THE conservation of Poole Quay's Sea Music sculpture was celebrated by artists and civic dignitaries at the weekend.

Created by world-renowned sculptor Sir Anthony Caro, the artwork has recently been renovated thanks to a £195,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant and an Arts Council award of more than £40,000.

Poole Museum is running a series of exhibitions relating to the sculpture, and as part of Saturday (MAY 13) evening's ceremony the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's music ensemble, Kokoro, performed a new composition to mark the occasion at the Guildhall.

Speeches were also made by the entrepreneur Lord Palumbo, Heritage Lottery Fund South West Committee chairman Stephen Boyce and deputy Poole mayor Cllr Ann Stribley.

Cllr Stribley told the Echo: "It was a celebration of the conservation of Sea Music and the fact that we have, I believe one of the largest free-standing public works of art in the world by Caro, which was made for Poole and cost Poole nothing.

"It was a lovely event, the museum was packed. I was mayor of Poole in 1991 at the instigation of the project, and also chairman of the planning committee at that time so it was special to be involved."

Borough of Poole museum and arts manager Michael Spender said: "I would like to thank the very many people in Poole for coming together to support this conservation process and participate in the arts and activity programme."

The conservation project, officially launched in November at a ceremony attended by Antony Caro's son, Paul Caro, included repainting the sculpture its original colour.

The artwork's viewing platform has also been painted silver, as per the request of the artist before his death in 2013.

Poole Museum will be holding a 100 views of Sea Music exhibition, by the artist David Ward, in October. David worked with members of the local photography group, Happy Snappers, on the exhibition.

The museum has also been home to artist in residence Jonathan Parsons for a month. He will be developing new works throughout the summer period inspired by Sea Music.