A team of artists will transform part of the M32 motorway in Bristol by painting vibrant designs on the existing "grey and dark concrete columns".
The project is funded by National Highways and Bristol City Council, in a team effort with non-profit organisation LitterARTI. Artists will be painting three columns with brightly-coloured street art on the underside of Eastville Viaduct.
LitterARTI has been working alongside local communities in several art projects with communities beside the M32 for more than five years, while managing the M32 Flea Market. It hopes to improve the state of the viaduct while advancing the aesthetic of the wider area.
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The Eastville Viaduct is a flyover carrying the motorway into Bristol from the side of Stoke Park, across the Eastville junction 2 roundabout near IKEA, and separates St Werburghs from Easton. It was built in the 1970s.
On Saturday (February 26), scaffolding towers will be erected that are supported by MJ Church, TR Scaffolding, Tesco and Bristol City Council. The artists positioned to work on the paint job will be commencing their work on February 28, and expect to take approximately take two weeks until their work is complete.
National Highways pledged with other key stakeholders to ensure the maintenance of the M32, promising at a waste summit recently to “enhance the environment, improve the appearance and increase public use to create a vibrant gateway to our city”. In a statement, a spokesperson said: "It is hoped that covering up the grey and dark concrete columns with new, vibrant artwork, will improve the look and feel of the area."
It is considering further improvements to the M32, with potential for more designated funding to be pumped into the area, along with a feasibility study to review the longevity of those changes in the long run. Sean Walsh, route manager for National Highways, said: “We want Bristol’s M32 gateway to be a clean and welcoming environment for our motorists and local residents living alongside the road.
“At National Highways, our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads. We’re investing in the environment and communities surrounding our network, as well as the people travelling and working on it. We aim to address social and environmental issues and add real value to society.
“We were delighted to partner with LitterARTI – a glowing example of how this funding can make life better for communities living and working near our roads, and hopefully inspire generations to come.”
Via Bristol City Council's Originators Fund, the team were able to commission artists, and request further permission from National Highways, before LitterARTI and Annali Grimes joined during the final stages of the project.
Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor with the responsibility for Culture at Bristol City Council, said: “We are delighted to have supported this exciting work through our Cultural Investment Programme’s Originators Fund and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the local environment, residents, and users of the M32.
“We've prioritised the protection of this investment programme to support the local sector in recovery from the pandemic. The second round of the Cultural Investment Programme will distribute £2.5m over the next four years.
"We look forward to continuing to invest in the city’s cultural sector, in order to build equity and inclusivity, grow a green and sustainable cultural economy, and support the health and wellbeing of Bristol citizens.”
Community member and local resident Maire De Burca initiated the idea for the M32 makeover by garnering supporters and potential artists on a Facebook group, with artists Sadie Phew and Conrico Steez who eventually came forward to lead the project.
Other commissioned artists such as Peace of Art’s Aumairah Hassan and Manazzar Siddique will be creating designs, which will reflect nature. One design is inspired by a scientific research project based on the River Frome, as voted by members of the community in 2021 through questionnaires.
'Brightening and beautifying'
Artist Sadie Phew said: “We want to encourage the community to use the space more by creating an outdoor art gallery and we're so happy to be making it happen. It's a pleasure to share our love of nature and passion for ecology and conservation through our artwork.”
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Annali Grimes, from LitterARTI, added: “For real change to come about, it needs to be driven by the people, with support and in partnership with National Highways and Bristol City Council. It is positive that the underpass and communities surrounding the motorway are being prioritised just as much as the motorway on the top.
“By brightening up and beautifying the area, it will definitely lift spirits of local people and will improve the space for communities and pedestrians around and along the M32 corridor.
“Hopefully this is the beginning of more improvements to come in the future.”
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