Funds raised for Withington Walls street art project to go ahead

A community art project has successfully raised funds to create murals and street art on shop shutters in Withington rejuvenate the neighbourhood.

Residents raised £5,000 through a crowdfunding page to see the Withington Walls project bring the community new life through artwork.

The project will be undertaken by Mancunian artists as well as having input from schools and teenagers to develop a sense of community pride.

Jennifer Smith, director of community operations at Love Withington Baths, said: “One of the things that we wanted to do was try and make the village more attractive because there was a lot of graffiti everywhere and it’s known that people don’t spray paint over street art.

“When We Are Withington was formed we had our first Withington by Night event in October and that showed a 38% increase in footfall in the village. At this event, we had some street artists and they spray painted shutters and a wall beside an old snooker hall, live on the night.”

Likeminded traders in the town set up a traders association which later was renamed We Are Withington.

Jennifer added: “We now have the future plans in place so it’s going to be around April or May time obviously when it’s warmer and drier. The idea is to bring street artists together and work in different areas around the village.

“There is a piece that was commissioned by the Withington Regeneration Partnership of Peter Saville and a lot of the art in West Didsbury that really does bring the area to life so that’s what we are trying to achieve.

“Future suggestions have been to paint shop fronts as well, so we are hoping that the street art project on the shutters will be a catalyst for other things like so the artists will come and make the village attractive again.”

We Are Withington plans regular events and people are welcome to put images forward for the art project for the community to then decide on.

A trial piece was created by a former Withington resident which was a mural of Factory’s art director and graphic designer Peter Saville.

There are also more ideas for improvement by creating a community market and a new public space outside the library.