In 2016 following some years of planning, the Sea Music project began. Conservation of the sculpture was possible due to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other sources. Whilst Arts Council England awarded funding to celebrate the sculpture, its place on Poole Quay for the past 25 years, and its significance as an internationally recognised sculpture for the future.
The project ran for 2 years involving local residents, communities, businesses, the Borough of Poole, visitors, lecturers, artists & performers from a wide spectrum of disciplines to celebrate this truly accessible sculpture, gifted to the people of Poole by Sir Anthony Caro in 1991.
More than 50 activities took place in over 20 different venues within Poole and beyond. Starting with a #LoveSeaMusic Selfie project on social media, the celebrations included art, storytelling, fashion, written word, murals, dance and sculpture all inspired by Sea Music. We held skill sharing workshops for both adults & children, exhibitions from two visual artists in residence and a writer in residence providing instant individual poems for passers by.
On the sculpture itself we saw choirs from local groups & schools perform songs inspired by Sea Music. Dance performances were choreographed and performed by young people from Pavilion Dance South West. Our partner Activate Arts commissioned Sophie and Marie Nuzel to choreograph a work inspired by Seafor a group of young and older dancers.
Image credit: Matt Austin
In the museum were exhibitions about the history of Sea Music, a photographic series ‘100 views of Sea Music’ by David Ward, the ‘Concerto Series’ small table top sculptures by Caro himself, work from college and schools in responses to the sculpture & exhibitions. Talks were held locally in the High St, at the museum and in Poole Library. A lecture series was held at AUB, Poole Museum and The Guildhall for students which were open to the general public.
Concerto Series by Anthony Caro
100 Views of Sea Music by David Ward
A Celebration event in May 2017 saw the re-opening of the newly conserved Sea Music, including a Private View of the Concerto Series exhibition, a visit to the Sheila Girling (Caro’s wife) exhibition at the Lighthouse Poole, a live streamed Celebration Concert and a specially commissioned fanfare performed by Kokoro of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra held on the sculpture.
The following images give an idea of just some of the activities and people who took part. There are also links to our show reel of activities.
A total of over 126,000 people visited or took part in these celebrations.
