MARK-IT: Our Vision
The concept
Spalding & District Civic Society first proposed the idea of a number of public art works that would celebrate what was once a major feature of our town-centre life in February 2009. Before the Cattle Market was built in 1938, the town centre was the cattle market. So, the Sheepmarket was full of sheep, cattle milled and bellowed in New Road, and pigs were penned off Red Lion Street, and so on, with the annual hiring fair in Hall Place in May. The ‘Market Art’ proposal was to mark each of these locations with a corresponding public work of art. We called it the “Market Art Project”
The concept arose out of two negatives. That, unlike many other towns, Spalding had virtually no public art to add interest to its centre. And that very few younger residents or newcomers in our expanding estates would have any notion that, within living memory still, the town centre itself was a weekly livestock market, full of jostling animals bellowing and bleating and the hypnotic patter of auctioneers and farmyard smells everywhere. Sheep in the Sheepmarket, cattle in New Road, pigs in Red Lion Street. We felt that this key part of our heritage needed to be known. Hence the proposal which we felt would reduce both negatives.
Support Secured
It was the arrival of ‘Transported’ on the scene in 2012 that offered hope that it could just possibly happen. (‘Transported’ is a strategic community focused programme which aims to encourage greater public involvement in the arts in South Holland and Boston Borough.) They responded favourably to the idea from the start, and we were delighted to be able to announce at our AGM in March 2015 that Transported had agreed to fund the first of the ‘Market Art’ works.
Meanwhile, independently, the Lincolnshire Free Press had been campaigning for “big ideas” to help regenerate the town centre, and its assessment panel later also embraced the ‘Market Art’ proposal. (Chaired by John Hayes, the panel contained representatives from both the county and district councils, Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce and the local press.) The proposal won the panel’s “all round support”. People do seem to like the idea.
But it was only with the arrival of Transported Arts in 2012 that the dream became a possibility, with their expertise in community arts and access to funding from Arts Council England. They adopted the project as part of their On Your Doorstep programme, whereby local groups and organisations are helped to commission work by artists, designers and sculptors to improve public spaces, making them more interesting, attractive and cared for. We have been working in partnership with Transported since then.
Since 2023, the Market Art Project has been known as MARK-IT.
Delivered
Portrait of a Town
Joseph Hillier’s 14 small bronzes are installed at various points in the town centre and along the river bank. A trail leaflet has been produced which is available from local tourist information outlets.
The Hiring
Laury Dizengremel’s sculpture The Hiring, commemorating the historic annual hiring fair, is installed in Hall Place.
The Sheep
Graeme Mitcheson’s flock of seven sheep carved in limestone based on the Lincoln Long Wool breed can be found in The Sheep Market.
The Cattle
Graeme Mitcheson’s lifesize sculptures modeled on a real Lincoln Red bull and heifer can be found on the corner of New Road & Swan Street.
To Come
Bakers Statue
In 2019, the Addo Food Group donated “The Bakers” statue that used to stand in front of the Spalding Bakery factory to the Society after the decision to close the site. This fitted in nicely with our vision.
Future Commissions
Horses, pigs, poultry and dairy produce.
Our efforts to deliver projects supported by the community rely on volunteer members from all walks of life who give up their time as well as donations and grant funding.
Like any organisation, the more who volunteer their time, and the more funds we can secure, the more we can do.
If you would like to support our work in Spalding there are three ways you can do so.
Volunteer for us
The more who volunteer their time, the more we can do.
Make a donation
As a Registered Charity, we always welcome donations to the Society.
Join Us
This is the best way of supporting us, as you can then be kept up to date with what we are doing, and will be entitled to the benefits that membership of our Society brings.