Westgate Street Brick Project has support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, with additional funding from Barnwood Trust, to create a mural painted by the people of Gloucester.
Everyone is invited to take part in the project where they will paint a picture on a brick. The finished mural will be made up of everyone’s individual paintings, creating an artwork that represents the collective identity of Gloucester.
The artwork will be on a wall in a tunnel on Fountain Sq, Westgate Street leading into the Gloucester City Homes estate opposite the Folk of Gloucester museum. The project is being delivered with partners including Gloucester City Homes, Inclusion Gloucester, Folk of Gloucester, All Nations Community Centre, Raven Centre, Gloucester Cathedral, the Railway Garden and St Mary de Crypt.
During the lead-up to the project, Brick Project will be running workshops with a mini-Brick Project, called a Mandala project. You can try your hand at making a tiny painting on a wooden disc that will be displayed in St Mary de Crypt.
Brick Project are recruiting local people as creative freelancers to help facilitate the painting of the brick wall – no need for experience in the arts, they are looking for people who love to help their neighbours, get everyone involved and give a helping hand. The roles are paid at a rate of £18/hour. You will need to have some availability for the painting phases of the wall outlined below.
Key Dates
Freelance Role Information Event,
Wednesday 17 July and Thursday 18 July, 1 to 4pm,
The Old Schoolhouse, St Mary de Crypt
Brick Project will be in the Old Schoolhouse in St Mary de Crypt to chat to anyone who is interested about the freelance roles available in the project – come along, meet us and get to know more about the project.
Introduction to Westgate Street Brick Project
Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 July, 2 to 4pm
St Mary de Crypt
Head to St Mary de Crypt for a presentation and slideshow about the Brick Project and what is involved. There will be a short slideshow, shown at 2.15 and 3.15pm and a chance to meet the organisers and chat about the project and theme ideas.
August
Mandala project drop-in – various venues
Free activity sessions where everyone can participate in Mandala painting and chat to us about the upcoming Brick Project. Keep an eye on the Brick Project social media pages at https://www.facebook.com/brickprojectuk and https://www.instagram.com/brickproject.uk/ to find out dates and times.
Wednesday 18 September to Sunday 22 September
Westgate Brick Project – come along to Westgate Street Brick Project. Our Community Ambassadors will guide you through the thoughtful painting process that will result in your own artwork on the wall. There is no such thing as a bad painting! Absolutely everyone is invited to take part, the activity is completely free and all materials are provided.
Wednesday 2 October to Thursday 17 October
Westgate Street Brick Project – everyone is invited to the second half of the Westgate Street Brick Project. Come along and paint a brick! After the project is finished the mural will be coated in a hard-wearing varnish that will protect it from the elements and from graffiti tagging.
All of the painted bricks will be documented with the Artists’ name and the title of your masterpiece, and uploaded onto our website, so you can show your artwork off to people far and wide!
*Save the Date* Friday 18 October
Celebration Day
Celebration of the completed mural! Keep your eyes out for information for a celebration event on our social media, and on notice boards across the city. If you are a musician, singer or performer from Gloucester and you would like a paid slot to perform, please get in touch with us via our Social Media channels or website.
Mandala painting
If anyone has missed the chance to take part in the Brick Project, there will be further opportunities to paint Mandala pieces in the second half of October and November. Further information will be available via our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Final Mandala Display
Each circle painted for the Mandala throughout the project will go on permanent display in a giant hexagonal formation at the Old Schoolhouse Cafe at St Mary De Crypt at the end of November.