Proposed display of ‘Kiddey Stones’ sculptures faces strong opposition

A proposal to publicly exhibit a collection of Nottinghamshire sculptures, unseen for four decades, has been described as both a “waste of money” and “morally wrong”. These artworks, known as The Kiddey Stones, consist of four substantial sandstone panels. They were initially situated at Wilford Power Station before being placed in storage during the 1980s. Newark and Sherwood District Council put forward a plan to relocate the sculptures to its Castle House headquarters and incorporate them into an art trail throughout Newark town centre. However, a public consultation garnered 881 responses, with over 57% opposing the initiative. A common sentiment among opponents was that the projected £81,240 expenditure could be allocated more effectively. The artist, Robert Kiddey, was born in Nottingham in 1900, achieved international acclaim, and taught in Newark for half a century. These panels, having undergone cleaning and restoration, illustrate various facets of electricity generation. The council cabinet initially approved the proposal in June to install the sculptures as a “free-standing public art installation,” pending the outcome of a public consultation. The recently published consultation results indicate a majority disapproval of the scheme. Feedback predominantly centered on the project’s value for money. Nevertheless, close to 41% of the responses expressed support, primarily highlighting the cultural and historical importance of Kiddey’s creations for the region. One individual commented: “Absolutely brilliant. It’s about time this was displayed publicly.” Another respondent stated: “Art routes, especially when showing works by nationally renowned artists, bring tourism.” The survey findings are scheduled to be presented to the cabinet for review on 10 December. Rowan Cozens, the portfolio holder for heritage, culture, and the arts, asserted that she was “not disappointed” by the outcomes, noting the backing from both the police and the civic trust. She added: “These incredible sculptures were given to the people of Newark and have languished for nearly 40 years.” Cozens further stated: “While 13 different sites for them have been explored in the past, they are still not available for the public to view which I feel is a travesty and something we must re-consider,” she said. For updates, follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.