THE artists have arrived, the stone has been allocated and the hard work has begun for the 2010 Southern Downs Sculpture Symposium.

The sculptors Paul Stumkat, Emil Adamec, Eduardo Wxemburg and Luke Zwolesman gathered at Leslie Park on Saturday and began preparing the sandstone.

The masterpieces they create will be placed around the district.

Mr Stumkat, from Killarney, is working on a sculpture of the endangered Fleay’s Barred Frog which will be placed in Goomburra National Park.

“It is one of the very few habitats where the frog still exists and it should help bring some awareness,” Mr Stumkat said.

Mr Zwolesman, from Southport, visited Killarney’s Brown Falls on Saturday, where his sculpture will be placed.

He meets with the Killarney Lions Club, which will take possession of his artwork, tonight before creating a sculpture to represent the area.

Mr Waxemburg has already drafted a design for Freestone.

Rose City residents have the opportunity to view the evolution of the masterpieces, step by step, at Leslie Park for the next two weeks.