Town centre to become 'a destination of creativity' as mural gets the green light

By Claire Dukes - 4 June 2019

CommunityArts and Culture
  • Rachael Youd, inSwindon BID, Martin Travers, Peter Cowdy, Sally Taylor

    Rachael Youd, inSwindon BID, Martin Travers, Peter Cowdy, Sally Taylor

After months of discussions Swindon's town centre will be getting a make-over in the form of a brand-new mural.

As part of collaborative scheme to liven up the town centre, inSwindon BID have today confirmed they will be commissioning two Swindon-born artists to paint a mural in the heart of Swindon.

The mural, which is to be painted on the panels surrounding Aspen House opposite The Savoy, is the brain child of inSwindon BID, arts charity Artsite and SCAN (Swindon Climate Action Network). The organisations have been working together as part of the 'Keep Swindon Town Centre Clean and Tidy’ campaign and last year devised a creative project to promote new energy and positive collaboration in the town centre.

The theme for the public artwork has been entitled 'My Town, My World' and will be on display at the end of June. The artists selected have been confirmed as Martin Travers, - an international artist from Swindon currently living in the Netherlands - and Peter Cowdy - a local muralist who will be mentored by Travers. 

Artsite Trustee Sally Taylor, who will be heading the project, said: "The town was renowned in the 70’s and 80’s for the arts and especially the murals of Ken White. I see the collaboration of Artsite, SCAN, the inSwindon BID Working Group, and the community as a great and positive way of making our town centre a more vibrant destination.

"My hope is that this project will initiate more murals and art projects around Swindon, providing opportunities for local artists to work with communities to get creative.

"There is a wealth of talent in the art scene in the town which needs to be developed and promoted, so that graduates don’t just look to Bristol as a place to live.”

Bristol, which is famous for its street art, - most notably by English artist Banksy - recently unveiled a 15m high mural of Swedish climate activist Great Thunberg to highlight the fight against climate change. Although Swindon's mural won't quite be on the same scale, the organisations behind the project hope this will initiate the re-emergence of community arts and encourage sustainability in Swindon.

Rachael Youd, inSwindon BID Business Development Manager added: “This mural project has been in discussion for several months as the Aspen House hoarding is a great opportunity to showcase local creativity and artistic talent. 

"Working with the right artists is vital to ensure the perfect creative concept that would help bring the community project to life and we are delighted to have Martin and Peter on board.

"We all know the make-up of the town centre is changing and as a BID we’re conscious of what more we can be doing to encourage people to support their town and to shop local by creating new experiences. By having a Swindon born international artist, to paint a mural in a prominent part of the town centre, mentoring a local artist, is an opportunity for us to demonstrate Swindon’s talent and promote the town centre as the town centre as a destination of creativity.”

If you’d like more information on the mural, would like to make a contribution to the project, or know more on how to get involved, please contact Rachael Youd on 01793 485 523 or email [email protected].  

Read more about the project: www.swindonlink.com/8164/could-the-town-centre-be-getting-a-new-mural/

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