Voting to nominate the artist who will create Manchester’s statue of Emmeline Pankhurst closes on Thursday 30 March 2017.
Thousands of votes have already been cast for the designs of the six shortlisted artists, one of which will be commissioned to create the statue, which will stand in St Peter’s Square.
Andrew Simcock, Chair of the Emmeline Pankhurst Statue Campaign, says, “This project is to celebrate the role women have played in Manchester, and from the very beginning the response has been amazing. Having first voted that Emmeline Pankhurst should be the figure to take her place alongside Manchester’s 16 male statues and the statue of Queen Victoria, we’ve then invited people to select which artist should be given the honour of creating the statue of her.
The shortlist features the designs of six sculptors whose beautiful maquettes have captured the imagination of everyone who has seen them, and generated great excitement around the prospect of the statue that will ultimately be created. Each expresses the story and strength of Emmeline Pankhurst in its own unique way.”
The shortlisted artists are Sean Hedges-Quinn, Martin Jennings, Hazel Reeves, Amelia Rowcroft, Nick Roberson and (daughter and father team) Roxy and Steve Winterburn.
People can visit Manchester Art Gallery, where the six 40cm maquettes are on display until 30 March, to cast their vote or they can see the designs and make their decision by visiting www.womanchesterstatue.org/selection-panel
The winning sculptor will be announced in early April, with work then commencing on the statue that will be located, subject to planning permission, in St Peter’s Square. In addition to the creation of the statue, there will be an education programme that will engage schools and communities in the legacy of Emmeline Pankhurst and the role women have played, and continue to play, in Manchester.
