A major sculpture festival is launched across the county this month, bringing famous names and specially commissioned artworks to galleries and city centres.

Two major sculptures by Damien Hirst will take centre stage in the UK's biggest sculpture festival when it kicks off across Yorkshire this month.

Six metre tall Hymn (1999-2005) will be a breathtaking addition when it is installed on the city centre's Briggate. And the stunning marble Anatomy of an Angel (2008) will be on display in the Victoria Quarter. Both pieces by the Turner Prize-winning artist, who grew up in Leeds, will go on show for three months as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International, a free, 100-day festival which runs until the end of September.

The festival builds on Yorkshire's rich history as the birthplace of pioneering sculptors, including Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and will also include exhibitions at galleries including the Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Andrew Cooper, the chief executive of Leeds Business Improvement District, said: 'It is great for the city to be presenting a number of major sculptures by Damien Hirst who not only grew up in Leeds but also studied at Jacob Kramer College, now known as Leeds Arts University. We are hugely excited not only to be involved in bringing these pieces to Leeds but bringing art out into public spaces, making it more accessible while animating the city centre.'

And Jo Coburn, general manager of Victoria Leeds, added: 'Damien Hirst is admired across the world for his thought-provoking sculptures, to have him back in his home town is incredibly exciting. We're delighted he has chosen to display the iconic 'Anatomy of an Angel' at Victoria Leeds. It's set to be one of our most eagerly anticipated attractions that will draw in shoppers from around the city and beyond.'

The festival programme will feature specially commissioned pieces by 15 international artists from 12 different countries including a new commission by Rashid Johnson at the Henry Moore Institute, and rarely-seen sculptures by preeminent abstract expressionist sculptor David Smith at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The Hepworth Wakefield will present a series of large-scale installations including new work by Wolfgang Laib and Tau Lewis' first exhibition in the UK while Leeds Art Gallery will present ambitious new work by artists including Nobuko Tsuchiya. 

For more details, go online to yorkshire-sculpture.org.