Concrete Canvas: Reimagined
What’s it about?
This project is taking street art out of the city centre and into neighbourhoods across Chelmsford. Local communities will work together with local, regional and international artists to design and create lasting murals that tell local stories. Together, with a Colouring Book, Colouring Competition, Street Party and more, the project will get people talking about how art can make our city more exciting and unique. The long-term plan is to fill Chelmsford with more public art that everyone can enjoy and be part of.
“As an artist that has previously taken part in this immersive street art festival, I am very excited to be involved in bringing this event to life. It really helps to connect community to creativity and showcase local artistic talent whilst embellishing our city.”
Rebecca Carter Local Creative & ex-SPARK! Member
“Chelmsford For You is proud to collaborate with Spark! Together, we're creating a vibrant, inclusive city that celebrates arts, culture, and community. This partnership strengthens our shared commitment to enriching lives, boosting local engagement, and making Chelmsford a thriving, inspiring place for everyone to enjoy for years to come.“
Sara Tupper CEO Chelmsford For You
Helping local artists and young people to learn new skills and ways to turn their talents into jobs
Making our city welcoming, exciting, and full of culture for everyone
Creating public art that is better for the planet
Including Chelmsford’s many voices and cultures in art in public spaces
Helping people feel happier, safer, and more connected to their community
What does success look like?
Watch our reel…
Image credits: Culture Chelmsford, Candy Joyce, Apparan
Our journey so far…
Watch the reel of Chelmsford For You and SPARK! visiting LOOKUP Portsmouth as a research trip…
Image credits: LOOKUP Portsmouth, Chelmsford For You
“I popped along today to view the painting of the new mural which is part of the Concrete Canvas Art Project in South Woodham Ferrers. It was great to learn and practice how to create street art before painting part of the mural with Youth Worker and Street Artist, Scotty from Brave Arts. This mural will then become a legacy of the Concrete Canvas Art Project in South Woodham Ferrers, led by Spark!, The Young Cultural Change Makers of Chelmsford.”
Cllr Donna Eley South Woodham - Elmwood and Woodville Chelmsford City Council
Cllr Donna Eley spray painting at Saltcoats Park, South Woodham Ferrers. Image credit: Candy Joyce
See the STABILO Influencer post by Super Girl Sketches…
Image credit: STABILO Instagram Influencer @supergirlsketches
Watch Chelmsford For You’s Colouring Competition reel…
Image credits: Colouring Competition Participant, Chelmsford For You
“The best part of project managing Concrete Canvas is watching a blank wall turn into something meaningful. There’s a magic in connecting a community’s story with an artist’s vision, you never know where it will go, but the result is always striking. We captured some of that energy in a colouring book for the Kids Inspire Christmas appeal, turning our previous murals into the colouring book and a community colouring competition.
This year, we’re growing beyond the city centre. It’s given me a chance to get to know new neighbourhoods and help artists and residents create murals that mean something to the people living there. Through our Skill Share Mural, we’re also investing in our artists futures by pairing three local talents with an expert artist.”
Candy Joyce Concrete Canvas: Reimagined Project Manager
Our next steps…
Jan - Mar: Concrete Canvas: Reimagined Street Party co-design & planning phase with communities
Feb - Apr: Community workshops commence to co-design 3 Concrete Canvas murals across Chelmsford
Apr - May: 3 Concrete Canvas murals across Chelmsford completed with communities
May: Concrete Canvas City Street Party & 3 Community Mural Celebrations
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the project, please contact us at hello@culturechelmsford.org.uk
Collecting Our Future is produced by Culture Chelmsford and SPARK!, in collaboration with and funded by Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford City Council, Chelmsford College, Chelmsford For You and Arts Council England.
