The Arc - a landmark sculpture for Wokingham

OUR VISION

Arts4Wokingham is a charity with a simple purpose: champion the generation of public art within Wokingham Borough, encourage a portfolio of works and invite the community to engage creatively. We believe public art has the power to build strong local communities; rich in culture, storytelling and identity.

In partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, Arts4Wokingham promotes arts and culture for public benefit, with a focus on enhancing the local community. As a member of the Wokingham Arts and Culture Forum, we champion and promote artistic and cultural initiatives to ensure Wokingham Borough meets the evolving needs of the 21st century.

The vision is to create a major permanent artwork at the heart of Wokingham’s redevelopment, outside the new Carnival Hub. This prominent and distinctive site will quickly become a well-recognised, noted and much visited venue.

Nicola Anthony FRSA, MRSS beat off competition from more than 60 other artists with her concept of a striking multi-arched stainless steel sculpture, now dubbed The Arc. She has been working with a wide range of local residents and community groups to source stories, thoughts and experiences which capture the essence of what defines the local area.  Drawing upon her signature style, she will identify meaningful words and phrases which will be cut out and profiled within the steel arches themselves. An audio element will be included, together with lighting, which will enable The Arc to be seen and appreciated in a variety of different ways.

Funding is being sought from a mixture of grants, sponsorship and donations. Please give what you can. All donors who contribute £200 or more will have their name(s) acknowledged in the public arena as a significant supporter.

For a limited period, there’s now a unique opportunity to secure a special piece of artwork curated and produced by Nicola Anthony herself.

Details of rewards for donations

£100 donation: “Echoes Underfoot” Art Print

You will receive a hand signed, limited edition art print and a thank you note from the artist.

The A4 print created by artist Nicola Anthony comes from her research and studies into arcs and spirals, which ultimately led to the design of The Arc. In this drawing Nicola was thinking about the invisible continuation of the curve of each above-ground arc in it’s below-ground continuation. Although the public sculpture won’t really spiral beneath ground like this, the suggestion of each swoop is there so that the viewer can envision the underground echoes of the Arc. This print is a valuable piece of the journey of Wokingham Borough’s new public sculpture - from the glimmer of inspiration to the fully fledged idea, and with your donation, to become a monumental sculpture.

All prints by Nicola Anthony come with a certificate of authenticity, are hand signed, printed with archival inks and paper.

£250 Donation: Art Patron gift kit

Become a patron of The Arc or gift the patronage and all its perks to a loved one. Being an Art Patron is an incredibly important role to protect the place the arts have in our public life and private spaces, and to build your own relationship with artists and the creative world they inhabit.  

What do you get in your Art Patron ‘kit’? 

• Your name (or the name of your choice) engraved on the sculpture plaque at Wokingham Carnival Hub, to recognise you as a sponsor
• The Arc art patron certificate with a hand-pressed Wax Seal
• Exclusive access to Nicola Anthony’s Art Collectors Club (be invited to online and offline meet ups exclusively for her existing collectors and patrons, get VIP invites to exhibition openings and talks) 
• Metal ‘Art Patron’ lapel badge which you can wear with pride and spark curiosity in your friends and colleagues 
• 148 x 210 mm signed print by Nicola Anthony - a special art patron’s edition of ‘A Thousand Journeys’, 2023

£500 donation: "The Voice of the Land" Lino Print A4

A hand signed, limited edition lino print and a thank you note from the artist. Usual RRP £1000, so this exclusive half price offer is only available as a special A4W crowdfunding offer. The exclusive blue and yellow edition of this print is ONLY available through Arts4Wokingham so get this rare edition now.

This hand made lino print originated from sketches of sound waves taken from voice recordings, and evolved into an abstract form that was influenced by the helical shapes of DNA, and the rolling curves of the landscape. The artist’s explorations of organic forms and sound waves has been a big inspiration behind The Arc, informing the signature swoop of Wokingham Borough’s forthcoming sculpture. 

This print is a valuable piece of the journey of The Arc - from the glimmer of inspiration to the fully fledged idea, and with your donation, to become a monumental sculpture in Wokingham borough.

Handmade lino print, limited edition. Light-fast archival printmaking ink on paper

All prints by Nicola Anthony come with a certificate of authenticity, are hand signed and printed with archival inks and paper.

£1850 donation: Bell jar sculpture containing your story

Ever wanted a self portrait with a difference? A special moment preserved forever as art?

You will commission an original and unique sculptural artwork by Nicola Anthony. You will be guided through the commissioning process by Nicola and her studio team, deciding on a few sentences which will be transformed into stainless steel, sculpted into 3 dimensions as shown here, and encased in a glass bell jar of your choice (varying sizes and proportions available). Whether buying this item for yourself or for someone special, you are not just receiving an artwork but the chance to get to know the artist and her team and discover the process of commissioning an artwork. 

Usual RRP: £2600, exclusive price only available through A4W. Minimum size: Height 30cm, Diameter 18cm.

How does it arrive: Initially you will receive a certificate and contact details to begin the process, perfect to gift to someone for an anniversary or special occasion. Once the recipient has contacted Nicola Anthony Studios there will be a 2-3 month process of commissioning and creation. The artwork will arrive in a presentation box containing a signed certificate of authenticity and a personal thank you note from the artist. (The wooden base can be engraved as an optional extra).