A PUBLIC sculpture campaign is on a firm footing after it received a significant boost towards finding the funds needed to build a seafront plinth.

Hove Civic Society has been awarded a £20,000 grant from The Headley Trust to help fund construction of the Hove Plinth.

Along with £60,000 of public donations, the society has now raised two thirds of the costs of the plinth.

It has been a week of good news for the community campaign as the three winning designs for the first sculptures to go on the plinth were revealed in miniature at a public exhibition.

It is hoped that the first could be in place on the plinth set for King’s Esplanade in Spring 2017 although around £200,000 is needed to now fund the construction of the full size sculptures.

Organisers have announced that corporate sponsor opportunities are available as well as public donations to help the campaign.

The campaign is also searching for another £30,000 to completely fund the plinth including stone cladding, technical installation and landscaping.

The plinth will be made of Romanstone, a high quality limestone, similar to Portland Stone and suitable for a marine climate.

The latest funding comes from The Headley Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, linked to Sir Timothy Sainsbury, who is a patron of the Hove Plinth project.

Karin Janzon, lead project manager, said: “This is really exciting news; the grant will help us take a substantial step towards realising our aim of bringing a new sculpture to Hove seafront.”

Speaking after this week’s public exhibition at Brighton Town Hall, mayor of Brighton and Hove, councillor Lynda Hyde, said: "Public art is made to be shared and the Hove Plinth will bring inspiration and enjoyment to everyone visiting our wonderful seafront."

Brighton-based artist Pierre Diamantopoulo, whose design Flight of the Langoustine was chosen among the winning trio, said his sculpture will be great with the same background as the i360.

He said: “The sculpture in Trafalgar Square is a fantastic view but on the seafront with nothing else around and a backdrop like that, it’s a fantastic tableau that will enhance any sculpture.

“It is a very democratic process this campaign, no one sculptor will have too long on the merry ego round and then the work will find a permanent home somewhere else in the city."

For more information visit hoveplinth.org.uk, for corporate sponsorship opportunities email karin@hovecivicsociety.org or to donate visit justgiving.com/hovecivicsociety.