Date: 05 Apr 2024
Category: Supporting businesses
A community-led street art project funded by Belfast City Council’s Business Cluster and Community Grant Scheme and Department for Communities’ Revitalisation Programme has been delivered by a small group of local artists and businesses on the Cregagh and Woodstock Roads.
The members of the business cluster in the area are Bethany Fruit Market, Piccola Parma, Café Nicole and Crysalis, with advice from Alison Pascoe and Ruth Bothwell.
The project’s completion coincides with Belfast 2024 – the city’s biggest ever creative and cultural celebration.
Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair said: “It’s wonderful to see these vibrant, engaging artworks adding colour and interest to the Cregagh and Woodstock Roads. It’s such a busy arterial route, connecting the natural oasis of Loop River, The Cregagh Glen and Lisnabreeny with the urban landscape of the Albert Bridge junction heading into Belfast city centre – so it’s really special to see that energy and nature reflected in this new street art. As well as encouraging greater pride in this area, I think it’s also going to attract lots more footfall and spend.”
Ruth Bothwell, local artist, and business owner explains: “The theme ‘Up the Cregagh, Down the Woodstock’ draws inspiration from a popular local phrase used to describe “The Road.”
“This was a wonderful opportunity offered by Belfast City Council”, added Cregagh Woodstock Traders Ian Wolfe of Café Nicole and Rachel Gray of Piccola Parma.
“Our inspiration for the theme “Up the Cregagh Down the Woodstock” comes from an old catchphrase which can still be heard on the street. We wanted to incorporate where the culture of these two roads stemmed from, when granny worked in the lemonade factory, and pops in the Rope Works, where your parents met and what their local interests were. Our focus has been to unite the two roads and re-energise the roads’ passions, while embracing change in our community, so our grandchildren and people new to the area can have an insight into the local heritage.”
In June 2023, Ruth and fellow local artist Alison Pascoe (Astrl Fibres) ran a series of community engagement workshops with over 140 pupils from Harding Memorial Integrated Primary and Euston Street Primary.
Alison explains: “As many of these pupils live and play in the area, they were able to contribute a unique perspective of what it means to grow up in a diverse urban community and they created their own vibrant, joyful street art.”
The primary school pupils’ ideas informed the artistic brief which was shared as an open call to individual street artists and arts organisations, generating huge interest from some of the UK and Ireland’s top street artists.
Local business owner, Phill Coulter adds: “You can already feel the positivity these artworks have brought to ‘The Road’ – they’re getting such a welcome reaction from residents, local businesses, and visitors alike. It’s a credit to the strong community spirit of the Cregagh and Woodstock Road.
“The project has been community-led from start to finish and that’s something the project team are all really proud of.”
The five artworks are:
Site: Harding Memorial Integrated School
Artist: Ali Parks
Concept: Nature, fantasy, and diversity in a graphic folk-art child-friendly style.
Site: Haus of Hair
Artist: Peachzz
Concept: Inspired by native flora and fauna found in local green spaces of Loop River and The Cregagh Glen.
Site: Gable Wall above Paragon
Artist: Zippy
Concept: Graphic font reading ‘Up the Cregagh’ located on a site marking the point where the Woodstock meets the Cregagh Road.
Site: Gordons Chemist
Artist: FGB & Katriona Sweeney
Concept: A fun and colourful interpretation of some of the area’s social and musical heritage – combining themes of local breakdancers in the 80s with popular tea dances enjoyed by our older generation.
Site: Loca Hair
Artist: Visual Waste
Concept: A depiction of a familiar local character Artie Spiers and his horse and trap including text reading “Down The Woodstock.”
For more information on Belfast City Council’s support for businesses, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/business
And for details of Belfast 2024, go to www.belfast2024.co.uk
