The Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Richard Smart presents the prize to the winner of this year’s ForM Sculpture Competition to sculptor Helen Hanse.

Ards and North Down Borough Council is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s ForM Sculpture Exhibition which took place in Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden during the month of June.

With 23 sculptures taking part in the exhibition, the winners were chosen by Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts and Heritage Panel alongside a public vote.

First prize went to sculptor Helen Hanse for her sculpture ‘3 Heads Resting’. Helen won a one-week residency at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, a unique artist residency in County Monaghan. Joint second prize went to artist Anna O’Donovan and sculptor Owen Crawford who were awarded £150 each worth of artists materials. A commendation prize was awarded to Paul Fitz.

Speaking about her win, sculptor Helen Hanse said: “The beauty and heritage sensed when in the Walled Garden makes it an amazing place to exhibit my sculpture. The garden is beautifully cared for…a sanctuary on our doorsteps and it is an honour to have received this award from the local community and visitors. Positive feedback such as this is wonderful and I will enjoy and make good use of the time at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre.”

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts Officer, Patricia Hamilton said: “I am delighted that Helen Hanse was awarded first prize for the sculpture exhibition. The skill and beauty of her stone carving sculptures displayed in Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden were a striking contrast to the organic planting. The prize of a week’s residency at the Tyrone Guthrie will be valuable time for her to make a new body of work.”

Submissions for ForM Sculpture Exhibition 2019 is open to artists with a closing date of Monday 4 February. Artists at every level and across all visual art disciplines are encouraged to think about the brief, take up to challenge to exhibit outside and be part of this amazing eclectic and unique exhibition, a one of its kind in Northern Ireland.

This year’s event takes place from Saturday 1 – Sunday 30 June 2019.

Artists are invited to propose site specific works, or work that responds to the environment of Bangor Castle Walled Garden. Participation in the exhibition is through a selection process. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel who will select candidates based on criteria.

The deadline for submissions is: Monday 4 February 2019 @ 12 noon.

For an application form and details on how to apply, please download the documents via: www.ardsarts.com, visit Ards Arts Centre, or call 028 9181 0803.