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Anthony McCall's Olympic artwork Column scrapped | Anthony McCall's Olympic artwork Column scrapped |
(35 minutes later) | |
Plans for a giant steam artwork on the Liverpool skyline have been abandoned after 15 months of failed attempts to make it materialise. | Plans for a giant steam artwork on the Liverpool skyline have been abandoned after 15 months of failed attempts to make it materialise. |
Artist Anthony McCall designed Column, a spiral of steam that should have risen 10km (six miles) into the sky. | Artist Anthony McCall designed Column, a spiral of steam that should have risen 10km (six miles) into the sky. |
Arts Council England has spent £535,000 of Lottery money on the project, which was due to have been running throughout 2012 as part of the Cultural Olympiad. | Arts Council England has spent £535,000 of Lottery money on the project, which was due to have been running throughout 2012 as part of the Cultural Olympiad. |
An Arts Council spokesperson said it "absolutely is not a waste of money". | |
McCall said: "It is with profound disappointment that we have decided to draw our project to a close. | |
"My team has worked long and hard but, due to the many regulatory and technical challenges, we have not been able to bring Column to completion." | |
Column was originally due to launch on 31 December 2011 and run for exactly 12 months. | Column was originally due to launch on 31 December 2011 and run for exactly 12 months. |
The giant spiral of steam should have risen from East Float dock in Birkenhead and been visible for at least 100km (62 miles) on a clear day, becoming a "nationally and internationally recognised landmark", according to the organisers' original proposals. | The giant spiral of steam should have risen from East Float dock in Birkenhead and been visible for at least 100km (62 miles) on a clear day, becoming a "nationally and internationally recognised landmark", according to the organisers' original proposals. |
But it was repeatedly delayed. The Civil Aviation Authority was worried that it would interfere with aircraft and the Port Health Authority had concerns that it could cause Legionella. | But it was repeatedly delayed. The Civil Aviation Authority was worried that it would interfere with aircraft and the Port Health Authority had concerns that it could cause Legionella. |
Even after those fears were allayed, the steam-generating mechanism did not work properly and the column still did not appear. | Even after those fears were allayed, the steam-generating mechanism did not work properly and the column still did not appear. |
The project was originally announced in 2009, when the Arts Council commissioned 12 artworks to be created across the UK to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. | The project was originally announced in 2009, when the Arts Council commissioned 12 artworks to be created across the UK to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. |
McCall's plan was chosen from 172 entries for the Artists Taking the Lead project in the north-west and was given a budget of £500,000. | McCall's plan was chosen from 172 entries for the Artists Taking the Lead project in the north-west and was given a budget of £500,000. |
Elsewhere in the UK, the other 11 Artists Taking the Lead commissions - ranging from a set of three crocheted lions in the East Midlands to a new football pitch created in a forest in the Scottish Borders - have all appeared. | Elsewhere in the UK, the other 11 Artists Taking the Lead commissions - ranging from a set of three crocheted lions in the East Midlands to a new football pitch created in a forest in the Scottish Borders - have all appeared. |
The British-born, New York-based Anthony McCall is an internationally renowned artist who is known for using mist, light and projection to create ethereal "sculptures" in mid air. | The British-born, New York-based Anthony McCall is an internationally renowned artist who is known for using mist, light and projection to create ethereal "sculptures" in mid air. |