Councillor Katie Lomas Archives

March 25, 2025March 25, 2025

Return Of The Oaks mural and tree-inspired benches launched by Art Of Protest’s return to nature project in Front Street, Acomb

The launch of the Return Of The Oaks mural in Acomb

THE launch of Art Of Protest’s new mural and street benches drew a big community turnout to Front Street, Acomb, York, last Saturday .

The Return Of The Oaks mural is part of the wider project designed to return nature to the high street.

Eight public benches have been painted to denote the trees in Acomb, each featuring a carved-out leaf emblem. The trees’ names feature on the benches, serving as a reminder of the diverse ecology in the area.

In the week leading up to last Saturday’s launch, residents and visitors praised the installation for its brightness and welcoming vision.

The views of the Acomb community were central to the designs. A comprehensive engagement programme featuring 17 events and street art workshops at locations in Acomb captured residents’ wishes. This conveyed the community’s strong voice, now reflected in the geometric design.

An innovative Street Art Academy trained up the community and four residents were chosen to take part in the talent development programme and assist on the mural. This has created a legacy, boosting the skills and confidence of the participants.

Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark said: “I’m beyond pleased to say that this public art project has been a huge success. Getting to know the Acomb community was not only paramount to influencing the design of the artwork but also a real pleasure in itself.”

Art Of Protest lead artist Tom Jackson said: “Working on a project in the place where I live is a privilege. My children and I will walk past this mural almost every day, and I’m fortunate that the people of Acomb have embraced it in such a positive way.”

A mood of celebration and excitement marked the weekend event at the mural. The Lord Mayor of York, Sheriff and councillors took part in the pop-up street art workshops.

Art Of Protest organised an exhibition of the community art produced from the engagement sessions, held at Rise@ Bluebird Bakery in Acomb Road.

The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, said: “It was great to be at the event at the weekend to see the amazing new artwork and other changes around Acomb. This is an incredible piece of work which speaks volumes about working together as a community.

“It is wonderful to see the links to Acomb’s heritage and the local woodland within the paintings. Thank you to everyone involved.”

Councillor Katie Lomas, City of York Council executive member with responsibility for finance and major projects, said: “I am very proud of Acomb and the way the local community has come together to shape these recent changes. This new artwork is a fantastic addition and really pulls together all the work that has been going on to improve the area.

“The wider scheme, funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, has seen some real investment in the area over recent months. It has brought not only this incredible artwork but also upgraded seating, planting, wayfinding and many other improvements to help ensure Front Street is a great place to be for years to come.

“I would like to thank everybody involved in making this happen and anyone who has got involved along the way. I especially want to pay tribute to the wider engagement work done by the Art Of Protest team to engage and inspire young people across the Acomb area, making sure they know that art is for them too.”

Acomb resident Kat Hunt, mother of one of the talent development students, said: “Throughout the project and the community engagement sessions, my daughter has developed new skills and she has so much more confidence in her artwork as a result. It’s really inspired her. It’s fantastic that Acomb now has such vibrant artwork, inspired by the views of the community.”

Art Of Protest, York’s urban art and engagement specialists, are experts in ‘placemaking’ and approved ‘Alternative Providers’, offering a Street Art Academy through the Danesgate Community Pupil Referral Unit. “We are driven by partnering with the local community, public sector and businesses to transform spaces through public art,” says Jeff. “If you would like to work with us, please contact us at info.aopprojects@gmail.com.”

The Return Of The Oaks art project is part of the broader scheme to improve Front Street and create a more accessible, vibrant, people-friendly space. City of York Council received £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to deliver Phase 2 improvements that include new seating and planters, improved Blue Badge parking, wide and level pedestrian crossings, wayfinding signs and upgraded public loos.

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025

Art Of Protest nature-inspired bench art and mural revealed ahead of Front Street celebration in Acomb on Saturday

Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark with Gemma Waygood-Senior, project manager for the Return Of The Arks project in Front Street, Acomb. All pictures: Jeff Clark

ART Of Protest has installed the Return Of The Oaks benches in Acomb, York, ahead of Saturday’s mural and bench “reveal” and celebration event in Front Street and Cross Street.

That afternoon comes the opportunity to meet the artists, join in creative spray paint activities and see the unveiling of the mural from 4pm. Further celebrations will follow with a DJ set and community art show at Rise@Bluebird Bakery, in Acomb Road, from 6pm.

Eight wooden benches have been transformed, each painted with a leaf design from the woodland to reflect links to nature.

Return Of The Oaks mural artist Tom Jackson and Art Of Protest workshop leader Chloe Mae. “Both live within a mile of the mural, and this is the closest paint project to their homes they have ever done,” says Jeff Clark

This follows an extensive programme of engagement events and workshops, led by Chloe Mae where Art of Protest gathered the views and ideas of the Acomb community and gained an understanding of what people would like to see.

Alongside the benches, Art of Protest has been working on the new mural that aims to capture the spirit and sense of community in Acomb.

This art project is part of the wider scheme to improve Front Street and create a more accessible, vibrant, people-friendly space. City of York Council received £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to deliver these Phase 2 improvements, including new seating and planters, improved Blue Badge parking, wide and level pedestrian crossings, wayfinding signs and upgraded public loos.

The Oak bench from Art Of Protest’s Return Of The Oaks project in Front Street, Acomb

Councillor Katie Lomas, executive member with responsibility for Finance and Major Projects, said: “This is an incredibly exciting part of the project and it is great to see even more improvements take shape on Front Street.

“This scheme is funded through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is helping to create a more accessible and attractive space for people to live, work, shop or visit.

