Focus on Malt Shovel (sculpture) and discuss the History and description.
The sculpture was commissioned by East Staffordshire Borough Council (ESBC) to stand in Burton upon Trent.  A brief was advertised nationally in April 1998 and the local authority received 70 responses, from which a shortlist of eight were selected to provide detailed proposals.  The sculptor Andrew Hazell was selected to produce the sculpture.  It is intended to represent a shovel used to turn grain during malting, part of the brewing process that dominated the town's industry.  The shovel is rendered in stainless steel, which is often used in the modern brewing process, and stands 9 metres (30 ft) high.  A 2.75-metre (9.0 ft) opening, shaped like a beer bottle, is cut into the blade of the shovel which allows people to walk through the sculpture.  The sculpture cost £45,000 and was funded by a National Lottery grant.  It was installed at the junction of High Street and New Street on 14 October 2001.
Burton upon Trent malting East Staffordshire Borough Council Andrew Hazell stainless steel National Lottery East Staffordshire