A public consultation will be launched in Elgin today, with the community being urged to come up with some radical designs to put their town on the map.
Moray Council will hold the public design charrette, and locals are being asked to put forward their ideas for the future of Elgin town centre.
The consultation includes design workshops – which will be held at St Giles Church until Thursday – and is being held as part of the Scottish Government’s town centre action plan.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead wants people to “think big” so that Elgin could one day have an attraction akin to Falkirk’s popular Kelpie sculptures.
He said: “My view is that Elgin and Moray should think big and that we need to be ambitious.
“Imagine what it would do for our image, pride, and economy if we had our own version of The Kelpies – something spectacular that people from all over will want to visit and see for themselves.
“The launch of the charrette is a fantastic opportunity for local people to play a role in determining how the centre of Elgin will look in the future.”
Encouraged by the MSP’s idea, Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter suggested a design to celebrate the region’s whisky produce.
He said: “How about a giant whisky still with a ‘whisky experience’ inside it?
“Or with our extensive new cycle network, we could make more of that with a statue of someone cycling.
“Large scale public art is a huge attraction in many places – from the Eiffel Tower to the Statue of Liberty to The Kelpies at Falkirk.
“Other places have got the investment and attract visitors as a result, so why not Elgin?”
Elgin City North councillor Patsy Gowans wants the town to take inspiration from European cities, and suggested a range of seasonal designs.
She said: “Easter is coming and we could use that as a theme.
“We could build a giant egg on the plainstanes over a weekend, and include notions of spring: bulbs, plants, music, art and food.
“This kind of seasonal theme is normal in other European countries, it’s great fun and good for business, community and tourism.”