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May 2007
COAST & COUNTRY: NEW COMMUNITY ARTWORK UNVEILED AT ESTON

The drab sidewall of an Eston pizza restaurant has been transformed into a bright, colourful interpretation of a garden with the unveiling of a long mural designed by local residents.

A group of the designers attended the unveiling of the mural this week on the side of Pizza Roma at the Fabian Court Shops, Church Lane South, Eston.

More than 100 volunteers attended workshops to design the mural. The theme of a garden, featuring trees, flowers, bees and birds, was chosen to reflect how the designers would like their landscape to look.
The project is part of an ongoing partnership between Coast & Country Housing, Groundwork South Tees, Church Lane Partnership and local residents.

It involved commissioning artists Ged Holmes and Mark Warner of kitch-en, an art and design organisation based in Middlesbrough, to hold workshops with the local community and pupils and students from Caedmon Primary School and Gilbrook Technology College.

Tracy O’Neill, Community Investment Manager said: “The workshops allowed the local people to put forward their ideas for improving this rather drab wall in the centre of the Fabian Court shopping centre. They wanted something bold and colourful and I think the professional artists who translated their designs on to the finished mural have captured the spirit and enthusiasm generated by the project.”

Ged Holmes from kitch-en said: “This was our first community project and we found it very rewarding to work with Coast & Country Housing, Groundwork and both the residents and children of Eston. The work that was produced was creative and inspiring and has been combined into a fantastic piece of artwork and focal point for the community.”

Neighbourhood Renewal Funding was secured for the project from the Redcar & Cleveland Local Strategic Partnership.  Church Lane South will receive additional environmental improvements through the ‘Neighbourhood Blueprint’ that will be delivered through a partnership between Coast & Country Housing and Groundwork South Tees.

Consultation on proposed improvements will take place on June 4th and 11th at Eston Grange Methodist Church on Fabian Road. To find out more about the proposed Neighbourhood Blueprint please call Andrea Laverick, Community Investment Co-ordinator on 01642 836060 or Vicky Eastmond at Groundwork on 01287 625326.

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