A MOSAIC mermaid celebrating the culture of Harwich has been created as a permanent piece of art for the town.

Artist Ann Schwegmann-Fielding has painstakingly fixed together small pieces of broken glass and pottery on an old boat as the centre-piece of visual art at this year’s Harwich Festival.

The mosaic shows Esturiana, the goddess of Harwich, creativity and the estuaries.

It was unveiled at the launch of the ten-day festival on Thursday at Old Bank Studios in King’s Quay Street.

Michael Offord, spokesman for the festival, said the mosaic is to celebrate the community and public art of recent Harwich Festivals and the tenth anniversary of the Essex Summer of Art and Essex Network of Artists’ Studios.

It was commissioned by the Harwich Festival, in partnership with old Bank Studios, with funding from Arts Council England.

The old boat is adorned with items including broken plates, sea glass and glass tiles donated by local people.

Esturiana is holding a plaque with the message ‘You are just a drop in the ocean but the ocean is made of thousands of drops’.

Mr Offord said: “Esturiana is a fantastic piece of art, truly unique to Harwich and a great way to mark the 10th anniversary of the Essex Summer of Art. I am so excited to see the public’s reaction.

“Thanks to Anne for all of her hard work and creativity and to the Old Bank Studios who were instrumental in helping to deliver this wonderful project.

“Special thanks go to the people of Harwich who have contributed to this project in particular.”

To see Esturiana visit the Old Bank Studios throughout the festival until July 1. It’s then hoped Esturiana will go on permanent public display.

Festival organisers are now calling on residents to join in a public dance display at the Ha’Penny Pier tomorrow, Sunday, at 2pm and 3.30pm.

Called Time Machine Disco, the event will see Dr Spin take spectators and dancers through a clubbing journey across the ages.