Artists are being invited to come forward with proposals to pour creativity into a new Environment Agency flood defence scheme in the West Cornwall town of St Ives. The Stennack River is mostly hidden below the historic streets running in channels and culverts. Above ground the Environment Agency’s £10 million scheme includes new walls, paving and railings. The special art project provides a great opportunity to give the work an eye-catching makeover. The Agency and local representatives will shortlist the initial ideas down to three. Those three artists will be asked to produce their concepts and present them. Then the selected artist will be commissioned for the public art project. Flooding has regularly affected St Ives with the Stennack River overflowing ten times in the last 20 years.

Serious flooding happened in May 1992 when 60 properties were affected. More recently, in November 2002, 40 homes and businesses were flooded up to 1.4 metres deep. The flood defence scheme involves relining and rebuilding the river culverts and channels between Consols Farm and the Harbour Beach, to smooth the river’s path safely to the sea. The work is being carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency, St Ives Town Council, Penwith District Council and Cornwall County Council by contractor Mowlems and design consultant Halcrow.

Fiona Geddes from the Environment Agency said: ‘St Ives is world famous as an art centre. This is a great chance to celebrate this important flood defence scheme and weave in some exciting, quality public art for local people and visitors to enjoy for years to come.’ Interested artists need to submit their proposals by 3 February 2006. The final three will be asked to give a presentation in St Ives in the week commencing 10 March 2006. For further information and an application pack, artists should contact Melanie Hinde, at Halcrow Group Limited, Ash House, Falcon Road, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7LB. Email: hindem@halcrow.com