THE hunt is on for the most normal person in Lincolnshire.

Zimbabwe-born artist Anthony Schrag is hoping to find out the answer when he embarks on a search to find the "most normal person in Lincolnshire".

The 35-year-old's investigation will form part of the Lincoln Art Programme's summer programme exploring The Trivia of Eccentric England, to run from May to October.

Mr Schrag said he had often been told by his grandmother to get a normal job, but thought exhibiting his art was the "most normal thing in the world".

He said: "I'm wanting to work with a community to do something together that speaks to our self-identity – what does it mean to be who we are? Who are we and how are we that person? And who are we as a community? What is Lincoln's 'normal'?

"The Lincoln Art Programme has approached me several times in the past to do a project with them, but I was always in another country or doing another project.

"When they approached me with this, I leapt at the chance to do something with such a fun topic and made sure I could do it."

But the artist, who grew up in Oman, England, Canada, Switzerland and Kuwait, said he was unsure what he will find in the county.

Mr Schrag, who has had work exhibited around the world, said: "Ironically, what I am hoping to find is that we can all accept we're a bit odd. Someone's eccentricity is another person's normal. It's a matter of perspective.

"And I think if we can accept that, we might have a better chance of being a better community – one that welcomes difference and diversity, in all its eccentricities and normality.

"Bird-watching might be something incredibly normal to one person, but seem like the strangest thing in the world to a teenager who plays World of Warcraft 16 hours a day – and vice versa.

"I also think that often people are put off by art's seriousness – it's always so staid.

"And if it's not, then it's a bit out of the ordinary and a bit wacky and many people believe it has no reference to themselves or their daily life – it's not 'normal'."

A competition to find the most normal person is expected to be run, once the details of Mr Schrag's summer project have been finalised.

Alan Armstrong, of the Lincoln Art Programme, said it was hoped four artists from outside the county, including Mr Schrag, would explore things sometimes taken for granted.

University of Lincoln graduate Mr Armstrong said: "The Trivia of Eccentric England is a six-month programme of artist events and they include live performances, talks and screenings that explore the eccentric nature of the country today.

"More specifically, it will be finding out about the eccentricities in Lincolnshire.

"When outside artists are looking at Lincoln Cathedral they are amazed – they look at it through new eyes."