Autumn relaunch for Irwell Sculpture Trail

Date published: 13 September 2011

The Irwell Sculpture Trail, which spans over 33 miles, relaunches this autumn with a programme of fantastic events, new sculptures and temporary commissions across Salford, Bury and Rossendale.

The trail, the largest in the UK, winds its way through Greater Manchester and Pennine Lancashire from Salford Quays to Bacup. It features around 70 artworks by local, national and international artists in rural and urban settings that provide some unusual responses to the local history, people and landscape.

Some of the highlights of the trail include:

• Tilted Vase by Edward Allington in Ramsbottom town centre - Inspired by the Industrial revolution, the British sculptor’s landmark sculpture is a classical vase bolted together to look like a machine.

• The Lookout by Tim Norris and Craig Ormerod in Clifton Country Park – Carved into the bank of the Clifton Marina, The Lookout provides a quiet place to contemplate and rest.

• In the Picture by Richard Caink in Rossendale – Located in picturesque Irwell Vale, In the Picture plays on the traditional idea of landscape paintings by providing a picture frame for the rural setting.

• Water Made it Wet by Lawrence Weiner in Radcliffe – Developed specially for Bury by New York artist Weiner, widely thought to be one of the founders of conceptual art. Water Made it Wet is a text work, located on an old railway bridge over the Bury Bolton Canal, which seeks to understand the nature of water itself.

Providing a great day out for all the family, the development work on the trail will provide a series of suggested walks throughout the trail, providing information on artworks, places of interest and other cultural attractions. Whether on foot, on a bike or accompanied by a four legged friend, the trail provides a fascinating backdrop to the local landscape.

Innovative new technologies will bring the trail to life with on-site digital interpretation. A new website will provide interactive and downloadable maps for the new routes, audio tours and MP3 downloads.

A host of events will be held around the relaunch weekend at different points along the trail.

Started in 1993 to contribute to improving the environment and encouraging cultural tourism, the Irwell Sculpture Trail has been given a new lease of life by a grant from Arts Council England aimed at developing it into a major visitor attraction in the North West. It is managed by a partnership between Bury Council, Lancashire County Council, Rossendale Borough Council and Salford City Council.