Youngsters bring a bit of Banksy to South Wye

Herefordshire Council’s youth service is encouraging young people in South Wye to join in a big art project which will involve planning, designing and painting a mural Banksy-style for the Hinton Community Centre.

Centre manager Pip Westwood invited local young people to add a bit of contemporary colour to the long corridor leading from the centre’s entrance to the boxing club, which is currently an uninspiring shade of green.

Working with the council’s youth service, the young people formed the South Wye Art Group (SWAG), which has been meeting every Wednesday from 4.15-5.30pm at the centre, to lead and develop the mural project.

So far they’ve managed to raise £2425 which will help pay for materials, a professional artist to help them paint the mural and a grand unveiling ceremony once the work is finished.

While researching the styles, meanings and issues surrounding street art, SWAG came across internationally acclaimed artist Banksy whose work is now recognised as genuine art and far removed from the unsightly graffiti that the council discourages.

Holly Robinson, one of the young people leading the project, explained: “I love Banksy’s street art because he is emotional and makes you feel something.  Some of his designs really make me laugh.”

To provide inspiration for the design of the mural, the young people have been finding out more about the people who use the community centre, including the Foottappers, South Wye Amateur Boxing Club and Healthy Hinton.

During half term (26-30 October) the planning will finish and the painting will begin. All members of the local community are invited to come to the Hinton Community Centre and get painting; teenagers, children, mums, dads, brothers, sisters, friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles and anyone who fancies having some fun and getting creative.

Local artists from the Green-Eyed Monster Company will be helping the masterpiece develop, as will representatives from Herefordshire Council’s youth service and the Hinton community centre.

Sarah Melia, Herefordshire Council youth worker, said: “The mural will brighten up the centre and provide a modern piece of creative art which represents the local community and the clubs that use the centre.”

For further details call Sarah Melia on 07792 880199.