Tees Valley Giants

What will the five pieces look like?

Each piece will be individually designed to reflect the area in which it is located, but will also follow a theme which will link them all together.

Tees Valley Regeneration – now Tees Valley Unlimited - was determined to attract a world-class art initiative to the Tees Valley and appointed Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond to the project. Kapoor and Balmond are known for their monumental works which are matched in scale only by the ambition shown in bringing them to the Tees Valley.

The first Giant ‘Temenos’, at Middlehaven in Middlesbrough, will be officially unveiled at a launch event on Thursday, June 10.

How long will the Tees Valley Giants take to build?

It is expected to take around ten years to complete all five pieces.

How much will the Tees Valley Giants Cost?

The series will cost around £15m at today’s prices.

Where is the money coming from to build the Tees Valley Giants?

The money for the Tees Valley Giants is coming from both public and private sources. In the case of Temenos funding is coming from Northern Rock Foundation, Arts Council England, The Northern Way, One North East, Middlesbrough Football Club and BioRegional Quintain.

Why is so much money being spent on public art in Middlesbrough?

Any public money comes from cash set aside specifically for art in the UK. If it was not spent on this project it would go to other areas to be spent on art and not come to the Tees Valley at all. TVU aims to attract as much money as possible to the area – and therefore change the perception of the Tees Valley.

The money that will fund the project has to be spent on arts projects, it cannot be spent on hospitals, housing or roads. The Tees Valley Giants initiative is about securing our share of the money available and making a real difference to the quality of life in this area in the process.

Who are Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond?

Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond are two of the most influential people in the art world – for example, Anish is behind the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero in New York and Cecil is working on the new CCTV building in Beijing.

Anish became the only living artist to be offered a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art last year and was recently commissioned to design the London 2012 Olympic sculpture.

Why wasn’t the job given to an up and coming artist from the region?

This is a huge project for the Tees Valley and the aim is to create a world-class series of art installations. Tees Valley Giants is about encouraging people from all over the UK – and around the world – to take a closer look at this area, and reassess their opinions. We need internationally-recognised artists to do that.

How can sculptures add to the financial success of the region?

Public art on this scale will attract cultural tourists to the Tees Valley and will show that the region is vibrant and culturally aware, as well as up and coming, ambitious and successful. All of that can have an affect especially when businesses make decisions about where to locate and when individuals make decisions on where to live and work; they can often be drawn to a place because it is seen as go-ahead, confident and assured. We know that public art can create value – that’s clearly evidenced by the fact that private sector companies such as Middlesbrough Football Club and BioRegional Quintain have put money into this initiative, adjacent to their own investments at Middlehaven.

How can public art on this scale improve the quality of life locally?

There’s a real ‘feel good’ factor about great architecture and sculptures on this scale that can really get people talking, not just here but all over the UK and beyond. They can change people’s perceptions about a place, create a fresh, dynamic and strong image; boost confidence. They shout out that this is a region that is going places. They are statements of intent; they say we are proud to live here and invest in our community.

Why is the first one sited in Middlesbrough?

It makes sense to start at Middlehaven, which will be the first of Tees Valley Unlimited’s key developments to be populated. The ultimate aim is for each area to get a Giant as they are able to secure funding.

How big is Temenos?

Temenos will stand just under 50m tall and is almost 110m long. The circular ring is 32m diameter and the elliptical ring 28m by 16m.

What does Temenos mean?

The word is Greek and means "to cut". It particularly relates to a piece of land that is cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially of kings, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, a sanctuary, holy grove or holy precinct.

What will the other Giants look like?

The designs for the other giants are not yet finalised, but they will each have an identity which reflects their location but will also follow a theme which will link them all together as one giant art installation.

Is Temenos made from locally produced materials?

The team used local labour and local materials wherever possible. Teesside Cast Products – the part of Corus under threat at the moment – makes plate steel for the heavy industry and not the stainless steel used for Temenos.

When can we expect to see the next Tees Valley Giant?

Each installation is unique and TVR is working to secure the funding for the next piece - it will be completely different in nature to the Middlehaven commission but just as exciting.

The team is also working closely with Anish and Cecil to move the Giants forward.