Plans for a colourful mural on a graffiti-daubed wall at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Armley were discussed at a public meeting last night.
Armley Forum attendees heard Anna Ridley, community arts co-ordinator at Leeds MIND, say that the long wall looking onto Tong Road was ideal for a mural and that a member of school staff had asked for a mural to be positioned there.
Anna said she was keen to involve the community in the design and maintenance of there mural and said: “The school children were keen to take part in the design and to take ownership of it by doing some of the painting, and we’re aiming to hold workshops with members of nearby charities Armley Helping Hands and Aspire, who are both keen to take part. Both young people and older people would take part.
“It will demonstrate community resilience and show that people can come together and create something really beautiful.”
The project, which is being funded by the Co-op, has Armley artist Claire Jagger on board. The artist created one of the colourful internal murals at the new young people’s mental health facility at St Mary’s Hospital and her work is currently part of an exhibition at Freedom Mills, off Kirkstall Road
She said the mural would be maintained by the school, local residents and the artist herself and would be protected by a special coating to preserve it.
the area has also been earmarked for some tree planting.
Other work in the Armley area from Leeds MIND includes a wellbeing garden at Castletown Primary School and an initiative with Leeds Baby Bank.
It was agreed that Anna would return to the forum at a future date to show off some early designs.
