Workshops to be held for Royal Arcade public arts project

Cheshire East Council is hosting two online workshops to allow Crewe residents the opportunity to discuss aspects of the town’s heritage and future that are most important to them.

The workshops are the next part of the process in the creation of a piece of public art -known as the heritage wall – that will be incorporated as part of Crewe’s Royal Arcade scheme. 

The heritage wall is part of phase one of the Royal Arcade scheme - a new bus station and multi-storey car park – which will be a prominent landmark for everyone to enjoy when they arrive in the town centre. The artwork will be a design made of perforations on the metal façade of the car park that will reveal new elements to people over time as the light changes inside and outside. The artwork will be seen above the new bus station.

After significant research, consultation and development, initial designs were proposed by the artist – Jac Seifert from Orakel Workshop in July. 

The initial feedback presented the artist with an opportunity for further engagement and to evolve those designs, as well as to create something new inspired by the thoughts, memories and ideas of an even wider group of people. Further engagement has also taken place with councillors, Crewe Town Board, Crewe Cultural Forum and Crewe Heritage Group.

The council will now host the two online workshops, which are open to all residents where the artist will provide more context about the designs being proposed.

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said: “We received extremely valuable feedback in July and that is why we are going back to the public to gain more insight into their views about our design proposals. The artist is looking forward to leading these two workshops when she will engage with Crewe residents on the existing and new designs.”

You can attend the online workshops, which will be held on Microsoft Teams, by emailing:

CreweCulturalForum@cheshireeast.gov.uk 

...to receive a link to join either of the events.

They are being held tomorrow from 11am-12.30pm and on Wednesday 12th October from 5 - 6.30pm.

Alongside these events, presentation boards with information about the heritage wall project will also be available at Crewe Library throughout October.

The artist will also be in Crewe Market Hall on Thursday 20 0ctober from 10am-3pm to share further information and explain how the artwork will be created using perforated metal sheets.The first phase of the scheme is due to be completed by the end of 2023.