ABC Council has gone out to tender in a bid to appoint a “suitably qualified artist” to create a sculpture of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
While no figure has been attached to the tender, it is understood the project could cost up to £80,000 to deliver.
The move to celebrate the life of the late Monarch – who passed away on September 8, 2022 – comes two years after Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council passed a notice of motion approving plans for a “substantial permanent memorial” to be “located within Armagh City and be in situ before or during 2026”.
It has been agreed that the sculpture will be located within the Primate’s Chapel, in the Palace Demesne, where, in March 1995, the late Queen visited to confer city status on Armagh.
An equality screening completed earlier this year described the memorial as “an important decision that will require time, thoughtful planning and design”.
The motion for a sculpture, which was brought to Craigavon Civic Centre in October 2023, was proposed by TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe and supported by 25 councillors, while 15 objected.
The sculpture aims to “recognise the 70 years of service rendered by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch” and celebrate her “shining example of exemplary selfless service”.
“We believe that the memorial should depict Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation and that ideally it would be located in a prominent and visible location in Armagh City,” read the motion, which was seconded by Independent Unionist Alderman Paul Berry.
The successful motion proposed that “officers prepare a report, taking this matter forward, to include options for design, location, consultation with appropriate groups, and identification of a suitable budget as part of the estimates process”.
“This statue will be a fitting tribute by the people of the borough to the late Monarch,” it added.
Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP objected to the notice of motion.
“We estimate royal spend in recent years to be in and around £300,000 at a time when this council is trying to make a saving of £5 million, but again we want to build a monument,” said Sinn Féin’s John Óg O’Kane at the time. “I think the people in this room need to get a grip of reality and see what is happening outside.”
SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon opposed the motion on the grounds of cost and its impact on the council’s budget.
Alliance Councillor Robbie Alexander supported the motion, stating that his party would be “keen to hear the results of the report and understand potential options, as well as potential costs”, but added that it was “absolutely right a meaningful and thoughtful memorial akin to the Queen’s contribution be placed within this borough”.
Fast-forward two years, and the council has now gone out to tender to create the sculpture, which will take the form of a bust.
The council is seeking an artist to craft “a high-quality permanent, figurative sculpture” – in the form of a bust – to “recognise the life and service of the late Monarch”.
Tender details advise: “The bust would be in the medium of the artist’s choice and placed on top of a plinth to include a plaque (text to be agreed with council), which may be incorporated into the plinth.
“The memorial would be located within the Palace Chapel, Armagh.
“The materials would be considered as part of the artist’s commission, with the preferred option and final designs being agreed and signed off by council.
“It is also proposed that the memorial would be officially recognised. Therefore, it is considered that approval for any memorial, in any form, may be required from the Cabinet Office, and this may be a requirement in terms of any potential unveiling or inauguration.”
In the tender documentation, the council insists that the bust “must be a lifelike representation and be immediately recognisable to interested parties and tourists alike, becoming integrated into the historic fabric of Armagh”.
At this stage, the tender is for expressions of interest for the commissioning of an artist for the Queen Elizabeth II figurative sculpture.
The deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is Friday, December 12.
Once an artist is appointed, the expectation is that the sculpture will be produced within a year, with the contract duration estimated at 12 months.
The earlier equality screening exercise indicated that a bust was “thought to cost in the region of £60,000–£80,000”.
It reported that “estimated costs for design and commissioning are £20,000, with a further estimate of £60,000 for manufacture and installation”.
