A series of new murals in Palmers Green and Enfield Town, designed in collaboration with local people to celebrate the heritage and public identity of these areas has been revealed.
These are the first of five commissions supported by Enfield Council through the Curate Enfield programme, with public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
In Palmers Green, Enfield Council partnered with local public art champions Lydia, Nidal and Aykut, who were guided by artist-mentor Alex McHallam. They selected The Matchbox Collective to create and install murals which celebrate the unique biodiversity, identity and heritage of Palmers Green. The design of these new murals – The Cat in the Aviary, Fire and Flight, Sanctuary! and A Rhythm of Broomfield Park – had significant input from community groups and year 10 students from Laurel Park School. A new arts trail was also created to include existing artworks commissioned by local communities and supported by Enfield Council and other sponsors. A map of the trail is available to download for free.
In Enfield Town, local public art champions Aisha, Shan and John were guided by artist-mentor Mark Beattie and selected artist Anna Nicolo, who created a large mural ‘A Stroll Through Enfield Town.’ The mural brightens up a dark, 75 metre alleyway that leads from Cecil Road into Palace Gardens Shopping Centre. Anna asked for feedback from local people on their connection to Enfield Town and its history. Art students from Enfield County School and young people participating in reparation projects helped spray paint the mural’s bold silhouettes and bright colours.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Spaces, Culture and Local Economy, Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu said: “This freely accessible public art invigorate our town centres and bring together aspects that are important to local people. Create Enfield, an initiative of the Journeys and Places programme, brought together local artist mentors, young people and community groups to curate these commissions, guide the selection process and express what was important to them. Enfield Town and Palmers Green now have beautiful public art that will encourage people to visit and explore the areas.”
Angel Edmonton’s artwork at Silver Street train station will be a sculptural creation by artist Rafael Klein to greet commuters and passers-by and is inspired by thoughts of lightness and flight. Commissions for Edmonton Green and Southgate will be revealed later next year.
Curate Enfield is a grassroots public art programme supported by Arts Council England and Enfield Council. The programme will create five new public artworks for the borough – one for each of Enfield’s town centres: Southgate, Palmers Green, Enfield Town, Angel Edmonton and Edmonton Green. More information can be found on the Palmers Green and Enfield Town projects via the following links:
New arts trail in Palmers Green! | Palmers Green Town Centre | Let’s Talk Enfield
New Mural launched in Enfield Town! | Enfield Town Centre | Let’s Talk Enfield
In Palmers Green, the murals had significant input from community groups including the NHS Wellbeing Group at Broomfield Park Community Orchard, Philanthropy CIC, Ruth Winston Community Centre and year 10 students from Laurel Park School. The Friends of Broomfield Park, Palmers Green Action Team, Stitch and Starfish Loves Coffee also lent their support. The map of the Palmers Green Art Trail can be found at: https://www.thematchbox.uk/palmers-green-art-trail
