Artwork created by Liverpool schoolchildren has been unveiled on a series of new banners along Bold Street.
Around 60 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from Holy Cross Catholic Primary School worked with artist Brigitte Watkinson to produce the colourful designs, which will be displayed across one of the city centre’s best-known streets.
Commissioned by Liverpool Business Improvement District and developed by dot-art, the project has seen 50 new banners installed along Bold Street.
Celebrating hope, creativity and community spirit, the artwork explores the themes of “Bold”, “Bright” and “Beautiful”.
Katie Bentley is Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Liverpool Business Improvement District, said:
“Bold Street is one of our most vibrant high streets in Liverpool and it reflects our city’s story so vividly through food, art, and retail. We wanted to support this work to make art accessible for everyone, but also to give our city’s young people a sense of belonging in our city centre. These artworks give a burst of colour and creativity to Bold Street, but it’s also really important for these children to be able to come into town on a Saturday afternoon, to look up and say ‘I did that’”.
Lucy Byrne is the Managing Director of dot-art, said:
“We were absolutely delighted to work with Liverpool BID to bring this project to life. Brigitte has a fantastic track record of working with young artists to showcase their creative talents, and together they had a great week in school producing these vibrant images. Giving children opportunities like this to celebrate their creativity has a huge impact, boosting confidence, improving wellbeing and nurturing talent. We can’t wait to share the students’ joy in seeing their designs come to life on a huge scale in the heart of the city!”
Jo Hodges is the Deputy Headteacher Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, said:
“It has been wonderful to see our Year 5 and 6 children work alongside a talented artist and play such an important role in creating something that will become the ‘Bold Street Banners’. This project has given them a real sense of pride and belonging, showing them that their ideas and creativity can make a lasting contribution to the community. It has been a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen the connection between our school and the wider community, while inspiring children to see themselves as active participants in shaping the place they call home.
The pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, said:
“The Bold Street Banners’ project gave us the opportunity to be really creative. We are so excited that as a result people walking through Bold Street will see our art work. We as pupils of Holy Cross are proud to showcase our creativity to others.”
Bold Street will also be a place of celebration across three days over the summer, as part of Liverpool BID’s Celebrating Summer programme of free events. On Thursdays in July, 16th, 23rd and 30th there will be characters and street performers between 12.30 and 4pm.
Brigitte Watkinson is a multi-disciplinary contemporary artist whose community projects bridge classroom creativity and public art. Partnering with local primary schools, Brigitte engages with pupils to produce the raw, imaginative artwork that serves as the foundation for her projects. By meticulously shaping and refining the children’s baseline creations, she transforms classroom collaboration into sophisticated, beautifully finished public installations that celebrate local identity.
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