Newington (artist in residence)

The Creative Newington Project, is part of the wider Creative Civic Change programme which explores how creativity can generate a greater sense of pride in the community making the community feel proud of where they live. This is about creating a project to improve the area that was accessible to everyone and delivered over a period of three years. 

The Newington Benches

 

Community Mosaics fixed to existing concrete benches

This initiative is part of the Creative Newington project, which explores how creativity can generate a greater sense of pride in the community making the community feel proud of where they live. The community centre in Newington is quite drab: there’s a lot of concrete and not a whole lot of colour or creativity. This is about creating a project to improve the area that was accessible to everyone. Since July 2019, more than 80 residents on the estate created a series of mosaics transform an uninspired communal space outside a community centre. People were asked to choose a theme for the mosaics to celebrate an aspect of the community and from the outset, even before Covid 19, they chose the emergency services. Since the crisis this choice is more poignant.

The second theme residents chose was a celebration of nature – again something people have appreciated so much more since the Covid 19 crisis took hold.

The benches have been featured by Isle of Thanet News.

 

                  Commissioned by Starlings Support CIC, funded by Creative Civic Change and                        The Local Trust 2020. 

 

Alley Animals,

acrylic on plywood.

‘Alley Animals’ were designed and painted by the residents of Newington in Ramsgate. They form one element of the Creative Newington programme, where green spaces are reclaimed, used and maintained by local people.

Alley Animals were created from a series of drop in family painting workshops which were appropriate for all ages and abilities. The aim is to start the arts forming a part of everyone’s life.