Brian Epstein statue appeal launched in Liverpool

A Crowdfunder campaign has been launched to create the first ever statue of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.

The five-week online fundraiser – revealed on what would have been Epstein’s 85th birthday today – hopes to raise at least £60,000 towards the project.

A series of ‘rewards’ on offer for donors range from a hall of fame entry for £5 to a one-off work, titled The Vision, which is for anyone who donates £23,000 or more and includes the original maquettes for the Beatles statue on the Pier Head along with an 18 inch coldcast bronze resin figure of the ‘Fifth Beatle’.

A donation of £15 or more will enable someone to add their own little bit of clay to sculptor Andy Edwards’ full-size work, leading it to be created – in the words of project leader Tom Calderbank – “by the people, for the people”.

Calderbank, part of The Brian Epstein Statue Project committee, said: “It’s not Andy making Brian, it’s all of us. It’s a collective. It’s important to be done by the crowd.”

He added: “There are more than 70 statues of the Beatles around the world, but there isn’t a statue of Brian Epstein at all. This is history in the making. Brian entertained the world in the most powerful sustaining way, and his impact shows no sign of abating.”

If the target is reached, or exceeded, over the next five weeks, Edwards (pictured above) - who also designed the Beatles statue on the waterfront along with The Truce at St Luke's Church - will create the new work in the city at the start of 2020.

The 7ft statue will be cast at Castle Fine Arts Foundry in the Baltic Quarter.

The final location for the work is yet to be decided, and along with helping raise the funds for the permanent memorial, people are also being invited to suggest a site for it.

To make a donation to the state appeal visit the Crowdfunder page HERE.