80 SWAFFHAM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BID TO DESIGN PUBLIC ARTWORK

A competition to design a piece of public artwork to be the centrepiece of Swaffham’s newest community has inspired more than 80 entries from the town’s high school students – and now judges are beginning the task of drawing up a shortlist before selecting a winner.

Abel Homes, which is building 82 family homes on its Swan’s Nest site on the southern edge of the town, asked students at the nearby Nicholas Hamond Academy as well as local artists to come up with designs for the new artwork.  The firm has commissioned a piece of public artwork for each of the sites on which it has built new homes since 2010.

Nine of the entrants, accompanied by Nicholas Hamond head of art Mike Williams, visited the site to present the entries – and meet the judges.

Chair of Breckland Council’s planning committee Nigel Wilkin, Swan’s Nest resident Penny Rolfe and Abel Homes director Maggie Abel will spend the coming weeks looking at all 80 entries, along with other received from local artists, before announcing a shortlist in the new year.

“We are really delighted with the quality of the ideas we have seen so far,” said Mrs Abel.  “The students have really grasped what this is all about – creating a focal point for this new community. 

“We have made some big technological advances with the homes we are building here – they are all ‘A’ rated for energy efficiency, and have fibre broadband cabling to each individual house.  But we should never forget that homes and communities are about people, and commissioning a piece of art helps reinforce that thinking.”

That sentiment was backed up by fellow judge Nigel Wilkin, who said, “It is easy to build a house, but a lot more difficult to build a home.  Art develops a community spirit within a development, and it helps to bring a neighbourly aspect to it. 

“I welcome Abel Homes’ commitment to commission a piece of public art here, and I applaud the ideas I have seen so far from the Hamond Academy students.”

The artwork will be installed on a public open space on the site, with an unveiling planned for autumn 2016.

The new homes at Swan’s Nest were launched in the spring, and already nearly half have been sold or reserved.  More details can be found at www.abelhomes.co.uk.