Art in Balby Bridge with Rob Lee Art at the Central Family Hub
© Photograph by Rob Lee
Right Up Our Street were awarded the Space2Create Grant as part of their commitment to get to know the community on the Balby Bridge Estate better, thus extending their existing promise to working with the estate over the next three years.
Space2Create is a unique yet simple approach to delivering grants within Doncaster that encourages businesses and individuals within the creative industries, as well as property owners, to find alternative uses for town centre units and showcase novel uses of indoor and outdoor spaces - including events, co-working, and to trial innovations.
Right Up Our Street have collaborated with Rob Lee – a Sheffield based multidisciplinary artist specialising in large-scale, geometric mural art. Rob’s previous work includes the "Now Then, Then Now piece" commissioned by Opus Independents, which you can find on Howard Street in Sheffield, just up the hill from Sheffield Railway Station. And Here is Rob's Instagram where you can see more of his work.
Rob Lee has designed and painted a wall mural especially for the Central Family Hub in Doncaster.
Rob Lee says
“The community focus of this commission was one of the main reasons I was so keen to be involved in this commission. I spend most of my time working on commercial and private projects, so the opportunity to create a piece of public art that would benefit the local community was one I was keen to take. Having never painted in Doncaster before, I was excited to leave my mark in a new city and help brighten it up a little. There is nowhere near enough public art in the UK. There are far too many boring grey walls out there, so projects like these are significant.”
Rob Lee and Right Up Our Street’s Project Manager Hayley Beecher visited Atlas Primary School on the Balby Bridge Estate in the early stages of the paint to share the exciting news about the project. The children were given colouring in sheets to inspire them to visualise what they would like their surroundings to look like on the estate.
Rob says
"The opportunity to give a talk to the neighbouring Atlas Academy Primary school was a bonus too, and it was great to see the final design printed out on postcards and given to all the children. It was a really rewarding experience speaking to the school about what I do, and why I do it. There’s creativity in everyone, especially children. So, to potentially inspire some of it in them was pretty special.
In the weeks after the talk, when I was working on the mural, every single time they were out at break they’d all wave and shout up to me, “you’re doing a great job, Rob!”. I’ve never experienced that before. It was amazing!
I often attempt to communicate positivity through the abstract shapes and colours I depict in my work. This mural was no different. The finished piece takes inspiration from the Family hub logo - the simple smiley, a symbol of happiness. If this work can bring some happiness into the local space, that's my job done!"
A word from Tracey Fry at Central Family Hub
“Central family hub are really excited to have been involved in this project.
From the onset of agreeing to the wall art, we were really keen to ensure that the Art work was a reflection of our family hub and we feel that has definitely been achieved.
Strong Partnership working with Right up Our Street and the Artist Rob Lee, has been the key to the success. Creating the design around our family Hub logo and colours was our ultimate aim and to see how that was transformed onto the wall has been mesmerising.
We are all so pleased with the work of art, it has definitely been the talking point of the hub this year. Looking at it, with all the beautiful colours, instantly brings a smile to our faces.
It is now a focal point for our community and supports us in sending the message that our hub is here and everyone is welcome.
We would all like to thank Right up Our Street and Rob Lee for making this happen and helping us to bring the community together.”
For more information on Central family hub and what THEY offer, please follow the link:
Right Up Our Street want to thank the team at Central Family Hub and the Ward Councillors of Balby and Central for being incredibly supportive during this process.
© Photograph by Rob Lee
