Huge ‘RE-Making Crewe’ community mural unveiled

The first public art commission as part of the UKSPF funded Crewe Arts Development Programme has been completed! The huge artwork (named ‘RE-Making Crewe’) has been co-designed by young people within the community, who have worked with professional artist Cherie Grist at a series of workshops to create the eye-catching design.

The project focuses on building pride of place and representing the young people of Crewe within the town centre and it was crucial that their views and opinions were clearly represented in the finished work. As part of the engagement process, more than 70 young people from local organisations took part in 5 interactive workshops (facilitated by the artist) to come up with their own ideas for the design of the mural, whilst discussing their experiences and aspirations for their town centre.

The workshops centred around a design template and practice that Cherie Grist calls “peace patterns”. It is a process that makes an interesting geometric pattern by following a few steps and once drawn can be coloured, collaged or painted. The results are unique and fun and can be incorporated together to create the larger artwork.#

The following local youth groups gave creative input to the design:

• YMCA
• Cheshire College South and West
• Visyon Creative Connections programme at the Lyceum Theatre
• Inspire Young Women's Group from Motherwell
• The Youth Justice Team
• Cheshire Buddies

After the workshops took place, the individual artworks contributed to the overall striking mural. The transfer of the design to the end of the former Chronicle building on High Street (facing the site of the forthcoming Youth Zone) took place over a couple of weeks and was hampered by some challenging weather conditions! Cherie was assisted by Siobhan Hogan, Victoria Jackson and Martin Renshaw.
The artwork is now completed and clearly visible to road users and pedestrians alike and has already inspired many positive comments from members of the community.

All of the patterned designs produced during the project will feature as part of a mindful “Making Crewe” Colouring Book which will launch with the full art trail between 14th-16th February 2025.

The Crewe Arts Development Programme

Crewe Town Council has been awarded central government UKSPF funding to deliver an Arts Development Project and Arts Trail between January 2024 and March 2025, consolidating the Town Council’s commitment to developing arts and culture within the town. The trail will be displayed in accessible locations throughout Crewe for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.

Further public art commissions will follow as part of the programme, including an artwork on the side of the Crewe Town Council office building.

Project participants will be supported to help them learn and develop skills, leaving Crewe not only with a beautiful arts trail but also with empowered creatives with the know-how to fund, create, curate and showcase more of their artworks in future. It is also hoped that the Programme will help to raise the aspirations of young people in Crewe and inspire them to venture into creative careers.

Find out more about the UKSPF funded Arts Development Project and Arts Trail here:
www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/whats-on-events/crewe-arts-development-programme/

The Group Lead for local community youth organisation Cheshire Buddies said:
“The activity was fun, exciting, and offered a different experience, especially because it was something they hadn’t done before. These elements combined can make an activity memorable and engaging, encouraging the children to try more new things in the future.”

A Design Tutor at Cheshire College South and West commented:
“The activity was a wonderful opportunity for our learners to communicate with a current working artist and gain industry insights on the wide range of job opportunities in the industry.”

Professional artist Cherie Grist was delighted to facilitate the project and said:
”It has been an absolute pleasure working with the young people of Crewe. They are all so talented and passionate about the future of their area becoming a more lively, vibrant and colourful place. I hope they feel proud when they see their incredible design and inspiring words in the mural. I’m honoured to have had the job of painting them!”

A spokesperson for Crewe Town Council said:
“We are delighted with the RE-Making Crewe mural and the bold visual impact it makes to the High Street area of Crewe. We are committed to supporting and developing arts and culture within Crewe and it is fantastic to see the impact that local young people have had in co-creating this first piece of public art as part of the Crewe Arts Development Programme. The mural will feature as a significant part of the Arts Trail to come, which all residents and visitors to Crewe will be able to enjoy.”