Book Bench Trail Now Open In Newark
Posted on: Thursday, July 11, 2024Newark has had a vibrant makeover in the past week as brightly coloured sculptures of benches shaped like books have been installed around the town. These are part of a project by Newark Creates, a cultural programme led by Newark Cultural Consortium with Inspire Culture, Learning and Libraries and Newark and Sherwood District Council as main partners. The programme is funded by Newark Heart and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is providing £2.6 billion of new funding to local authorities to invest in unique opportunities within their district.
The benches have been created in association with Wild In Art, which has previously made trails for the London 2012 Olympics, Historic Royal Palaces, and Penguin Random House.
There are 11 book benches – all unique and created by a different artist or group from Newark and Sherwood and across the East Midlands. Trail maps are available at locations across Newark, or can be accessed digitally via the Newark Creates website. Throughout the summer, residents and visitors to the town can also take part in the fantastic free programme of Meet Me at the Benches activities, led by the bench artists and local storytellers. The full programme and more information about these can be found on the trail maps and website.
Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council said, “I am delighted that this wonderful trail will be in Newark this summer. Last year’s umbrellas were so well received by all our town centre visitors, and I am sure that the BookBenches, will prove equally as popular this year. I hope many people are encouraged to visit our town centre to enjoy not only the trail, but all that Newark has to offer, from our unique independent retailers and cafes to our iconic Castle and its beautiful gardens. Newark really is a special place, and this trail is the icing on the cake.”
You can visit the book benches and complete the trail throughout the summer until 5 September. For further information about the benches, visit www.newarkcreates.com or follow @NewarkCreatesUK on social media.