UWE Bristol and Ashton Park School transform urban landscape near university campus
Students from Ashton Park School and UWE Bristol have brought creativity and a splash of colour to a well-used city underpass by painting a new mural celebrating diversity and inclusivity.
The project stems from a design competition held at Ashton Park School for Year 7, 8 and 9 students during Black History Month.
Over 700 pupils were asked to produce designs to demonstrate inclusivity, celebrate the deeply diverse school community, and foster a sense of belonging for all groups of students.
Ruth Johnstone, Head of Visual Arts at Ashton Park School, said: “We celebrate Black History Month every year and this year the event was used as an opportunity to talk about racism and its impact. Students and staff discussed identity, culture, Black history, Black culture, and talked about our culture in school, our sense of belonging, our community and our values.
“The conversations were equally as powerful as the historical portraits produced last year and were the unseen element of this project, which has been hugely powerful. The students’ designs are the embodiment of all of those discussions and their considered thoughts and ideas for a piece of work which celebrates who we are, as a community.”
Eight winning artworks were chosen and then combined into a final design for the underpass at the end of Blackmoors Lane – a route frequently used by Ashton Park School students, UWE Bristol students and the public.
A team of 12 UWE Bristol Illustration and Fine Art students, including two former Ashton Park School pupils, painted the mural between 27 February and 6 March. Ashton Park School students and teachers joined them on the final day to complete the project.
Francesca Romita, UWE Bristol’s Civic and Community Engagement Team Leader, said: “This collaboration demonstrates the role that our students and UWE Bristol play in our community to build cohesion and celebrate those social values which make Bristol a great place to live in. We hope this strong connection will raise aspirations of secondary school students to pursue Higher Education, with UWE Bristol students serving as role models for Ashton Park students and demonstrate the possibilities that Higher Education can offer.”
The partnership between UWE Bristol and Ashton Park School is expected to continue, strengthening links between the university and the local community.
Bristol City Council kindly granted permission for the underpass to be painted for this initiative. The project has been primarily funded by the UWE Bristol Community Grant, following a successful bid by one of the university’s second year art students, Grace Williams, with additional support from Ashton Park School.
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