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Vida Ragbir
Friary Passage Set for Major Transformation Through New Public Art Project
Experience Guildford is leading an exciting regeneration project to transform Friary Passage, located at the bottom of North Street, into a brighter, safer and more welcoming route connecting Guildford town centre with the riverside.
The project will see the passageway brought to life with a series of vibrant murals created by talented local street artists. The aim is to improve the appearance of the space, encourage greater footfall, support nearby businesses and create a more positive experience for residents and visitors.
For many years, the passageway has suffered from graffiti, poor lighting and concerns around anti-social behaviour, leading many people to avoid using it. Through the introduction of high-quality public art, Experience Guildford hopes to reclaim the space and create an attractive gateway between key parts of the town centre.
Funding for the project has been secured through Surrey County Council's Your Fund Surrey programme, following a successful bid supported by Surrey County Councillor Catherine Houston.
The initiative is a collaboration between a number of local partners, including Experience Guildford, Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council, local artists and members of Guildford's Ukrainian community. Guildford Borough Council has also provided funding to support the creation of the Ukrainian community artwork within the project.
Cllr Vanessa King, Lead Councillor for Economy and Place, said:
We are excited to be supporting Experience Guildford’s plans for Friary Passage and to see the positive difference they will make to our town centre. People use this route every day, so improving how it looks and feels will go a long way towards creating a more welcoming link into the town centre and towards our local businesses.
We can’t wait to see the new artwork unveiled. Replacing the existing graffiti with work by professional street artists, alongside our art project with members of Guildford’s Ukrainian community, will bring fresh energy to the space and better reflect the people and culture of Guildford. It’s a great example of local organisations working together to improve shared spaces and support the wider regeneration of the town centre.
Local street artist Roo, known for her striking artwork near Guildford's Odeon cinema, is curating the project. The installation will feature a diverse range of artistic styles and creative approaches, helping to celebrate Guildford's vibrant cultural and creative community. As part of the project, Roo will host design workshops with members of the local Ukrainian community. Together, they will create a unique Guildford-inspired artwork for the riverside end of the passage, adding a meaningful community element to the scheme.
Amanda Masters, CEO of Experience Guildford, said:
We are delighted to see this project finally come to life. It has taken a significant amount of time to identify ownership of the passageway, secure funding and bring together the right partners to make this happen. Public art has the power to transform spaces, and we hope this project will create a cleaner, safer and more welcoming environment for everyone who uses the passage. It will also showcase the incredible creative talent we have here in Guildford.
Amanda added:
This project demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations, local government, artists and community groups work together towards a shared goal. We'd like to thank Guildford Borough Council for supporting the collaboration with the Ukrainian community, Councillor Catherine Houston for sponsoring the funding application, and everyone involved in helping bring this vision to life.
Work on the murals will begin in June, with the completed installation expected to provide a colourful new landmark within the town centre.
The project forms part of Experience Guildford's ongoing commitment to enhancing Guildford's public spaces, supporting local businesses and creating a town centre that people are proud to visit, work in and enjoy.