Ship Shape

29/11/2007

Water workers are pushing the boat out to decide on the type of art they would like to see for their new state-of-the-art headquarters.

The employees from Essex & Suffolk Water have built a temporary wooden boat structure at Hanningfield water treatment works as part of a project which will decide the form the artwork at the new building will take.

As part of the planning applications for the new building, which is due to be completed in spring 2009, one per cent of the total cost is being spent on art for employees and visitors to enjoy and a bursary to support local art projects in schools.

The project was organised through Arts & Business, the organisation which connects businesses with the arts, who provided funding for international artist Oliver Hein to run a series of creative workshops with employees at the site.

To encourage them to think creatively during the workshops, the employees built the giant boat structure and filled it with photographs, ideas and sketches of the type of art they want at the site.

The ideas generated through these sessions will now go towards deciding on the final piece of artwork.

The boat will be ‘launched’ and pushed out around the site during a ceremony at Hanningfield water treatment works on December 3rd at 12.30pm. Reporters and photographers are invited to attend.

Leonie von Hellermann, Essex & Suffolk Water project manager said: "The new state-of-the-art  building will be completed in 2009 and has been considerately designed, involving staff representatives, sustainability consultants and innovative architects. 

“The artworks at the site will be around for as long as the building itself so it is very important that a similarly conscious approach is adopted, giving employees the chance to become involved and put their ideas and opinions across."

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For further information please contact Claire Bishop on 01245 212 010.