Eight sites in Leeds have been identified to play host to the city’s very own “street gallery”.
Sites at Woodhouse Lane car park, Lowell underpass walkway and Tunstall Road are among those expected to feature artworks by local creators, according to a report by Leeds City Council officers.
Walls underneath Mills Bridge and Richmond Bridge, as well as those in Beeston Hill, Emmaus and Jubilee have also been earmarked for artworks, and have all received planning consent.
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The works are expected to be the handywork of Leeds Street Gallery – an artistic collective which has already created dozens of street art works around the city, including the Josh Warrington mural site at the A58 roundabout.
The report stated: “One of city centre management’s priorities is to animate and add interest to the city centre and neighbourhoods to make areas more inviting and attractive for users. CCM aims to work with local artists to encourage and support local art projects in the city.
“Leeds is beginning to follow other UK cities in realising the numerous advantages of street art and incorporate this into the city’s regeneration and night-time economy/visitor strategies.
“Street art provides opportunities for the people of Leeds to see their culture and pride in the city reflected back. In addition, this assists in supporting local art organisations, independent artists and students.”
LSG is a self-funded collection of local artists set up in 2020, which has been creating street art on the city’s walls for the past 12 months.
The report added: “Street art projects range from large scale art, such as the Athena Rising, to small scale art work on walls and buildings. Benefits of street art include encouraging outdoor exercise such as art walking trails and outdoor galleries; adding interests and colour to an otherwise grey city scape; supporting local artists; and celebrating the culture and diversity of a city.”
The new sites were identified as suitable for legal artworks, as there is currently thought to be a shortage of outdoor ‘free’ space for artists to “practise, provide a creative outlet and upskill in an informal setting”.
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