A Wing and a Prayer

Public Art Installation

A Wing and a Prayer is an environmental art project inviting all of us to explore our connection with landscape, heritage and each other. For the last 5 years, Arabella Marshall, the artist, has been working towards the fabrication and installation of a large, colourful contemporary glass “window” into the ancient ruined chapel standing in the grasslands of the RSPB Minsmere reserve in, Suffolk.

This short film shows the finished piece, installed in October 2020 - a moment of true light and joy, in a truly challenging year for humanity.

The Brief

After a chance meeting, I worked in collaboration with artist Arabella Marshall from August 2018, till the installation of her artwork. I was able to add my strategic fundraising skills and those of a colleague, to Arabella's considerable artistic and project management skills. RSPB Minsmere, Historic England and others supported the work in principle but due sensitivity and permissions were required. As a team we provided support, fundraising and project advisory input: finding the best routes to funding for each of the stages; the design, creation and installation of this ambitious public artwork and, the community engagement planned for the next two years, post installation.