in 2017, the Watts Gallery launched a fundraising campaign to commission a bronze cast of his Physical Energy on the hillside at the edge of the Watts Gallery this year.

The gallery welcomes visitors to explore the work of G F Watts and his wife, Mary, in the place where they lived and worked. The trust, which owns the estate, is an arts and education charity.

For more information about the project visit wwwwattsgallery.org.uk/physical-energy/

To view the Executive meeting agenda and watch a webcast of the debate online visit www.guildford.gov.uk/article/16717/Councillors-and-Decision-Making