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Nelson Mandela memorial
planned for park
PLANS to create a memorial to Nelson
Mandela, in a Liverpool park are moving forward; and the City could stage major
exhibitions marking the centenary of his birth.
The Nelson Mandela Campaign is aiming to create a contemporary artwork on the
island at Princes Park, Liverpool 8. This will celebrate and commemorate Nelson
Mandela's life and work.
The campaign; which has been endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and is
now its official patron, is aiming to raise ?250,000 for the memorial. It has
appointed art advisory team Contemporary Arts Society, the UK's leading
contemporary arts advisory team to recruit the artist who will develop the
design concept.
It is supported by Liverpool City Council, the North West TUC and National
Museums Liverpool.
A fund raising event for the memorial, "Living the Legacy" will be held
at Everton Football Club, on Friday, 4 November 2016, when a panel of sports stars,
writers and commentators will be in conversation. Those talking part include
former Liverpool FC stars John Barnes and Howard Gayle, England footballer
Trevor Sinclair and Olympian Anyike Onuora. It will be compared by author Emeka
Onuora.
Representatives from the Nelson Mandela Foundation, including the chief executive Sello Hatang
will be at the event.
They are in the City to discuss proposals to bring 2 major exhibitions to the
UK in 2018, as part of UN Mandela Day, with Liverpool being a host City along with
London. And they also want to publish an educational comic book linked to the
school curriculum. Liverpool City Council is backing both these proposals.
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:- "The
memorial will be a permanent celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and work. He
was made a Freeman of the City in 1994 and it is very fitting that Liverpool
should be aiming to honour him.
It will also be a fantastic accolade for the City if we can stage the
exhibitions to mark the centenary of his birth in 2018."
Sonia Bassey, the Campaign Director, said:- "We are aiming to create a
unique artwork which will celebrate and commemorate Nelson Mandela's outstanding
achievement for humanity and will bring visitors and tourists to the park. This
City has a long affiliation to Nelson Mandela and the chosen space of the Island
in Princes Park, that creates an opportunity to break down barriers, build
bridges and create links on many levels connected to humanity and diversity.
Nelson Mandela was incarcerated on an island for 18 years of his imprisonment." |
