FOI Request - Statue Costs
Request 101002490508
1) Please could you provide me with all costs associated with the erection of the following:
- Dandy Lion statue
- Wolf of Badenoch statue
2) Please could you also provide details relating to the decision making process behind these - which council members voted in favour etc.
Response 07-08-2020
1) Dandy Lion statue - £7750
- Wolf of Badenoch statue - £50,600
2) The decision making process for the sculptures were part of the wider remit of the Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere project & weren’t subject to Council members voting on it. However they may have done so as part of the public consultation process.
The Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere Partnership has delivered a significant heritage experience to the centre of Elgin. The partnership has been led by The Moray Council and has involved the City of Elgin Business Improvement District, Elgin Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Moray College/University Highland & Islands, Johnstons of Elgin, the Elgin Benevolent Trust, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Moray Speyside Tourism, Robert Gordon University and Elgin Museum. Special advisors have also been involved.
Following consultation in the development stage and throughout the project, the character scheme for the sculpture(s) had been defined and a brief prepared. Following approval by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), artists were invited to submit their proposals. For the commissioning of the sculptures a panel was set up consisting of members of the Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere Partnership with specialist external advisors (Interpretive Consultant, Scottish Sculpture Workshop Manager, Head of Art School -Moray College/UHI, HLF, Findhorn Bay Arts, RGU with advice / support from Creative Scotland) Short-listed entrants were asked to work up their proposals to a more detailed level for the public consultation process via public displays of the maquettes and images via website & media coverage. The proposals were put on display at Elgin Library, Moray College/ UHI, Elgin High & Academy with over 752 responses being posted via postcards of which more than 200 were from youngsters and additional feedback from social media. The finally commissioned sculptures The Wolf, Elgin’s Town Drummer and the Dandy Lion received equal amount of support and were installed in December 2016. The unveiling of the sculptures took place on 17th December 2016 at the Victorian Christmas Celebration. The event created a lot of publicity including on STV as well as social media and also received a Motion in Scottish Parliament. A video has been produced on the creation of the Drummer sculpture with follow up sessions at Elgin Academy & High.