POOLE's unique waterside piece of art has been awarded a grant to help conserve and celebrate it.

The Sea Music sculpture by Sir Anthony Caro on Poole Quay is to have £44,600 spent on it thanks to a development grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to Borough of Poole's museum service.

The metal sculpture on its own viewing platform was designed and given to Poole in 1991 by Sir Anthony, who died in 2013, and is recognised as one of the most important British sculptors.

It is his only site-specific public sculpture and was designed to evoke the sound and appearance of the cascading sea through interlocking rings and curves. The central vertical plate replicates the masts and sails of ships.

However the sculpture and three popular viewing platforms have suffered from the elements and are in need of conservation and repainting before they deteriorate further.

Before Sir Anthony died he specified some changes to Sea Music including altering the colour of the viewing platform metalwork from blue to silver to better distinguish the sculpture from the viewing platform. The council hopes this will be completed in time for its 25th anniversary on November 25 2016.

The initial grant will support the development phase of the project in which a range of arts events will be staged and volunteers will document and provide interpretation of Sea Music. The project is being supported by the artist's estate. A major exhibition of Caro's musical sculptures is being planned for Poole Museum, accompanied by a book.

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for local economy, culture and leisure said: "Sea Music divides, but always stimulates opinions locally. There is no doubting its international importance as a work of sculpture, and its significance as a flagship tourist attraction for Poole Quay.

“The fact that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting the conservation of a recent artwork demonstrates the diversity of the heritage and of the range of types of project that the organisation supports.”

Nerys Watts, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “It’s an internationally important landmark and this project will not only preserve it but also help people learn about its history, and the story of Anthony Caro himself, whilst adding to Poole’s tourist offer."

- DAILY ECHO