St Helens sculpture launches tourism scheme

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Visit England has chosen the landmark Dream sculpture in St Helens to launch its new national Place of Interest Quality Assurance Scheme (PIQAS).

The sculpture, created by international artist Jaume Plensa and which appeared in Channel 4’s Big Art TV series last year, is the first attraction in the northwest to gain the new Visit England accreditation.

Barrie Grunewald, cabinet member for culture, communications and town centre at St Helens Council said: ‘This reinforces Dream’s significance as a forward-looking symbol of the positive transformation of St Helens and the wider region, while highlighting the recognition the sculpture is gaining nationally and internationally for its artistic, technical, regeneration and tourism merits.’

PIQAS has been developed by Visit England to enhance quality and spread best practice within the tourism sector and will offer a consumer-focused quality assessment to identify strengths and highlight development areas for attractions and places of interest.

Ex-miners from the former Sutton Manor Colliery where Dream is sited were involved in the commissioning and development of the artwork, which was unveiled in May last year.

The 20ft white marble sculpture won the 2009 Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture and, more recently, a Civic Trust prize in March.