AN artist has been commissioned to help an innovative business centre create a splash when it launches in the new year.

Hambleton District Council has secured £19,000 of Arts Council England funding to launch its public art policy at the Springboard centre, in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

And 30-year-old Kathryn Hodgkinson from Newcastle beat off tough competition from other local artists to win the work.

A graduate of Sunderland University, Ms Hodgkinson specialises in cast glass art.

Her work can already be seen at the Durham Millennium Hall, Bishop Auckland Hospital and at the Northern Rock Foundation, in Newcastle.

The £2.35m Springboard Business Centre will be home to new and fledgling businesses.

Working from incubator units, they will have the benefit of the latest in sustainable and energy efficiency features. Water is re-used, sound-proofing has been installed and the interior heat will be controlled by maximising the use of natural sunlight.

"This building makes a very bold and dynamic statement and we want the artwork to reflect that," said arts development officer Kate Staines.

Ms Hodgkinson is now working on design proposals for the work which will be submitted to the panel in the new year. The finished piece is likely to be launched at Easter.

Published: 02/12/2004