Hundreds of people are expected to form a human Angel of the North in Hexham on Sunday to support world renowned artist Sir Antony Gormley’s plans for a new iconic arts space in the town.
Organisers are calling on residents to turn out for “mass show of support.” An e-petition launched by Hexham Town Council last week, which is fighting to win the facility, has already amassed three and a half thousand signatures in its first 48 hours.
They’ve all been left furious by a Northumberland County Council decision to reject Sir Antony’s bid to purchase Hexham’s old empty fire station on the Tyne Mills Estate.
His charity, The Foundation Foundation, wanted it for an art storage facility with an integrated gallery space.
It would have been a chance for Hexham to further establish links with world renowned Sir Antony, provide an iconic arts facility, and bring in much needed tourism and business.
The decision has caused outrage in much of the town. Hexham mayor, Derek Kennedy, says the County Council shows a “lack of vision.”
He adds: “I am absolutely disgusted. We have been working with Sir Antony Gormley’s team for over a year now to plan a great vision for Hexham.
“This would be the third building of his in Hexham and one that would be open to the public. We have been in talks with the county council and had many meetings, but I have never thought for one second that the council’s heart was really in it.
The deputy mayor Penny Grennan describes the “hasty” decision as a “massive disservice” for the town.
“We have ambitions to turn Hexham into an Arts Town and the presence of Sir Antony’s Foundation would have been a massive boost,” she says.
World renowned artist, Sir Antony, 74, has had a more than twenty-year association with Hexham. He already owns another studio and a foundry in the town and he hoped the new development would have seen “a new era of public-facing activity.”
Why was the plan rejected?
Northumberland Council rejected the plan because they want the fire station site for a fleet maintenance depot to support waste, recycling and highways operations. They argue that their scheme represents “greater value for money” and cash has already been allocated for the transformation work.
Instead the council says they are willing to discuss offering use of the historic Fellside building on the site of the old Hexham Middle School site, which is now a major re-development project.
Council leader Glen Sanderson says he has written to Sir Antony asking to discuss the alternative site. But it’s understood that Sir Antony’s Foundation do not think it is financially viable and have already ruled it out.
Hexham anger over decision
Anger at the decision has galvanised residents in Hexham, many have taken to social media. Amanda Hunter says “It’s shocking that NCC would prioritise bin storage over a world class art centre.”
Another Jac Bostock writes: “It’s short-sighted. Hexham needs all the help it can get attracting people to the town.”
Marilyn Framrose adds: “If NCC wanted it (the fire station site) why has it been left empty for so long…surely, it’s an attraction for ALL of Northumberland.”
Alison Smith, who runs local business Matthias Winter, writes: “NCC has decreed that the proposed site will not be sold to Sir Antony Gormley despite it sitting unused for years, and despite monumental local support.
“Instead, the site will now be demolished and used to park council wagons – you couldn’t make this up!”
The mass show of support will take place at the top of the Sele slope open space in Hexham this Sunday, 23 November at 12pm. The petition can be signed here.
