Spring Bank Art

From 2018-2020 Artlink Hull worked with communities on and around Hull’s Spring Bank - one of the city’s most diverse high streets. This series of participatory visual art projects involved with local residents to develop the streetscape and celebrate the area and its communities.

PILOT PROJECT
In Autumn 2018, Artlink carried out a series of community consultations with residents and business owners around Spring Bank about what they felt about the community, if they would like an art project to happen in the area, and what changes they would like to see.

Artists, Sharon Darley (Shaz) and David Okwesia, accompanied by Artlink creative producer Magda Moses, spent 3-months talking to over 700 people and collecting ideas.

97% of the people we spoke to were very positive regarding a visual art project to enhance to look of their area. 47% said they would like to see more colour and coloured lights. Moreover, members of the Spring Bank community talked about their strong sense of togetherness and identity, which we aim to represent and support through the development of through the project.

TRUE COLOURS OF SPRING BANK
Artist: Shaz Darley

In June 2019, based on a concept by artist Sharon Darley, Hull residents voted for a series of colours to create a palette for Spring Bank. Hundreds of people took part in selecting the colours and in July 2019 the palette was announced.

The selections have been used in a series of art projects in the area. This aspect of the project aims to develop a local aesthetic and be a unique expression of the community.

In tandem, Sharon was also working with local residents to develop a community design team. The design group have worked with landlords in the area to pick out some buildings to repaint using colours from the palette, which we hope will be the start of the colours being used in all sorts of different ways in the area.

The True Colours of Spring Bank palette officially launched on 16 August 2019, with first building being completed.

"It's really uplifting to walk around Spring Bank and see all of the great outcomes of this project, with brightly-painted buildings and specially commissioned murals that complement and celebrate the diversity of the area.

"The artists and community have co-created much of the artwork, and as people enjoy it what is also important to acknowledge are the connections made in the community that lead to a growing sense of shared identity and space."

Funded by: Back to Ours, Hull City Council, Arts Council England,  Hull Community Safety Partnership and Places for People

In kind Support: Crown Paints, Trident

Supplier supporters: Hird, CMC Decorators

Spring Bank Mural
Artist: Skeg

Over the summer of 2019, Hull-based artist, Skeg, developed a mural design collaboratively with members of Spring Bank Community Centre and the Hull Mosque and Islamic Centre on Barkley Street. Using the colours from the palette developed by the community, it was painted on the gable end of George’s Bargain Centre.

Spring Bank Micro-Commissions
Artists: Katy Cobb, Gail Hurst, and Louis Dorton

A call was put out for three local artists to produce works for Spring Bank. Katy Cobb, Gail Hurst, and Louis Dorton were chosen by the residents and shop owners to work in the area and bring more colour to the street. Currently two of the three micro-commissions have been completed.

Katy Cobb, a muralist and artist, created a painting called ‘Flowers and Birds of Spring Bank’.

Her idea represents the multicultural community living and working on Spring Bank by incorporating the most popular or symbolic birds and flowers from England, Poland, Kurdistan, India, Iraq, etc. and the colours selected by the residents.

Before commencing the work, the artist consulted members of the community. The mural was completed on 18th September and is located on Collingwood Street opposite the gates to Collingwood Primary School.

Artist, Gail Hurst, created a colourful triptych called People’s Meadow that calls on the multi-linguistics of the area.

She worked with years 5 and 6 from Collingwood Primary School back in March to further develop her ideas on word associations within the community.

Children voted for the most popular word, which was LOVE. From there, Gail translated LOVE into 24 of the most-spoken languages in the Spring Bank area and incorporated them in 2D carved boards representing a dancing meadow of different flowers living together in harmony. The works were installed on 28th September on the wall of Kwik Fit in Hull.

We would love to hear your opinion on the work we have done. Please spare 5 minutes and complete the survey found here. We appreciate your feedback which assists us in future project planning.

SPRING BANK LIGHTS
Artist: Shaz Darley

In December 2020, a series of lights were installed down Spring Bank from Ferensway to Princes Avenue. The project was led by artist Shaz Darley who worked with Applelec to fabricate the fourteen six-foot-long lights that are installed down the thoroughfare by KWL Hull. Attached to the street lamps, they are an array of colours corresponding to the True Colours Palette.