The unveiling of a life-size cast iron sculpture of two Highland Cows by leading Scottish public artist Alan Potter will mark the last stage of the £15 million regeneration project which has given Stenhousemuir: a new library, new community centre, foodstore, new shops, parking and a new medical centre
The community event from 12 noon to 4pm, on Saturday, August 14, 2010, will celebrate all of it with live music, street football, body zorbing, ecology workshops on the Lido, give-aways, balloon modellers, a bungee run, face painters.... and a display of hundreds of Highland Cows made by pupils from local primary schools especially for the occasion.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open day to mark the official opening of the new Tryst Community Centre where people will be able to drop in and see the Big Art exhibition and community group entertainments.
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Falkirk author and historian Ian Scott will give a talk on local history at Larbert Library.
"This event will be a great way to mark the successful transformation of Stenhousemuir town centre," said Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Convener of Economic Strategy and Development.
"Construction of the new centre began in 2007 but of course it took several years of careful planning, consultation and negotiation to get it right," he went on. "It could not have happened without the tremendous help of local residents, businesses and organisations who showed patience, support and faith in the regeneration plans and in a great future for the town."
The Highland Cow sculpture (paid for with money Falkirk Council received from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Fund with support from ASDA and McDonald Estates) was chosen as the finishing touch for the town square after local people voted for it in a public art consultation held at Larbert Library.
"A cast-iron Highland Cow is a great choice for Stenhousemuir," said Councillor Mahoney.
"It reflects the town's industrial, social and cultural heritage. Stenhousemuir was once the focus of all the cattle drove roads of Scotland, the Highland Cow is the trademark of McCowans Toffee, and the Carron Ironworks also made the area famous. Alan Potter is a first-rate public artist but I am sure everyone will also enjoy seeing the children's own versions."
(GK/KMcA)
