As part of our work with Basildon Creative People and Places, we've been overseeing some super exciting projects, including the installation of the largest carbon absorbing mural in the UK. Commissioned by Creative Estuary, the artwork, designed by internationally acclaimed artist INSA, has played a huge part in kickstarting discussions about climate, on both a local and national level. Check out the blog below, where Lauren, Co-founder of Things Made Public, shares her thoughts on this epic project! https://www.creativeestuary.com/insight/our-towns-climate-by-lauren-martin-cofounder-things-made-public-cic/

Some of you might have seen the new mural by INSA / @insa_gram in Basildon, but the painting isn’t the end of the journey for this ground-breaking piece! Last weekend we launched the live AR animated gif which brings the mural to life via the artist’s app “gif-iti”. To coincide with the mural itself, we are working with the @creativeestuary to co-commission an environmental and social research document called a Voluntary Local Review with the University of Essex. Basildon, will now become the first borough in the UK to do this and will be given open access to impartial, localised information on social and environmental progress through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, covering everything from Climate Action to Gender Equality. The ultimate aim of this is empower residents, councillors and business owners with information to help them better understand the roles they can play in progress. The process is ongoing and will take until around Christmas to complete. Love to our partners: 👉🏻Artwork by @insa_gram 👉🏻Creative Producers @reframedproductions & Wood Street Walls 👉🏻Academic Partner University of Essex 👉🏻A Basildon Creative People and Places project 👉🏻Funded by @creativeestuary and Arts Council England 👉🏻Part of Our Towns 👉🏻Film by @douggillen

What a joy to work with Helen Bur / @abcdefghelen and Basildon Market to bring the local traders to life in pint sized portraits. In this short film we speak to local people about what they think about art & culture in #basildon and being immortalised in the market! Love to our partners: 👉🏻Artwork by @abcdefghelen 👉🏻Community Partner: Basildon Market 👉🏻Creative Producers @reframedproductions & Wood Street Walls 👉🏻A Basildon Creative People and Places project 👉🏻Funded by Arts Council England 👉🏻Part of Our Towns 👉🏻Film by @fifthwalltv

Next up we present…Gabriel Pitcher / @gabrielpitcher, a British artist based in South Korea. Gabriel Pitcher’s art explores the relationship between art and social narratives. Through his exploration of identity, Pitcher seeks universal truth in moments of ordinary life. Interested in the subconscious and perception, his works can be seen predominantly on walls and through video installations. Gabriel has worked with the Billericay Round Table, a social club for young men aged between 18 and 45 and FC Laindon Republic football club to develop an alternative approach to the conversation on masculinity. He explores notions of what ‘masculinity’ means to men in Basildon. ***To see all of Basildon’s art work firsthand and learn about each, piece please book onto our free street art tours on the 11th September 2021. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/basildon-street-art-tours-tickets-168257086475 Love to our partners: 👉🏻Artwork by @gabrielpitcher 👉🏻Community Partner: Billericay Round Table & FC Laindon Republic 👉🏻Creative Producers @reframedproductions & Wood Street Walls 👉🏻A Basildon Creative People and Places project 👉🏻Funded by Arts Council England 👉🏻Part of Our Towns 👉🏻Photo by @douggillen #ourtownsbas #streetart #urbanart #mural #instastreetart #ukstreetart #streetarteverywhere #streetartaddicted #streetartcities #streetartfestival #artonthestreets #instagraffiti #urbanwalls #streetartphotography #isupportstreetart #streetartnews #aerosolart #streetart_daily #streetartist #basildon #basildonart #basildonstreetart #essex #essexart #essexstreetart