The man himself - Isambard Kingdom Brunel. © Institution of Civil Engineers.

Details of a series of art projects commissioned as part of celebrations to mark the bicentenary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel have been revealed.

From a sound installation to photographic projects and murals artists will work independently and with schools in Bristol – the city most synonymous with the great Victorian engineer – to celebrate Brunel’s life and achievements during 2006.

Andrew Kelly, director of Brunel 200, feels that the famous engineer would approve: "Brunel was an artist, designer and architect as well as an engineer," Andrew explained. "He was a patron of the arts."

Plans to celebrate Brunel’s bicentenary were revealed by the Bristol Cultural Development Partnership (BCDP) in late 2004. With the city of Bristol as its epicentre, Brunel 200 will see exhibitions, events and educational initiatives organised, not to mention parties thrown all over the country.

Among Brunel's many achievements, the Clifton Suspension Bridge is a standout work. © Destination Bristol.

A £2 million budget has been provided with support from Arts Council England South West, Bristol City Council and Business West. Other organisations providing funding include the Urban Cultural Programme and the Heritage Lottery Fund which has awarded a grant of £980,000.

The money will be spent on, amongst other things, creating major displays at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, the At-Bristol science centre and the ss Great Britain.

A massive education programme is also being designed with the aim of ensuring every school child in Bristol gets a chance to learn about Brunel.

The great man’s birthday weekend (April 8-9) will be marked by a procession and street party culminating in the switching on of a new lighting scheme at the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

A specially created graphic biography of Brunel has been produced for the occasion and will be distributed free of charge to readers aged 11 and upwards. Written by Eugene Byrne, illustrated by Simon Gurr.

A pot of £180,000 has also been set aside to fund and commission new artwork.

"We decided to launch a fund to challenge artists today to come up with new projects that celebrate his life and work," said Andrew Kelly. "We wanted original projects, that were of outstanding artistic quality, and that took the Brunel message to the widest range of people."

Over 70 proposals were put forward and 29 have now been selected. Among the projects given funding is photographer David White’s recreation of the camera used to snap the famous image of Brunel wearing a stovepipe hat in front of the Great Eastern’s launch chains. White is planning to use the camera to take 20 shots of how Brunel projects look now.

In another project artist Glen Eastman will work with 10 schools to create a soft sculpture of the famous chains, while the Hotwells’ Community Association will launch a competition to find a new use for that stovepipe hat.

Brunel's ss Great Britain has recently been relaunched following a massive redevelopment. © 24 Hour Museum.

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) fellow Luke Jerram is planning to recreate the sound of Brunel’s atmospheric train in a disused tunnel in Bristol. And continuing on the rail theme a mural of Brunel’s life and work will be created at Bristol Temple Meads.

"We were delighted with the projects put forward," added Simon Cook, chairman of Bristol Cultural Development Partnership.

"The spirit and vision of Brunel remains ever present in Bristol. I can’t wait to see these projects which are going to be part of a wonderful year for the city."

For more information visit the Brunel 200 website.