LIBRARY campaigners fear a North Oxford sculpture garden could be mounting its last Artweeks exhibition, if the branch closes as a result of county council cuts.

The Turrill Sculpture Garden, which is in the grounds of Summertown Library, in South Parade, has faced an uncertain future since County Hall announced it would stop funding 20 libraries to save £2m a year on its budget.

A new consultation on detailed plans for the library service is to be published later this month, following widespread outcry over the proposals.

But members of the Friends of the Turrill Sculpture Garden, which was set up in 1998 to raise funds to build the garden, have warned the annual exhibition, launched this week, could be its last.

Sculpture co-ordinator Katherine Shock said: “Recently the council has promised to consult further, but we still have no commitment whatsoever that the site will be available after the end of this year.

“Closing the library would mean the end of Turrill too, which would be a severe blow to sculptors in Oxford, and a loss for future Artweeks as well as all the other shows we put on throughout the year.”

The garden was created 11 years ago, and has become a popular North Oxford beauty spot.

It is also used as a plant reference garden, with labelled plants offering gardeners inspiration.

Mrs Shock said: “A lot of people now use the garden, either to take their children there to read to them or to have a picnic.

“The Turrill Sculpture Garden is run entirely by volunteers and its operations receive no public subsidy.

“The county council is urging communities to do more through volunteers, but its cuts are threatening a volunteer-led activity which is important to Oxford.”

The group is supporting the Friends of Summertown Library’s attempts to keep the library free to the public and run by professional librarians.

More than 500 free exhibitions and events are happening across Oxfordshire as part of Artweeks from this Saturday to Monday, May 30.

For three weeks, studios will be open in towns and villages across the county as part of the event, founded in 1981.

The first week is focused in the south of the county, with exhibitions along the Thames from Faringdon to Henley, and the Ridgeway from Wantage to Thame.

The second week will focus on North Oxfordshire, with venues in Burford, Chipping Norton, Bicester and Banbury.

The final week will be centred on Oxford, with nearly 200 exhibition spaces opening their doors to the public.

Highlights include a letterpress printing tour, tours of the Said Business School contemporary art collection and a festival of illustration at Blackwell’s Bookshop in Broad Street, Oxford.

  • For more information visit artweeks.org or call 01865 865596