When the Red Rose in Preston. (visitlancashire)
Published Monday 10 October 2016 at 16:24
An exciting new art installation inspired by the red rose of Lancashire is set to be unveiled at Eanam Wharf to coincide with the bicentenary celebrations of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
On Wednesday, October 19, When the Red Rose created by artist Steve Messam will arrive in Blackburn from Preston where it transformed a passageway in the city.
The artwork based on the historic symbol of Lancashire is travelling around the county and will soon be on display in Blackpool followed by Lancaster.
It will make its debut in Blackburn just in time for the 200th anniversary celebrations of the opening of the canal, which include a flotilla of boats sailing into the wharf led by the historic Kennet short boat .
When the Red Rose in Preston
The boats will be greeted by a number of dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenants of Lancashire and West Yorkshire as well as mayors from across the North West. They will be joined by the National Children’s Orchestra, the Duke of Lancaster regiment and local schoolchildren dressed in red and white.
The celebrations have been organised by The Eanam Wharf Experience Trust, a partnership between businessman Graham Vernon and Blackburn with Darwen Council, that has been set up to turn Eanam Wharf into a visitor’s attraction.
Councillor Phil Riley, Executive member for Regeneration, said: “When The Red Rose is going to look spectacular and I urge people to come down and see this once in a life time event.
“This will be a historic day for Blackburn and I think it’s only fitting that we have something symbolic like this to remember what an important role the canal played in the growth of our borough and in the history of Lancashire.”
The historic Kennet
When The Red Rose was commissioned by Marketing Lancashire as part of a wider cultural tourism project funded by Arts Council England’s National Lottery Funded Grants for the Arts Programme, which sees Marketing Lancashire and stakeholders including Arts Lancashire, Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council work together to encourage visitors to the region.
For more information on these visit visitlancashire.com and follow the progress of #RedRose #CultureLancs on Twitter.