Lowther Castle is set to host another major art installation to help raise money for local charities and good causes.
Last year, members of the local community came together to create 10,000 ceramic daffodils that were place around the grounds and the installation raised hundreds of thousands for charity.
Steve, whose work seeks to ‘explore and uncover the layers of narrative within the rural environment’, said: “When I was invited to look at Lowther Castle as a site for a large-scale installation, I was immediately drawn to the South Lawns.
Unlike many prospects for stately houses, these lawns slope down towards the castle.
“We are installing 520 gold flags across all these lawns. Each flag will measure up to 2.5m wide and 1.5m high and will fly from simple aluminium poles at a height of between 3m and 5m.
“The variation in height will add to the visual mass, while a subtle variation in colour in the flags will create texture.
“Overall, the display will measure around 320m x 45m, creating an installation of a scale rarely seen – over five times the size of the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in London.”
Originally Norman and possibly Saxon, Lowther Church sits above the river Lowther in the North Park.
It has some wonderful headstones and effigies relating to the Lowther family, as well as the local community.
In recent years, it has suffered from bouts of vandalism while its fabric is in a poor state.
Lowther Castle and Gardens Trust is seeking to lease the church from the Diocese of Carlisle and subsequently will lead its restoration.
Pupils from Lowther Endowed School will be involved in the event by helping to launch it and being the event’s ‘flag-bearers’.
Bryan Gray, chairman of Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust, said: “We are very excited about the prospects of this installation.
“Lowther Castle enjoys a dramatic setting, and we are delighted to use its natural assets to raise funds for charity.
“Funds will be taken as a proportion of the ticket income over the period of the installation, and we are hoping to donate around £30,000 each to James’ Place, Restore and the Lowther Church Restoration Fund.
READ MORE: 10 large ceramic daffodils from Lowther Castle up for charity auction
“We are also delighted that pupils from Lowther Endowed School will be involved in the event.
“At its heart, this is an event to celebrate the community of Lowther - the estate, the castle, their neighbours and followers. It is entirely appropriate that the pupils of Lowther School are involved.”
The installation will run from April 19 to May 6.
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