AN ARTIST demanding fairer share of funding in Southend has filled a container with actual bull**** - and placed it on Southend’s cliff...

Prominent Southend artist John Bulley, 63, was responding to a previous £20,000 perspex art installation in the town to make his funding point.

Mr Bulley told the Echo that his mockery of the original container is because “nobody knew it was there”.

He added: “They spent money and time on it and nobody could see the benefit.

“It had to be removed because we kept putting flags around it which showed our displeasure about it.”

He said his mocking homage is full of bull poo to reference the artistic priorities in the town.

He added: “We thought it was funny.

“We estimate that the container must have cost about £20,000. Ours cost £7.35.

“My friend, Mark, told me to stop moaning and do something about it. So I did.”

The painter told how money into the art and culture has just disappeared.

He continued: “The Southend art scene is brilliant, but it needs money to boost it.

“It wouldn’t take a lot of money to be invested.

“Musicians and artists would love to create a central hub to get people involved.

“Money isn’t being used to support our artists.

“The council makes enough money to spread it to the artists which make up Southend.”

John has now called on Southend Council to spread the funding out from larger organisations, such as Metal, to the smaller groups and individuals.

He said: “Village Green is one event a year that the council pour money into, but it makes so much money.

“Can that not be spread out to everyone else? They can use that money to support other artists.

“Village Green is one day a year that everybody knows about. The rest of the year the funding is wasted. The council has poured millions into that. It needs to be shared around.”

Southend Council and Metal were contacted for a comment about funding decisions in the town and how money is shared and spent in the town and whether the container will be removed.