Bollards for the People
Three local community groups are designing their very own eye-catching bollards to take pride of place in front of the City Museum in The Square in Winchester.
Two artists from the Colour Factory, Jenny Muncaster and Rachael Alexander, are helping young people from The Carroll Centre in Stanmore to come up with a design inspired by the Roman artefacts in the City Museum;
Winchester and District Young Carers to design a bollard inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and residents of Richard Moss House in St Peters Street in Winchester to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a design based on memories of the last 60 years. The Workshops are taking place during the first two weeks of March, and the bollards will be painted and installed by mid May.
Winchester City Council is funding the painting of a total of 17 bollards as part of its wider contribution to the refurbishment of The Square in partnership with Hampshire County Council. The bollard project, first conceived in 2005 as part of the Hat Fair celebrations, is thought to have been a first for the UK, following in the footsteps of similar schemes in Australia, the USA and Europe.
The Colour Factory has taken inspiration from some of the world’s greatest artists, adding an element of fun and interest to the city’s street furniture. As part of the original project, the artists painted nine bollards, drawing inspiration from classic artists of the 20th Century, such as Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Raoul Dufy and Sonia Delaunay. These bollards are all being repainted, and new ones added, with designs inspired by Leonardo daVinci, David Hockney and Jackson Pollock.
Jool Heller-Dixon, the Head of The Carroll Centre in Stanmore, said about the upcoming community workshops:
We all know what the Romans did for us, courtesy of Monty Python: sanitation, aqueducts, education and, of course the roads, which go without saying. But they also gave us a sophisticated artistic tradition, fine examples of which, particularly wall paintings and mosaics, can be seen in the City Museum. I’m sure these will provide The Colour Factory artists and the young people attending the workshops with plenty of inspiration.”
Cllr Patricia Stallard, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport, added:
Winchester City Council is keen to offer opportunities for local community groups to get involved in a ‘hands-on’ way with the arts. The young people from the Carroll Centre, the Young Carers and the residents of Richard Moss House will then be able to see their very own bollards when they next visit The Square – and we are sure that many people will stop to admire them as they go about their business in the city centre.”
It isn’t too late for businesses to sponsor their very own bollard in The Square. Alison Woods at the City Council is keen to hear from potential sponsors, and can be contacted on 01962 848 347 or email awoods@winchester.gov.uk