Newquay monolith sculptures to celebrate town’s past and future

Tuesday, 24 June 2025 17:43

Robin Sullivan and The Newquay Monoliths (work in progress) © Ingrid Pop. Courtesy ALMA Artspace

Three new public sculptures inspired by ancient Neolithic stones are set to go on permanent display in Newquay.

The Newquay Monoliths, the pieces have been created by Looe artist Robin Sullivan, in collaboration with the local community, and will be installed at three locations across the town.

The sculptures will link Newquay’s history and future – with sites ranging from the Bronze Age Barrowfields, the town’s oldest known settlement, to Newquay Orchard and finally Nansledan. Together, the Monoliths are designed to become new points of communal focus, celebrating Newquay’s heritage, landscape, and people.

The first sculpture will be installed at the Barrowfields in July, with the remaining two following later in the summer. The project will be officially unveiled on Sunday 7 September 2025, during ALMA Field Day - a seasonal celebration of local art, music and creativity, taking place at the Barrowfields.

Working with community arts organisation ALMA Artspace, the project has involved more than 300 casts made by local people. Residents were invited to select and cast parts of the town that held personal meaning to them. These elements have been embedded into the sculptures, forming a textured patchwork of stone, flora, and even waste materials found across Newquay.

Sullivan said: “The project has been amazing, it’s so lovely to get to know the communities of Newquay and discover the places that hold significance to individuals. Everyone has given so much of themselves - it’s been a real honour to help bring these differing perspectives together within the three sculptures.”

Lucy Ward and Ingrid Pop from ALMA Artspace added: “Being a part of The Newquay Monoliths project has been a wonderful experience. It brings together so many things we care deeply about - art, creativity and nature within our community. We hope that these sculptures, made by and for the people who live here, will become symbols of the amazing spirit of this place.”

The project has been funded through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, managed by Cornwall Council and supported by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.