A Bristol school has appointed a renowned artist to reinvent its logo and remove Edward Colston's crest.
Bristol artist Michele Curtis, who painted the incredible Seven Saints of St Pauls murals, will help to redesign the emblem for the Dolphin School in Montpelier.
As founder of Iconic Black Britons, she has worked to champion African Caribbean culture in British society, using the arts to open up conversation and encourage equality.
Pupils, parents and staff at the Dolphin School decided last year to replace the logo, as it draws influence from the family crest of 17th-century slave trader Colston.
His statue's momentous fall during the Black Lives Matter protest last year prompted fresh scrutiny about his lingering presence around the city, with calls for his name to be removed from buildings and streets.
Colston's Girls' School announced a name change while its sister primary school the Dolphin, next door, voted to keep its name but change its logo.
Michele said: "I was thrilled to be selected to work with the school community to develop their new emblem. I don’t believe in erasing history but we can evolve and move forward.
"It’s a privilege to be part of this collaborative project, working hand-in-hand with the school community to design a visual identity that reflects the hope and wonder that the children radiate in abundance."
The artist was already a regular visitor to the school prior to lockdown, after pupils were inspired by her Seven Saints project to create their own pieces of work celebrating someone close to them.
'Empower young people'
She said: "Art is a wonderful way for young people to express themselves.
"There is increasingly more cross-over between the creative industries and so many different sectors, and I welcome every opportunity to empower young people through art."
The school voted in October to replace the logo, following public consultation.
Artists and designers were then invited to help come up with a new design, and Michele was selected from there.
The Dolphin School's vice principal Kate Jenkins said: "We’re thrilled that Michele is working with us to develop our new emblem.
"She’s taken on board the feedback gathered during the public consultation and is now working with our pupils virtually to explore the power of images in telling a story."
She said the school will gain "so much more" from the project than just a new emblem.
'The children think of Michele as a hero'
The vice principal added: "Michele is a positive role model who has hurdled barriers throughout her life to become a well-respected artist nationally.
"The children are inspired by her energy and optimism, in fact they already think of her as a local hero.
"I have no doubt that Michele will perfectly capture the vibrant spirit of our school."
She said key themes put forward during consultation were values, community, diversity, curiosity, intelligence and inclusivity, adding: "It’s fascinating to explore with young children how symbols might be used to represent these positive messages, and to apply that collaborative process to develop a new identity that truly reflects The Dolphin School."
The school expects to reveal its new emblem in March.
The link to Colston
The Dolphin School in Cheltenham Road was founded in 2012, by a school organisation then known as Colston's Girls' School Trust, which was named after Colston.
The trust was renamed the Venturers Trust in 2017 and still operates under that name today, running several academies including the Dolphin School.
The school's logo is similar to the Colston coat of arms, as the dolphin is understood to have been the emblem of the Colston family.
Bronze dolphins also decorate the corners of Colston's plinth, pictured below.
His statue stood on the plinth for more than a century before it was dragged down and thrown in the harbour last June.
Colston's Girls' School has since been renamed Montpelier High School, with a full rebrand expected in September 2021.
