anthony mccall's projected column wins london 2012 cultural olympiad award

By Catherine Jones on Oct 22, 09 10:07 AM

We may no longer technically be Capital of Culture, but Liverpool is still a cultural powerhouse as is shown by today's news that Anthony McCall has won a commission for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
The Artists Taking the Lead project is part of the cultural run up to the 2012 games in London and 12 regional winners are each set to receive £500,000 to make their artistic visions a reality.

Anthony McCall's Projected Column beat four other shortlisted entries, which in turn had been whittled down from 172 contenders, to take the award in the north west.
Projected Column, as those of you who read my feature last week will know, is a spinning column of cloud which will rise a mile high from the Mersey and will be able to be seen 100km (about 60 miles) away.
It's certainly ambitious, as the Arts Council said when it announced the awards a few minutes ago.
Anthony is London-born and New York based but has chosen the Mersey to realise this art work.
He's backed by FACT and Liverpool Biennial and today they were also celebrating.
Mike Stubbs, Director/CEO, of FACT, said: "Today's announcement is absolutely wonderful news. Projected Column is an ambitious, exciting piece of public art by one of Britain's most significant artists.
"It will form a sculptural landmark for the north west, reflecting the dynamism of a city that has undergone major cultural and economic development as Capital of Culture in 2008."
I asked Anthony McCall what would happen if he didn't get the commission and he said the idea would eventually be realised, if somewhere else.
Thankfully that is not going to be the case.