AN ambitious outdoor arts project has been unveiled which is taking shape in the workshop of a steel fabrication company.

The huge sculpture, costing £190,000 funded by the Tees Valley Partnership, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and local businesses, will create a gateway feature to the South Tees Business Parks, in Middlesbrough.

The South Tees Business Forum, made up of representatives from more than 130 businesses in the area, chose artist Steve Tomlinson, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, to design the sculpture, a steel ladle to represent the importance of Teesside's industry.

Steelmaker Corus, which sits on the forum, is donating the steel, while forum chairman Tony Duffy is busy fabricating the sculpture at his company, SBV Fabrications and Site Services.

Support has also been received from Hewitt's Crane and ABK Consultants.

Freelance photographer Keith Moss has been commissioned by the Arts Council North-East to document the making of a steel sculpture.

His photographs will feature the ladle during fabrication and the people working on it as well as the delicate task of getting it into place on the roundabout on the A66 dual carriageway.

Published: 30/04/2005