Our Towns

Basildon’s Street Art Revolution

CLIENT

Arts Council England

Known for its stark Brutalist architecture, Basildon New Town can feel cold and imposing at times. Hit by the decline of the High Street, a creative revamp of the town centre was long overdue. Partnering with Marson Property, Orwell Real Estate, Sovereign Centros, and Basildon Borough Council we launched ‘Our Towns,’ an ambitious, thought provoking street art programme.

Funded by Arts Council England, our mission placed the community firmly at the heart of this transformation. Over 300 local residents helped commission eight international artists to collaborate with marginalised groups, including early onset dementia patients, domestic abuse survivors, travellers and LGBTQ+ youth. Together, we co-designed and co-created murals that created bold, colourful platforms by which to amplify the voices of local people.

Our community-led programme resulted in 530 sqm of vibrant public art, adorning walls across the town. From the production of the UK’s largest carbon-absorbing mural by artist INSA, which comes to life through augmented reality to miniature portraits of Basildon market traders on utility boxes, ‘Our Towns’ gave Basildon a fresh lease of life.

Since its launch, over 3.5 million people have viewed the murals; we earned a shortlist for the national Pineapple Awards and Basildon has enjoyed international media coverage for its contribution to street art. ‘Our Towns’ showcases the true power of community collaboration and creativity in cultural regeneration, turning a grey, unwelcoming town centre into a fun, feast for the eyes.

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‘Our members, who live with a diagnosis of dementia, were deeply grateful for the chance to engage with Our Towns. This project is a shining example of what local art services should provide – working with often forgotten groups of people and recognising their abilities and skills, even when others might not. We are incredibly thankful to Things Made Public and Marina Capdevila for their inclusion and support. This collaboration has left a lasting positive impact on our community.’

– Charlotte Curran, CEO, Peaceful Place

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