Barbers, baristas and other businesses in the borough have helped create and inspire new artwork designed to brighten up some of our local high streets.
Poetry High Streets, a project led by Ealing Council and supported by the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, celebrates community spirit through colourful and creative artwork.
A trio of artists and poets, including Hanwell poet Shagufta Iqbal, worked with local businesses and residents to come up with concepts and ideas for the project.
‘Honouring our high streets’
The poets also ran a series of workshops to give people the chance to shape the designs, give feedback, and talk about what matters to them. Additional workshops offered creative writing exercises as a way for people to express what they would like to see.
Shagufta said: “I feel like this project celebrates the local high street and aims to bring community and stories into those spaces. It’s time we started honouring our high streets.”
One of the workshop participants, Michael Ostrolenk, added: “Community art projects like this can bring local people together from different backgrounds and give them a space to freely express how they view their local community or themselves within it.”
Where can I go to see the artwork?
The 6 art installations, including neon signs and brickwork murals, can be found in:
- Pitshanger Lane, Ealing
- Oldfields Circus, Greenford
- Station Approach and Uxbridge Road, Hanwell
Visit the Ealing Culture website to find out more about each piece of art, and where you can find them.
‘A sense of pride’
Councillor Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “Culture and art inspire people and communities. I hope the artwork and words will inspire passers-by and residents in the high street and build on the sense of pride in the area. It’s really critical for our wellbeing to see beautiful things. It has been fantastic to see residents so engaged in this project and inspire new artists in the borough.”
Get creative
If you’re feeling inspired and would like to discover more ways to get creative or find things to do, go to the Ealing Culture website.