“The newly painted benches are a very welcome addition and do a fantastic job of brightening up the area. The designs for both the artwork and wider Phase 2 improvements are based on significant engagement with the local community, so it will be great to be able to celebrate the progress with local people this weekend.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished mural and would encourage those who live or spend time in Acomb to come along and get involved.”

Chloe Mae and Tom Jackson take advantage of Thursday’s sunny, dry weather to work on the Return Of The Oaks mural in Acomb

Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark said: “It was great to see the evolution of the project, taking the community on the journey and developing local talent through the Street Art Academy and artist Tom Jackson, Art Of Protest’s production manager and one half of the Static street art duo with Craig Evans. The feedback was inspirational and there is so much love and pride in the community.

“We are celebrating the return of local trees and a wonderful idea of each bench having a local leaf emblem, so visitors to the area can say ‘see you at the oak bench’.

“Each bench also has a carved-out leaf emblem so they are accessible and engaging. The return of the oaks is then incorporated into the mural design. We are so grateful to the Acomb community, the support and great ideas. Please come and celebrate as this is your hard work.”

Find more information about the Front Street improvement scheme at: https://www.york.gov.uk/AcombFrontStreet.

Taking shape: Art Of Project workshop leader Chloe Mae, centre, working on the mural with Art Of Protest production manager and Static artist Tom Jackson and Sarah, from the Street Art Academy

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025

Art Of Protest Projects wants to hear your views on creating Front Street community mural and street bench refurbishment

*“We are passionate about getting the community involved,” says Art Of Protest Projects founder and creative director Jeff Clark*

ART Of Protest (AOP) has been awarded a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant by City of York Council to create a more vibrant, people-friendly, accessible space for all in Front Street, Acomb.

The grant will go towards installing a community mural and eight benches as part of a wider regeneration of Front Street.

Art Of Protest Projects, a social impact enterprise founded in 2016 and based in York, engages communities in place-making and public art, with its team of professional creatives, artists and storytellers having delivered a series of projects in York and beyond so far.

Many of the team reside in Acomb, making the latest project close to their hearts, and already AOP is proactive within the Acomb community, presenting their flagship creative learning workshops at York High School and Inspire Academy.

Founder and creative director Jeff Clark says: “We want to deliver something that the Acomb community can be proud of for decades to come. It’s not just about creating art, it’s about listening to the views of the people.”

Councillor Katie Lomas, City of York Council Executive Member with responsibility for Finance and Major Projects, says: “It is great to see the Front Street project taking another step forward and this is a very exciting part of the transformation. So far, we have seen new seating and planters installed, upgraded public toilets, improved Blue Badge parking and removed a significant number of bollards.

“We are looking forward to working closely with artists at Art Of Protest Projects to introduce public art to the area, which 68 per cent of respondents supported during our consultation last spring. We will continue listening to the community and get to the heart of what residents would like to see.

“It is vital that the local community is involved and helps to shape these designs, which will be part of Front Street for years to come, so I’d encourage everyone who lives or spends time in Acomb to share your thoughts. I would also like to thank everyone for their patience while work is ongoing in the area, and I look forward to seeing more of these improvements take shape as the project progresses.”

Jeff adds: “AOP aims to creatively engage and impassion individuals of all capabilities and backgrounds to build local capacity and skills. We believe that art is a common and universal language where people of all ages, creeds and beliefs can meet, engage and connect.”

AOP has tight deadlines set by UK Shared Prosperity Fund to complete the installation by the end of March, preceded by a series of open consultation events running during the last week of January and the first week of February.

*Art Of Protest’s poster invitation to mural and benches engagement sessions in Acomb*

Spray paint mural engagement sessions will be held at Acomb Explore Library on January 27, 5pm to 7pm, The Place, Acomb, January 28, 4pm to 5.30pm, and Gateway Centre, Acomb, February 3, 5pm to 7pm. Paint-a-pot benches engagement sessions will take place at The Place on January 29, 3.30pm to 4.30pm, and Acomb Explore Library on January 31, 10am to 12 noon.

Jeff says: “We want to build on the community consultations that have already taken place, listening to the views to celebrate Acomb’s heritage, to be bright, fun and inviting.”

For the mural consultations, he explains: “We are arranging a series of workshops at local schools, as well as creative spray paint workshops where participants can take away their own piece of art home and inspire the design brief for the mural. The mural will be a community totem, carefully crafted and shaped by community input”.

For the bench consultations, Jeff says: “Accessibility is really important and there is also an opportunity to signpost the local community to our green spaces and celebrate local flora. The bench engagement sessions will be an opportunity to chat about what you want to see, as well as paint your own plant pot to take away a seedling or plant.

“The curators’ responsibility is to capture as many Acomb residents’ voices and project them into one shared vision. We love the local area and want to create a legacy piece that celebrates all the local green spaces as well as Acomb’s connection to the oak trees.”

You can book for the engagement events at eventbrite.co.uk/o/art-of-protest-projects-40881047083 or by emailing workshops.aopprojects@gmail.com.

AOP is arranging drop-in sessions on Front Street with everyone welcome at The Place on January 30, 10am to 12 noon, Bluebird Bakery, February 1, 3pm to 5pm, and Gateway Centre, February 4, 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

A key aspect of the project is the Street Art Academy, delivered in partnership with The Place with its ethos to create, collaborate and increase curiosity, confidence and capability. This structured programme will up-skill and create cultural capital and legacy by providing career pathways in the creative industries.

In addition, a talent development opportunity will become available for participants to shadow the creation of the mural.

“We are passionate about getting the community involved,” says Jeff. “What’s really unique about the programme is the Street Art Academy focused on skills development and capacity building.

“AOP would love to hear from the local community and will be arranging a celebration event following the installation of the mural and benches with details to follow. If you have any queries, please get in touch with workshop.aopprojects@gmail.com.”