Posted by
Vida Ragbir
After a project, 2 years in the making, Friary Passage has been completely transformed and brought back to life with a series of vibrant murals created by talented local street artists.
Experience Guildford Business Improvement District (BID) who conceived and led this project, spent 2 years of vision and sheer doggedness to commission the artwork. For many years, the passageway had 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 has reclaimed the space and created an attractive gateway between key parts of the town centre. The aim was to improve the appearance of the passageway, encourage greater footfall, support nearby businesses and create a brighter, safer and more positive experience for residents and visitors.
Funding for the project was secured through Surrey County Council's Your Fund Surrey programme, following a successful bid supported by Surrey County Councillor Catherine Houston.
Local artists, Roo and Tom (Skyhigh) curated the project with a eam of talented artists known collectively as @wearestreetart on Instagram.
Space was included for further artwork from the Guildford Ukrainian community who, thanks to Guildford Borough Council and Roo, attended workshops where the creation of a beautiful mural was conceived. The finished piece speaks of their experience of leaving Ukraine and what Guildford means to them.
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 Your Fund Surrey application, and everyone involved in helping bring this vision to life.
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.