Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), Bristol Legacy Foundation and Bristol City Council have announced a new public art project as part of the revitalisation of the Centre Promenade. This large-scale artwork is set to be a centrepiece of the transformation of the space into a vibrant, inclusive hub, but first, the project will undergo a vital engagement phase to gather community and stakeholder input.
This collaborative artwork, envisioned by Bristol-born multidisciplinary artist Oshii and in partnership with Bristol Legacy Foundation, will celebrate the city’s diverse heritage and vibrant communities. As part of the transformation, an engagement period will take place, inviting the community, key stakeholders, BID levy payers and local businesses to provide feedback and help shape the artwork’s final design.
A series of engagement events will be held- with a session taking place from 12.30pm - 4.30pm on Friday 13 December at Bristol Beacon - to inform the final design of the artwork to reflect the values and aspirations of the local community, in line with the broader goals of the Centre Promenade’s revitalisation. This session, open for the public to attend by registering at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-conversation-art-workshop-with-oshii-tickets-1079175646409?aff=oddtdtcreator, will provide participants the opportunity to preview early concepts from Oshii and offer input on how the artwork can best represent the spirit of Bristol and the people within it.
The planned artwork, tentatively titled "Common Ground," will transform the surface of the Promenade with vibrant colours, playful shapes, and symbolic motifs that celebrate Bristol’s multicultural identity and historic harbour. Designed to be interactive and engaging, the artwork will include elements like games and pollinator-friendly planting, inviting people of all ages to explore and enjoy the space.
This project is part of a wider movement by the Bristol Legacy Foundation, which is leading the creation of a permanent memorial at the Cascade Steps to honour the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and the city's African heritage communities. Together, these initiatives will create a public space that both celebrates Bristol’s present diversity and acknowledges its historical legacy, fostering a deeper sense of community and belonging.
“We’re looking forward to hearing the vision that all the city’s stakeholders have for this underutilised space at the heart of the city. The project aims to reflect the history, values and creative energy of Bristol and the engagement sessions will provide a platform for voices from across the city to contribute,” said Vicky Lee, Director of Bristol City Centre BID.
“Oshii’s artwork has the potential to become a defining feature of the Centre Promenade and we want it to reflect the diversity and creativity of Bristol,” said Asher Craig, Chair of Bristol Legacy Foundation. “We have an opportunity to create a landmark experience to welcome people to the heart of the city with an artwork that is reflective of the city’s diverse communities and rich culture.”
The project partners - Bristol City Centre BID, the Bristol Legacy Foundation and Bristol City Council - are managing the collaborative process that, once completed, will lead to the final design of the artwork. This will be revealed and installed in tandem with the wider Centre Promenade improvements.
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “This is an exciting project that will bring vibrancy to one of the most prominent and widely used parts of the city centre. It is a chance for people to have a direct involvement in a piece of work that will complement the significant investment being made in transforming the area. I hope plenty of people will get involved in the creative process and help shape the final design of the artwork. This is a great example of partnership working and I am pleased that we have been able to work with Bristol City Centre BID and Bristol Legacy Foundation on this project. The artwork will be the finishing touch to the Centre Promenade improvements.”
The wider scheme, to improve Centre Promenade between the Neptune statue and the Cascade Steps, includes filling in the fountains to create a large flat space, adding platforms over three sets of steps, installing planters and new seating, and replacing five trees that have outgrown their planters. Construction work is set to start early in the new year.
The Centre Promenade work is being funded by Bristol City Council. The artwork project is part of the City Centre and High Streets programme funded by Bristol City Council and West of England Combined Authority.
Find out more at www.bristol.gov.uk/centreprom.
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