YARNBOMBING, a new mural for the pedestrian underpass to the train station and a series of community music and arts festivals, are three new art projects being explored by Melksham Town Council.
The three projects have been selected by the council’s Community Arts Project Working Group out of six ideas that were originally proposed. The projects have received the support of the council’s community development committee and work is now underway to move the ideas forward.
For the yarnbombing project it has been proposed that the council could collaborate with schools, businesses, knitting groups and individuals to create a range of colourful knitted wrappings for trees and street furniture in Melksham town centre. It is hoped that the yarnbombing will take place later this year in November, with preparation to begin soon.
The mural project will aim to create a colourful vibrant painting along all 200m of the pedestrian underpass to the train station in Melksham, designed and created by local people to celebrate Melksham.
The town council’s community development officer, Miriam Zaccarelli, in a report to councillors said, “The pedestrian underpass is a focal point on the way to the train station and is regularly covered in graffiti so a mural along the walkway could brighten up a gloomy area and possibly deter vandalism.”
An idea for a series of arts festival has evolved into the proposal for the ‘Melksham ArtBeats Festival’, which would comprise of four weekend mini festivals a year, including contemporary/classical music concerts, art exhibitions in the Assembly Hall, with ‘hands-on’ workshops, and music from local bands and artists.
The ArtBeats Festival idea has been championed by mayor cllr Jon Hubbard, who last week at the community development committee meeting, described the festival as an “exciting opportunity to showcase Melksham’s talent and its venues”.
To support the ArtBeats Festival, it has been recommended by the committee that the town council contribute up to £10,000 towards the cost of organising the festival – a decision will be made on this at the next full town council meeting on Monday 24th January.
Ahead of the meeting, cllr Hubbard, with the support of the town council’s community development officer, will explore what other sources of funding are available to support the festival.
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