Halesworth’s Throughfare and Market Place have recently received a splash of colour thanks to the young artists of the James Holloway Youth Arts Fund based at the Cut Arts Centre. The artists were commissioned by Halesworth Town Council, with a grant from East Suffolk Council, to redesign and paint 36 of the town’s bollards as part of the new Art on the Streets initiative.
Johann Don-Daniel, one of the Groups Creative Mentors shared his thoughts at the beginning of the project:
“We each have been very excited about the prospect of developing the bollards. The opportunity to bring the vibrancy, history and colour to the Thoroughfare through the work of local students is a wonderfully positive prospect.”
The young artists; Leon Torrance, Isla Todd, Beatrice Harrison, Opalina Don-Daniel, Calisto Don-Daniel, Mia MacFarlane and Amy Kaye embarked on a detailed research project over several months overseen by Kasia Posen and Caroline Mummery as Project Coordinators, and Johann Don-Daniel and Linda Farrow as Creative Mentors.
They looked at the history of Halesworth alongside the present and the future, and the issues, topics and influences that were important to them. They also explored painting techniques and the use of colour and expression. The mentors led two workshops where the young people were able to develop their creative designs.
The painting of the bollards took place over one week during August, where the young artists and their team, worked incredibly hard over several hours each day in the sunshine. The town’s 2 special twinning bollards which celebrate the twinning relationship with France & Germany were also given a fresh coat of paint.
The community showed tremendous support for the artists with many stopping to compliment their hard work and some businesses supplying them with free food and drink. The finished bollards are a delight with the bright colours showing the diversity of Halesworth and the unique designs representing the individuality of the talented young artists that painted them.
Photographs: Lindsay Want & Kasia Posen
