Learning to Mark the Millennium The young and old of South Leverton, Nottinghamshire, were taught potting and wood carving when they helped build a village sculpture to mark the Millennium. Sculptor Tim Gyles and potter Jim Newbolt's village hall classes on working with timber and making tiles from local clay drew over a hundred people of all ages and backgrounds. The sculpture is set on a plot of roadside land donated by the council. The raw materials came free - clay dug from people's gardens, reclaimed bricks, farmyard scrap metal and building materials donated by local companies. The project has created a spirit of co-operation, and has helped newcomers to the village feel part of the community. People have decorated their tiles by impressing small objects into the wet clay, drawing flowers or simply writing their names and a message for future generations. Tim, who first had the idea for a project to mark the Millennium, says, "This just captured everyone's imagination from the start. There was two-year-old Antonia, Gwen one of the oldest villagers, a group of teenagers and a 79-year-old gentleman who's been learning wood carving. They all wanted to be a part of it." NAME: South Leverton Sculpture Group BRIEF: To encourage artistic activities involving the local community TARGET GROUP: Retford village residents FOCUS: To create a sculpture as a focus for activity by people in the community who would not normally become involved GRANT: Small MANAGED BY: NIACE

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