Council to scrap £18,000 sculpture to open up space

The 2.5m high and 6m long metal sculpture, called The Sampler, was sited outside the gallery in 2005 as part of a series of six art projects funded by a £54,000 Arts Council Lottery grant, commissioned by North Kesteven District Council to celebrate the completion of the NCCD.

It was designed to be viewed from the top floor of the building as well as being able to hold a screen. But no sooner had it been put in place than it had to be sent away and redesigned to be made more rigid for protection against vandalism, returning over three years later.

In new plans for Navigation Yard, instead of being repainted at a cost of about £2,000, The Sampler sculpture will be removed in a plan to make better use of the space for events such as the returning Made in Sleaford autumn showcase and the NCCD’s ‘Gifted’ Christmas Market.

The council says there are no longer any obligations to the funders to keep it in place, but there is a more pressing need for the space to stage nire community-focussed town events.

“We will be working with the Town Council to enhance the area and make more use of it,” said Mike Lock, cultural services manager.

The timing of the removal has yet to be determined.