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University launches sculpture competition for alumni

Art and design alumni from the University of Gloucestershire are being invited to enter an exclusive competition to create a piece of public art at the site of the new Pittville Student Village in Cheltenham, which opens next year.

The theme is ‘History of the School of Art & Design, Pittville, Cheltenham’, and the university is looking for a permanent sculpture which will be situated in the courtyard outside the reception area in the student village. There will be £20,000 of funding available for the successful entrant, to include creative planning, labour, materials and installation, which will be released in staged payments.

Maxine Melling, the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, and also Chair of Cheltenham Civic Society, said: “The university’s former campus at Pittville is about to enter an exciting new era. Thousands of gifted artists have honed their exceptional talents since the 1960s at the Pittville campus, and now the campus is being transformed into an exciting student village.

“So what better way to create a lasting legacy of Pittville’s creative past, than for a sculpture to be designed by one of our inspiring alumni.”

The competition is open to alumni of the University of Gloucestershire and all predecessor or linked colleges. Full details, terms, conditions and specifications, and a competition entry form can be found on the university website.

The £38 million development will provide 577 new en-suite student rooms, 214 refurbished existing rooms, a small shop, refectory, bar, students’ gym and multi-use games area, all set in beautifully landscaped grounds on site.

Construction is well underway and the Pittville Student Village is on track to open in September 2017.