Two Derby city centre streets will become ‘star studded’ next month (May 12), in a project funded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
Derby will unveil ten names for its ‘walk of fame’, honouring inspirational people who were either born in the city or who have strong connections to it.
The ‘Made in Derby’ project will see eight star plaques honouring ten people – two of the stars will jointly honour two individuals, because of the collaborative nature of their work –embedded into Exchange Street and Albion Street. Each plaque will have a feature allowing smartphone users to access more information about the individuals and their achievements.
Names will be unveiled at 11.45am on Saturday May 12 in a civic ceremony; following free street entertainment by comics, stilt-walkers, slack rope walkers and comedy ‘celebrity’ photographers the Snap Happy Paparazzi. Civic speakers will be at the Derby Ram statue, at the junction of Albion Street and Exchange Street, for 11.45am; with the plaques then unveiled in sequence, from Exchange Street towards Albion Street.
Made in Derby is a joint project by Derby City Council, the Derby Telegraph and local business leaders.
The £70,000 project is part of a wider £1.9million Derby city centre improvement project, receiving £1.65m from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services providers which promotes economic growth, jobs and business start-ups in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The £1.65m it is investing in the Derby project comes from its Local Growth Fund allocation; Government funding allowing the LEP to jointly invest in infrastructure projects which directly boost its area’s economy.
Last November (2017), the public was invited to nominate names to go on the plaques. Numerous recommendations were made, in many different fields, ranging from unsung heroes to some of the most famous names in Derby’s history.
The final ten selected represent people from the worlds of business, the visual and performing arts, sports, politics, peace campaigning, and innovation and industry.
Artist Tim Clapcott is producing and installing the plaques. He has created other Derby city centre artworks, including the Friar Gate Heads on Friar Gate and the Talking Heads at Speaker’s Corner.
As part of its business strategy for the area, D2N2 promotes eight key commercial sectors; ones where its area already has or could develop a competitive advantage over other regions. One of the eight key sectors is the Visitor Economy (and tourism), and the Made in Derby project is seen as adding to the city’s visitor attractions. Further information can be found at web link www.d2n2lep.org/key-sectors/visitor-economy
For further information about the Made in Derby project contact Derby City Council Press Office on 01332 643500 or email: press.office@derby.gov.uk
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