More art for Avon

Two more artworks will be added to Christchurch’s Avon River precinct in the next three years as the Government fronts up with $200,000 in funding.

Crown rebuild company O¯ ta¯ karo is in the process of transferring the money to the Christchurch City Council. It was understood the money was left over from now defunct plans to create an art trail along the river.

The council and Scape Public Art plan to select the two pieces of art.

Scape executive director Deborah McCormick said in the coming months Scape would convene a selection panel, fundraise for matched funding and oversee the installation of the items.

‘‘As part of Scape’s ongoing commitment to public artworks in Christchurch we will look to complement the city’s growing world-class collection of public art with new types of artworks and artists to build upon the collection.’’

The works would be selected based on a criteria which included works that have popular appeal with a focus on families and children, were human in scale, interactive or tactile, McCormick said.

There had been plans to relocate artist Neil Dawson’s Spires sculpture to the Avon River, but those plans came to a halt when the art trail plan was ditched. Spires is still looking for a buyer and a permanent home after the council last year granted Dawson permission to keep the sculpture in Latimer Square until the end of this year.

When asked if Spires was being considered as one of the two riverside artworks, McCormick said the panel had yet to be convened and shortlisted artworks would need to fit the selection criteria.