An Arts Foundation for Lichfield and surrounding district held its inaugural meeting at The Garrick Theatre recently.

Those voted onto the executive committee include Peter Walker, the well known local sculptor, Celia Houghton, local Arts Development Officer, and Cllr Bernard Derrick, Chairman of the Lichfield District Arts Partnership and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

A number of other local artists and art aficionados have also joined the Foundation. These include Jennie Arthur, Alison Churchill of South Staffordshire University, local businessman Robert Carr, Adrian Jackson who is Artistic Director of the Garrick Theatre, Barbara Haycock, David Wallington, Composer David Harper and Mary Baker.

Peter Walker, who created the new sculpture at Lichfield Tesco, led the Son et Lumiere at last year's Samuel Johnson birthday celebrations and is now working on a new sculpture to celebrate Erasmus Darwin, explained more: "The aim of the foundation is to enhance the district’s cultural life. The arts is so important to our local and national economies, but often suffers from a lack of infrastructure and support, which means it doesn't always make the impact it could to local people's lives. The foundation will aim to help change this locally, so more and more people can get involved.

The new Foundation will develop a local infrastructure and actively encourage local people and artists to get involved in all art forms which the foundation hopes will help to elevate Lichfield District to become one of the leading arts destinations in the country. Key strategic aims are being put in place which will be revealed during the Foundation’s development”.

The Foundation will attract an increase of innovative art to the area and represent local culture on the national and international stages which will enhance the local economy and tourism.

Lichfield's first new public sculpture for over 50 years was unveiled on Saturday 18th September. The ceremony saw the Mayor, Cllr Spruce and Peter Barrett, Chairman of the Samuel Johnson Society, offically unveil the artwork.

Entitled the Formation of Poetry, and made by artist Peter Walker is a 3m long bronze artwork, designed as a tribute to the legacy of Dr Johnson.

The Formation of Poetry

The Mayor and Peter Barrett unveil the sculpture

Cll Bernard Derrick and Sculptor Peter Walker