Vibrant new artwork in Nottingham city centre 'makes you feel like you’re in Camden Town', shoppers have said. New murals have appeared on buildings in Bridlesmith Gate in the latest phase of a programme to enhance the prestigious shopping street which has been hit by a number of store closures in recent years.
Arran Bailey, managing director of property developer ALB Group, has been buying retail units in the city - with the vision of creating a hub of independent shops, bars and cafes in a bid to make Bridlesmith Gate 'cool again'. Mr Bailey said he'd heard the city centre described as 'vanilla' - and he and partners have pledged to "bring a colourful taste of Copenhagen to the city centre" with new artwork planned as part of the improvements.
Shoppers in Nottingham city centre said the artwork had enhanced the vibrancy of the area. And one London native even compared the new-found feel and atmosphere in Nottingham to that of Camden Town in the capital, which is famed for its market, bustling cafes, fashion and nightlife. Camden is also known for its colourful street art.
Read more: Vibrant artwork set for Nottingham street after city centre described as 'vanilla'
Tamzin James, a 21-year-old University of Nottingham student, said the art in Bridlesmith Gate had made her feel “at home”. She said: “The art makes you feel like you’re in Camden or something. I feel at home, I think it’s great. This is the first time I’m seeing it completed and you can’t miss it.
"It might be a new thing for people to take Instagram photos or something here now. It’s just so colourful and I think it reflects this area well because there’s some aesthetically pleasing shops.”
Wanch Webb, 26, a barista at the new Barista Lab coffee shop in Bridlesmith Gate, said he'd already noticed the artwork attracting people into the shop.
He said: “The art has already started attracting people. From our upstairs seating area, it [the art] looks great. I’ve seen people taking photos. It’s nice to see that it’s students and people from the older generation appreciating it and saying that it’s really nice.”
Mr Bailey enlisted the help of local youngsters, Leonard Design Architects, The Nottingham Project, Marketing Nottingham, Nottingham BID and Nottingham City Council to inject some colour into the area. The group said five murals were planned as well as various other artistic additions to the area.
Each mural is an interpretation by local artists designed to capture moments of time and stories from the past. Work on the project started earlier this month but the idea began six months ago when the team at Leonard Design Architects and Marketing Nottingham visited Nottingham College.
Students were asked what they felt about Nottingham, what stopped them from visiting the city and how it could be improved. Feedback was brutal with some saying that Nottingham was ‘bland’ in comparison to other cities.
John Morgan at Leonard Design Architects, said: “The students explained to us that they had travelled the world, been to bright colourful cities like Copenhagen and Berlin - and that Nottingham was vanilla in comparison. It made for difficult listening, and, as much as I love our city, you must admit that they do have a point. Many of the shops and buildings in the city centre - and on Bridlesmith Gate in particular - are cream and white or grey, there is no colour, and no personality."
The Nottingham Project director, Lee Walker, added: “These murals will be stunning examples of how culture and creativity can be used to help with the rejuvenation of one of Nottingham’s most famous streets and add to an ever-growing collection of works across the city that tell our story whilst providing real opportunities for Nottingham’s creative community.”
Funding has been secured for the artwork. Artists for the work have been sourced by Nottingham BID and The Nottingham Project with Nottingham-based arts community, Carousel, beginning the work.
The Nottingham Project has also been involved in new artwork which has been installed along the Nottingham and Beeston Canal, off the A60 London Road, between the city centre and Trent Bridge.
Down by the canal, people said they were enjoying the artwork there. Builder Lee Martin, who is 33 and from Carlton, said: “It makes a change to scruffy graffiti, this is proper art. I’d rather see this than people’s initials any day.
“I think it’s good that it’s a local project with local artists, they should be proud of themselves.”
Sales assistant Farrah Daniels, 29, has no complaints about the artwork. The West Bridgford resident said: “It just brightens up your day. I’ve seen the one in Bridlesmith Gate too and it’s just colourful, Bridlesmith Gate especially needed it I think, it needed brightening up.”
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