Council to maintain major Ebrington art scheme

The 800,000 Mute Meadow Public Art scheme will be located at the Ebrington site sweeping down to the River Foyle.

It is being billed as a major symbol of regeneration and change and as representing a creative and forward looking Londonderry.

Derry City Council recently received a request from Professor Declan McGonagle on behalf of the North West Cultural Challenge Fund to adopt the Foyle Public Art upon its completion.

A report by the Town Clerk to the Council’s Development Committee advised that in adopting it the Council will be required to provide public indemnity of 10million and maintenance costs have been estimated at approximately 5,000.

The 10m in cover will be included within Council’s current arrangements and will represent no additional cost to Council.

But Derry City Council still needs to find the 5,000 required for maintenance that includes cleaning, surface coating, LED lighting and software programming.

The Council agreed to adopt the art work though Waterside SDLP councillor Gerard Diver cautioned: “In the current economic climate to see 800,000 spent on a piece of public art concerns us slightly but this is a major piece of public art.

“I am concerned though about a trend emerging from statutory bodies dumping projects on council. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with this project, but we need to go into this with our eyes open.”

Speaking after July’s Development Committee a spokesperson for Derry City Council said: “Mute Meadow is set to become a major symbol of regeneration and change representing a creative and forward looking city. Council has agreed in principle to adopt the Foyle Public Art Project on completion, subject to insurance and securing a financial budget for the maintenance.”