A massive art mural created by local school children and residents has been unveiled in St Ann’s. The artwork, commissioned by Nottingham City Homes, surrounds a site earmarked for new social housing and runs along the busy Woodborough Road and St Ann’s Way.
It was designed by children at Huntingdon Primary School and residents at High Cross Leys Housing scheme.
Their designs were then brought to life by talented Nottingham based artist Nathan Bainbridge aka Small Kid. Speaking about the mural, Small Kid said: “It has been a pleasure to have worked on the painting the hoardings for Nottingham City Homes, taking the kids drawings and painting them massive. This has brought a splash of colour to the area and has received a positive response from people in the area.”
The mural has been put on hoarding boards surrounding a new social housing development. Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes are working together to create 24 new energy-efficient and affordable rent council homes in St Ann’s.
The project came about after the previous plain hoardings were targeted by vandals and NCH, the Council and Local ward councillors from St Ann’s came up with the idea of the colourful artwork in the hopes that the hoardings would be left alone.
The artwork was unveiled with NCH, school children and artist Small Kid at an event last week. Speaking at the event, Head Teacher at Huntingdon Primary, Ross Middleton, said: ‘We have been delighted that our pupils have been able to contribute to this worthwhile project as the development of our local community means a great deal to all at Huntingdon Academy.’
Nick Murphy, Chief Executive at Nottingham City Homes, commented: “We had a problem with ugly graffiti vandalising the previous hoardings. Rather than continually going back to whitewash over the graffiti, we have replaced it with this lively new mural providing a colourful addition to the St Ann’s area. It was important to us to have local children and nearby residents involved in designing the artwork and they have done a fantastic job.”
Cllr Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage at Nottingham City Council, said: “This artwork has added a real pop of colour to our new development in St Ann’s. Feedback from local residents has already been positive and we hope that the local community will enjoy the artwork, which is one of the biggest of its kind in the city.”
