Belle Vue Girls School, Bradford

Students from Belle Vue Girls School in Bradford were initially concerned that their local environment wasn’t aesthetically appealing or somewhere that the local community could feel proud of. As part of the Catalyst programme a small group of students came up with the concept of developing a large scale artwork that would represent the local community and could be displayed in a public place that people from the community could access.

Working with Catalyst Trainer and Near Neighbours Coordinator, Rabiyah K. Latif, they were successfully awarded a grant of £3,000 to commission 2 local artists to work alongside them and other people from the community to develop a mural that will be painted on the side of their schools public sports centre, on a lane that feeds 4 other schools including primary, secondary, special schools and a local housing estate.

“We want to create a mural to bring people together with the aim of supporting and fostering community cohesion”

Jeff Singleton, Head of Sixth Form and Teacher of Art

They commissioned Don’t Panic! Art Cru - a moniker given to the combined efforts of two Bradford born artists, Jenna Greenwood and Benjamin James Holden. Both are experienced multidisciplinary artists, with varied and creative backgrounds including design, print, mural design and public art displays.

Back in November last year, the girls had an initial creative session with the artists to explore what they wanted the mural to say. The very colourful workshop gave them the opportunity to explore common interests and views about their community. They are now in the process of reaching out to everyone who will regularly see the mural. They are keen that those who want to have an opportunity to contribute their ideas to help design the mural, so that those whose community it seeks to serve have ownership of it.

The mural is currently still being co-created with the local community and will be unveiled at a Mela in the Spring.