After The Riots Putting The Art Back into Bond Street

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Mural opposite Nando's depicting positive images of youth

A street mural depicting positive images of young people looks set to brighten up an empty wall on Bond Street.

Council Leader, Julian Bell joined artist, Spencer Lowe, the Ealing Youth Mayor, members of Ealing Youth Action and Sailesh Siyani of the Ealing Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) at the ceremony.

The arts project, financed by the council's riot recovery fund, was the brainchild of Spencer Lowe and Mr Siyani of the Ealing BID. They came up with the idea after hearing the Youth Mayor, Jahanara Chaudhry, talking about the need for more positive images of young people following the August riots.

Mr Lowe worked closely with young people from the W13 arts group, Ealing Youth Action (a forum that represents young people across the borough), young people from the Youth Offending Service and Jahanara to design and create the large wall painting.

The mural is on Bond Street, Ealing Broadway, opposite Nando’s and the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society. It shows young people in range of activities, such as playing sport, dancing, listening to music and working on a computer.

Councillor Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council, said: “This is yet another example of the local community coming together in a very positive way after the riots. The mural has brightened up a bare wall and is an excellent illustration of the positive contribution that the vast majority of our young people make to local life.”

Jahanara Chaudhry, Ealing’s Youth Mayor, said: “Most young people want to contribute to the local community and me, and my friends, have loved working with Spencer on creating the mural, which can be enjoyed by everyone. We really love the design and I hope that people who live and shop in the area will love it too.”

Sailesh Siyani said: “The purpose of this mural was to allow young people in the town centre to reconnect with the public in a positive way and I am very pleased with the outcome. For me, it represents the energy and drive the youth in Ealing have in an array of light and colour.”

 
20 December 2011