Daventry estate residents can help create art for their area

Middlemore residents will get the chance to work with an artist appointed to produce a piece of public art for their estate.

Wendy Briggs has been chosen by Daventry District Council (DDC) to lead the £45,000 project after winning a competitive tendering process.

The money is coming from three of the housing developers who built the estate, as part of their planning obligations, and can only be spent on a piece of public art.

However that art could take a variety of different forms and Bedfordshire-based Wendy is keen to involve local people directly in her design work via workshops and other public events.

There could also be the opportunity for people to get involved in the production of the art work, depending on the final design chosen.

Wendy had a tour of the estate recently with the secretary of the Middlemore Residents’ Association Karen Tweedale and DDC’s community development co-ordinator Tim Cantwell.

She is planning to visit again for a ‘Meet the Artist’ event at the Middlemore Farm pub from 6.30pm on Tuesday, November 1. The event will be an opportunity to find out more about her work and ask questions about the project.

Wendy said: “It is essential to involve local people in a project like this, to engender a sense of ownership and belonging, so I am really keen to work with the community on this piece of art.

“We really are starting with a blank canvas so I want everyone to feel they are able to make a contribution should they wish to. I’m really looking forward to meeting the residents of Middlemore and getting to work on this exciting project.”

Councillor Alan Hills, DDC’s community, culture and leisure portfolio holder, said: “The money for this project has come from the developers and can only be spent on public art, but there are a range of possibilities as to what form that art takes.

“The artist has a track record of working with communities to create spectacular works of art so I would encourage people to engage with us on this so that together we can create a fabulous design that people can take pride in.”