Sculpture unveiled in Reading to highlight knife crime

An armoured heart sculpture has been unveiled in Reading town centre, created by the efforts of young people who have been involved in a project focusing on tackling knife crime and violence in the town.

The Armoured Heart sculpture is now installed outside the east entrance of The Oracle shopping centre, standing as a physical symbol for peace and hope as it is in part created from blades handed in to knife amnesty bins across Reading and the rest of the Thames Valley.

It was created by local artist Stuart Melrose, who has worked on the Amnesty Art project alongside members of the Young Voices project run by Reading’s Starting Point mentoring service. This has involved young people shaping the design of the sculpture and learning through developing a new programme to educate on the risks and consequences of violence and knives.

Representing the strength of Reading’s communities and the potential of young people growing up in the town, the 2m tall structure is in the shape of heart, made up of multiple precision-cut stainless steel diamonds to depict armour plating. At the top a swirling steel finial shape has been made from weapons recovered by Thames Valley Police and then melted down and repurposed into an inspirational art form.

With the artwork created to inspire young people to make positive choices around knives, there is also an interactive digital layer that can be viewed through a mobile phone using augmented reality technology.

The sculpture has been funded through grants received from GWR’s Community Fund, the British Airways community fund, the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit and community donations. It was commissioned through a partnership project including Reading Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, The Oracle shopping centre, the University of Reading, Berkshire Community Foundation, the Hampshire Community Rail Partnership and Reading & Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership, amongst others.

Councillor Karen Rowland, Lead Member for Environmental Services & Community Safety at Reading Borough Council, said:

“The unveiling of this incredible, evocative sculpture has created a physical symbol of peace and hope that everyone can take inspiration from.

“The sculpture celebrates the opportunity of the positive choices that our young people can make to grow up safe in Reading’s communities.

“The production of this sculpture is proudly “Made in Reading”, the culmination of our local young people alongside Reading’s own Stuart Melrose, to create a thought-provoking manifestation of our message. The upcoming educational programme to follow will remind us all that within Reading we have the power to work together to move away from knife crime and violence."

Artist Stuart Melrose said:

“It has been a fascinating project to work on, drawing upon what the partners felt represented their hopes for Reading and those growing up here, but also as a symbol of the resilience in the community and its strength.

“The young people I worked with are overcoming all the challenges they face growing up today, but their enthusiasm and vision has shaped both the sculpture but also a wider brand which will help the education project have a lasting impact.”

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