VIBRANT PUBLIC ART AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
Withington Walls is a community street art project, funded by donations and run by volunteers. It is principally funded by local people, and the artwork is in their image.
The project has helped rejuvenate a suburb of South Manchester called Withington by turning grey boring walls and shop shutters into something beautiful by enlisting the talents of, principally local, artists. Some of these are up and coming, some are well established "names".
The idea is to create a sense of 'place', of vibrancy, and character through an injection of colour and street art. That it could be an inspiration and a source of pride and joy for local people. That a platform could be provided for artists to express themselves.
Over 3 years, the project has delivered 100+ artworks on street cabinets, shop shutters and walls - the most famous being the one of Marcus Rashford by AkseP19 which has become iconic. 4 “queer cacti” art installations on lamp posts, that make a colourful, welcoming and inclusive statement, with zip-ties that match the colours of the LGBTQIA+ flag.
By showing that people care about improving how Withington looks and feels, through celebrating positive role models with local connections, highlighting important issues, and being inclusive, it is hoped that it will not just raise a smile but that people will look after the area more and make their own positive contributions to society or inspire creativity in them.
We align with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
