‍A Bournemouth-based artist, who took up sculpture only six months ago, has been chosen to create a monumental centrepiece for this year's Arts by the Sea festival. Bob Brewer will construct an eight-foot-tall hand woven from willow, a powerful symbol of welcome and unity set to rise from the town's Gardens this September.

The ambitious installation, commissioned under the festival's 2025 theme "We Are Here", is part of the prestigious Associate Artist Programme. The programme, supported by BCP Council, is designed to champion under-represented local talent and provide a national platform for emerging artists. For Brewer, whose background is in the solitary practices of painting and animation, the opportunity marks a significant and deeply personal shift in his artistic journey.

"Working in willow sculpture is a new direction that’s felt immediate and necessary," Brewer explained. "This opportunity to develop a piece with and for the community is transformative. It’s not just my hand – it’s everyone’s.”

Festival-goers will witness the sculpture, taking shape live on-site during the festival week. The towering hand is intended to be an interactive beacon, inviting audiences to step inside and be symbolically held within its grasp. In a spirit of true co-creation, members of the community will have the chance to help build parts of the artwork through a series of hands-on workshops, weaving their own stories and presence into the fabric of the final piece.

The selection of a relative newcomer to the medium of sculpture is a bold move that has been praised by the festival's organisers.

Andrea Francis, Festival Director Arts by the Sea, said: “Bob is exactly why we created the Associate Artist role. Their work speaks to the spirit of the local area – resourceful, grounded and imaginative. To go from picking up willow six months ago to shaping one of the festival’s centrepieces is a story of sheer potential. We’re thrilled to provide this platform for emerging, place-based talent. It’s thanks to the support and funding from BCP Council that we can make events like this possible – showcasing the Council’s commitment to vibrant, inclusive culture for all.”

The project draws on Brewer's background in environmental work and his passion for rural crafts and Dorset's rich weaving heritage. Details of the hand will be dyed in yellow, a colour chosen to symbolise illumination and creativity.

Cllr Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Customer and Communication at BCP Council, said:: “Arts by the Sea continues to be a beacon of creativity and community spirit across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Bob’s journey into sculpture – and this evocative, participatory installation – beautifully embodies our festival’s theme ‘We Are Here’. It is about belonging, visibility and collective expression. His work reminds us that art is for everyone, and it is by working together that we build a stronger, more inclusive cultural landscape for all.”

The full design and final title of the artwork will be revealed in the coming months.

Arts by the Sea, one of the UK's leading free arts festivals, will run from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September 2025, animating Bournemouth’s stunning coastal setting with a world-class programme of installations, performances, and community events.