Today (4th December), the Trust is launching a flash fund-raising campaign for the Roman circus centre. We plan to apply for a grant from the Cory Environmental Trust for £50,000, but we have to raise 10% (£5,000) of the full amount if our application is successful. AND – we are hoping to raise the £5,000 within a week! If we do, then we plan to submit our grant application by the 11th December and get the Cory Environmental Trust’s verdict by the end of January 2016.
We were able to buy the Roman circus centre in 2012 with funding from generous donations from groups and individuals, supplemented by grants from Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council. We are now seeking this further funding so that we can enhance the site of the circus in front of the circus centre. This project has two elements. An outline of several Roman spectators will be placed on top of the large metal ‘zig-zag’ in the garden which represents the profile of the circus seating-stand: they will be facing the site of the circus arena. We will then commission local artist Anne Schwegmann-Fielding* to make a life-size chariot complete with four horses and a charioteer, and this will be on permanent display, also on the site of the circus arena, in the front garden of the Roman circus centre. The chariot will be finished in a modern ‘mosaic’ style, as much of our knowledge of racing-chariots derives from Roman mosaic floors. The ‘zig-zag’ profile will be given the same finish to unify the two elements. Our aim is that the completed project will enhance the exposed circus remains and the modern stumps of the circus starting-gates, make it easier for visitors to understand this part of the site of the circus, and bring it all vividly to life. We hope that the whole project – the life-size chariot and horses, the enhanced ‘zig-zag’ and the spectators – will transform the circus site and centre as a place to visit and enjoy and find out about the Roman circus.
Would you like to contribute to our ‘flash fund’ of £5,000 for the Roman circus centre?
If so, then please go to the home page of our web-site and donate online via the BT mydonate button, which is a link to the BT mydonate scheme’s web-site. Every £5 which you donate will effectively generate £50 of the grant, or £60 if the donation is made using Gift Aid. If our application is unsuccessful or we fail to raise the required 10% contribution, then we will use all of the money donated as part of an application for another grant. We want these grants to commission and pay for the chariot sculpture and to fund further development of the circus centre displays. We are working on an application for a grant from another Trust to fund additions and improvements inside the centre and to fund the construction of a wall with protective glass, also in the garden, for the installation of our modern Roman circus mosaic.
Our ‘flash fund-raising’ is go!
The Roman circus centre, site and cafe are open to visitors, from Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00am-4.30pm. Admission is free and the centre, site and cafe are wheelchair-/pushchair-accessible.
The featured image shows the elements of the project sketched onto a modelled image of the garden of the Roman circus centre. The image below shows one of Anne’s artworks (image from her web-site): this koi fish is installed at Colchester Zoo. Have you seen it?
* Anne Schwegmann-Fielding is an internationally-known British sculptor and mosaic artist based in Colchester. She has been creating artworks using predominantly recycled materials for commission and exhibition since the early 1990s. Her clients are as varied as her work and include councils, hospitals, zoos, museums, schools, farms and businesses. Alongside commissions, Anne also creates smaller bespoke pieces for exhibitions, private individuals, awards and celebrations. Anne has won several awards herself and also has made numerous appearances on television.
Visit Anne’s web-site at www.anneschwegmann-fielding.com/ .
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