From sketches to street art: young people create mural for Falkirk town centre
This summer, Bank Street will become a gallery for the work of 12 young people who have spent the past two weeks ripping, sticking, painting and drawing to create a mural celebrating what Falkirk means to them.
Working with local artist Lewis Bissett, the S2 to S6 pupils will unveil their mural on Saturday 8 August during ‘Falkirk Creates’, a free community event organised by Falkirk Delivers in partnership with Artlink Central.
Taking place from 11am to 4pm in Falkirk town centre, the event will showcase public artwork, performances, workshops and creative activities for all the family, with opportunities to meet the artists behind the work.
How it started
During the last few weeks of the school term, pupils from across Falkirk Council’s high schools were invited to take part in a competition to design a temporary mural as part of Falkirk Delivers' creative regeneration programme, ‘Falkirk: From Place to Creative Space’.
More than 50 entries were submitted, with 12 pupils chosen to take part in a series of workshops in July.
Drawing on ideas from each of their original designs, the young people have worked together to create one collaborative ‘kinetic’ mural, made up of smaller pieces of art joined together like a puzzle.
Alongside their mural, all competition entries will be on display on Saturday 8 August, celebrating the creativity and talent of everyone who took part.
The process
Lewis, a former pupil of Falkirk High School and an Art Coordinator for Artlink Central, said:
The young people came in with very strong, solid ideas, but what I wanted to do was push their perception of what Falkirk is. I wanted to show them that you can get loads of outcomes from one piece of art, as often you find it's one small detail that sparks a masterpiece.
The workshops began with a walking tour of Falkirk town centre, giving the group the chance to explore its rich history before heading off to begin the mural together.
Lewis said:
I hope this experience helps the young people realise how accessible and enjoyable being creative is. It doesn't have to be stuffy and painstakingly slow. Art should be full of fun, energy and exploration. I also hope they take away a newfound pride for their town and a feeling that 'something' is happening in it.
Part of a wider programme
The mural is one of several projects being delivered through Falkirk Delivers' creative regeneration programme, supported by £100,000 from Creative Scotland.
The programme also includes artist development opportunities, microgrants and range of public art commissions, including a permanent mural for the High Street. Together, these projects celebrate local talent and bring more creativity into the town centre.
Elaine Grant, BID Manager at Falkirk Delivers, said:
It was important that our programme didn’t just support and celebrate the amazing artists already working in Falkirk, but also nurture young talent. It really is important that young people feel connected to the town centre and know that it’s a place where they belong, where they can meet friends and feel safe and included. The mural gives them the chance to be part of the town centre’s story. I think people will be really impressed when they see the finished piece.
Councillor Iain Sinclair, Falkirk Council's Education Portfolio Holder, said:
Young people see the world from their own perspective, which can often be different from the way adults see it. Giving them an opportunity like this allows them to express what Falkirk means to them while highlighting creativity isn't something that happens elsewhere. It's happening right here, in Falkirk town centre, and they're part of it. Projects like this are so important, not only because they celebrate Falkirk’s past and present, but because they show people that the town centre has a strong creative future too.