Cut-back threat to North cultural renaissance
Jul 3 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
Scaled down angel breaks records by selling for £2.28m
A SCALE model of the Angel of the North has broken records by selling at auction for more than £2m.
The 6ft 6ins high replica of the 65ft high original, one of five smaller versions – created by Antony Gormley from a cast of his own body – was sold at Sotheby’s.
An anonymous buyer paid £2.28m for the sculpture, which was expected to fetch £800,000. Mr Gormley received a flat fee of just under £10,000 from the sale.
A Sotheby’s spokesman said the lot, part of a catalogue of contemporary works from a range of artists, attracted a "huge amount" of interest.
"Sotheby’s evening sale of Contemporary Art last night realised a phenomenal £94,701,550 – making it the most successful summer sale of Contemporary Art held in Europe," he said.
Tynesiders are celebrating the Angel’s 10th anniversary this year.
Antony Gormley’s design was chosen by Gateshead Council from a shortlist of international artists in 1994. It took a further four years to construct and install.
The full size statue, which overlooks the A1 in Gateshead, has a wingspan of 177ft (54m) – greater than that of a Boeing 767– whereas the replica sold at auction has a wingspan of 16ft.
With its exposed hillside position, the Angel’s wings and foundations had to be built to withstand south-easterly winds of up to 100 miles an hour.
Arts groups promise 'business as usual'
ARTS groups tasked with carrying on the work of Culture North East have promised it is "business as usual".
Culture minister Margaret Hodge yesterday told the Arts Council England, Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to work together to prepare "joint plans of action".
The new combined role will see the four agencies work together on various priorities as regional cultural boards currently championing the region are scrapped.
Together with development agency One NorthEast they will set out what the region should be doing and what cash can be found to support it.
Louise Davis, head of tourism and culture at One NorthEast, said: "We have greatly valued the work of Culture North East in leading the co-ordination of the sector in the region. As the regional development agency, our focus is on how this changing agenda will lead to greater economic benefits and further culture-led regeneration for the North East.
"We look forward to seeing any long-term savings reinvested into cultural and sporting provision within the North East." And, an Arts Council spokeswoman said: "We already work extensively with Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as well as other bodies in the region to make sure that the arts and culture are central to the North East’s vibrancy.
"We look forward to working with our partners to develop this further. Earlier this year we set out our plans to invest £43m in the arts in the region for the period 2008-11.
"This review will not affect our funding levels for the arts projects we have pledged to support."
