THE Man Engine made a two week, 130 mile pilgrimage through Cornwall and into West Devon last summer

CSM calls for public to vote for Man Engine awards bid

The Camborne School of Mines is giving its support to a high-profile award bid that will resurrect a unique mechanical puppet, designed to celebrate Cornwall’s prestigious mining heritage.

The Man Engine project is a 10m tall working sculpture that last year ‘walked” the length of Cornwall and beyond to mark the 10^th anniversary of Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape being added as a World Heritage Site.

Now, the imposing puppet is one of seven projects shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards, in the Best Arts Project category.

Winners of each category under the awards, who each receive £5000 and a trophy, are decided by a public vote, which runs from June 29-July 27 2017.

THE Man Engine made a two week, 130 mile pilgrimage through Cornwall and into West Devon last summer. As part of the project, , representatives from the Camborne School of Mines ran a series of schools and public activities. The project also received support and sponsorship from the CSM Trust.

Professor Frances Wall, from CSM, is asking everyone to lend their support and vote for the Man Engine.

Professor Wall said: “The Man Engine project is a fantastic way in which we can all celebrate Cornwall’s rich and longstanding mining heritage. It also reminds us how important mining still is, raw materials are needed for just about everything do.

“It would be wonderful for the project to win the award category, not just for profile-raising but also to see whether the funds could encourage the Man Engine to come out touring again.”

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. From more than 1300 entrants the Man Engine has made the last seven in the Best Arts Project category.

Will Coleman, Director of Golden Tree Productions said

“When he steamed through the Cornish Mining Landscape, our colossal mechanical tin miner unearthed a deep-rooted vein of pride and resilience running the length of the land. Nearly one-in-three of the entire population of Cornwall came together to celebrate our mining heritage.”

The winners will be announced in August. Representatives of all the winning projects will be invited to attend a BBC Awards ceremony and will have their work showcased on
national television in September.

“It will be wonderful if everyone continues to support the Man Engine by voting for him as the UK’s Best Arts project in the National Lottery Awards,” said Will, “It would be a massive help in our efforts to get the Man Engine back on the road and touring the UK in 2018. ”

To vote for the Man Engine please click here.

Date: 29 June 2017