Public Art Commission

Thomas Hawksley was the greatest water engineer of the nineteenth century. In his lifetime, he achieved international recognition for developing the first pressurised clean water supply available at the turn of a tap. This system saved countless lives when cholera struck Great Britain in 1848–9. Despite a career of achievement and social change he’s now largely unknown and forgotten.

Gedling Borough Council with support from Arnold Local History Group, Papplewick Pumping Station and a number of local history enthusiasts would like to commission a permanent piece of memorial art work to commemorate the life of Thomas Hawksley.

The memorial will be situated in Arnot Hill Park in Arnold near Nottingham. Hawksley was born in the park in Arnot Hill House in 1807.

As well as helping to tell the story of Hawksley’s contribution, artists will need to consider that the art work will be permanently situated outdoors in a popular public park and so material choice and ease of maintenance will be important considerations.

The group commissioning the art work would like to see a response which brings the work of Thomas Hawksley to life whilst also being in keeping with the rest of the park. The memorial will become part of the park’s arts trail once it has been installed.

The Council will be commissioning some interpretation information to sit alongside the memorial which will further tell the story of Hawksley’s life and work.

Funding has been awarded to Gedling Borough Council from Severn Trent Water and the total budget for the project will be £10K. Installation can be supported by Gedling Borough Council.

To respond to this opportunity please provide an idea of how you might meet the brief (no longer than 2 sides of A4). We are also happy to receive sketches, images or examples of your previous work to support the written information. Please email all information to sarah.cook@gedling.gov.uk.

For more information about Thomas Hawksley visit: https://www.ice.org.uk/about-ice/near-you/uk/east-midlands/publications/the-nottingham-works-thomas-hawksley