Nature-inspired bench art revealed ahead of Front Street celebration event

Art of Protest has installed the first phase of new artwork in Acomb ahead of the mural reveal and celebration event later this month.

Each of the 8 wooden benches have been transformed with a unique design to reflect links to nature. Each bench is painted with a leaf design from the local woodland.

This follows an extensive programme of engagement events and workshops where Art of Protest gathered the views and ideas of the local community and gained an understanding of what people would like to see.

Alongside the benches, Art of Protest is also working on a new mural which aims to capture the spirit and sense of community in Acomb. This final piece of artwork is set to be unveiled at the celebration event later this month.

The event will take place on Front Street on Saturday 22 March from 4pm, with a chance to see the new mural, meet the artists and join in with some creative spray paint activities. The event will continue from 6pm at Rise Bluebird Bakery café, where there will be a DJ set and community art exhibition.

This art project is part of the wider scheme to improve Front Street and create a more accessible, vibrant, people-friendly space. The council received £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to deliver these phase 2 improvements, which include new seating and planters, improved Blue Badge parking, wide and level pedestrian crossings, wayfinding signs and upgraded public toilets.

Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member with responsibility for Finance and Major Projects, said:

“This is an incredibly exciting part of the project and it is great to see even more improvements take shape on Front Street. This scheme is funded through the government’s UK shared prosperity fund and is helping to create a more accessible and attractive space for people to live, work, shop or visit.

“The newly painted benches are a very welcome addition and do a fantastic job of brightening up the area. The designs for both the artwork and wider phase 2 improvements are based on significant engagement with the local community, so it will be great to be able to celebrate the progress with local people this weekend.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished mural and would encourage those who live or spend time in Acomb to come along and get involved.”

Jeff Clark, Creative Director at Art of Protest said:

“It was great to see the evolution of the project, taking the community on the journey and developing local talent through the Street Art Academy and a local artist.

“The feedback was inspirational and there is so much love and pride in the community.

“We are celebrating the return of local trees and a wonderful idea of each bench having a local leaf emblem, so visitors to the area can say ‘see you at the oak bench’

“Each bench also has a carved out leaf emblem so they are accessible and engaging. The return of the oaks is then incorporated into the mural design. 

“We are so grateful to the local community, the support and great ideas. Please come and celebrate as this is your hard work”

Find more information about the Front Street improvement scheme at: https://www.york.gov.uk/AcombFrontStreet