Art as a Tool of Inclusion or Exclusion: The Subway Example

 I came across a statement of exclusion from a piece of public art scrawled on the walls of an underpass in Peterborough city centre. 

I had stopped to admire/investigate this piece of street art in progress - a repainting of the underpass with depictions of famous scenes from the history of the city. I took in a rebellion against the Romans and the locally well known figure of old Scarlett adopting his pose that supposedly inspired Shakespeare. I read the sign declaring the piece a work in progress, stencilled on the wall complete with the logos of organisations involved in its commission, design and implementation. 

Next to these on a bare section of undercoat were the words "let the kids paint please!". It wasn't even painted on. These words were the passionate outcry of somebody who had had a connection to the previous mural and who had taken whichever writing implement they had to hand and made their feelings known to the world. 

Before this new heritage inspired mural was started, this underpass had been decorated with drawings and illustrations created by children from a local school. It was probably getting on for nearly a decade old, looking a little tired around the edges and was obviously the freehand work of school children rather than an artists collective, but it clearly meant something to at least somebody in Peterborough. 

I am a firm believer in the positive value of art in public places - especially high quality art that supports the local creative economy. But I am also a believer in consulting the stakeholders before undertaking any public project and in ensuring the built heritage of today is recorded before it's destruction to preserve it for future generations to see. 

- was the previous mural documented to be filed as a resource for the future to be held at the city museum or art gallery?

- was any attempt made to contact those who had a hand in the last mural, to give them a last chance to record their own work, or be involved in this project?

- are there any workshops planned so that local people can understand and learn the creative methods used in the new design? Or even contribute to the work? 

It will definitely be a stunning work of art for the people of Peterborough to enjoy, but I do hope they can be included in the process.