There are an increasing number of public art murals painted on, typically, gable end walls. Now work has started to establish an approved site list for public art in the areas of Beeston and Hunslet.
Do you own or manage a site/wall you think would be good for public art or do you think there is a location the Council should consider?
Cllr Paul Wray (Labour and Co-operative, Hunslet and Riverside) said
“Public art is one of the many levers we have in our tool kit to improve an area.
“Research and experience elsewhere is clear that access to more public art improves the wellbeing of local people and encourage economic activity, therefore having a downward pressure on antisocial behaviour, litter, fly tipping, and over quality-of-life issues which impact how people feel about where they live.”
Work will soon begin to scope out areas where the principal of approval for public art can be established in advance – ensuring that planning and highways consideration can be handled promptly and where possible, in advance, and initial resident and site owner approval confirmed.
The Council will then allow these spaces to be “promoted” to attract external interest from artists and funders or from local community groups with ideas for the use of these sites, knowing that the principle of use has already been given.
Cllr Paul Wray stressed that
“Consultation by the artists and final approval will still be needed on any given site should we develop this plan, but having a more managed approach will allow for a diversity of work to enrich our areas of Beeston and Hunslet, ensure quality, and preventing the sometime regrettable removal of ad-hoc artworks due to the lack of approval from planning, highways, and others agencies.”
Please email paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk with your ideas, which we will add to our initial site evaluation visits once arranged.
This post is based on a press release issued by Cllr Paul Wray
Photo: A gable end wall on the Garnets in Beeston due to become the site of a fine art mural via BasementArtsProject
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