In 2019, Balfour Beatty Living Places installed new Street Art! on Guildhall Square in the heart of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter, the result of a collaboration between Southampton City Council’s Highways and Cultural Services teams, Go! Southampton and John Hansard Gallery.
The art was created by pupils from Southampton schools that took part in a competition run by John Hansard Gallery and Southampton City Council, with the three winning designs selected from a shortlist of hundreds of submitted designs from talented young artists in Southampton.
In 2019, a competition was launched by John Hansard Gallery inviting children from Southampton aged 5-11-years-old to help design the public artwork and leave a lasting impact on the city. Featuring the three winning entries, the walkway aims to bring colour and excitement to Southampton’s city centre.
Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Homes & Culture at Southampton City Council:
“The Colourful Walkway competition and exhibition has been an inspiring way to see children of Southampton engaging in abstract and contemporary art, as well as what they see around their city. We have received entries from children across 26 Southampton primary schools, some of which took on the project in their classrooms.”
Woodrow Kernohan, Director, John Hansard Gallery:
“It’s been a real pleasure to work in partnership with children from across Southampton, Southampton City Council’s Highways and Cultural Services team, and Go! Southampton to create this vibrant series of Street Art designs for Guildhall Square and Above Bar Street. Education and learning are at the heart of John Hansard Gallery and it is wonderful to see the children’s amazing artworks come to life and enliven the city centre.”
Jess Harrison, Art Lead, Oakwood Primary School:
“The Colourful Walkway competition and exhibition has been an inspiring way to see children of Southampton engaging in abstract and contemporary art, as well as what they see around their city. We have received entries from children across 26 Southampton primary schools, some of which took on the project in their classrooms.”
The designs decorate Above Bar Street in front of John Hansard Gallery and City Eye on Guildhall Square. With special thanks to Joe Menage and Gemma Gore for graphic design in helping bring this project to life.
Street Art! is supported by John Hansard Gallery, Southampton City Council and Go! Southampton.