Public Art Commission - Broadleaf Park, Rownhams
A new art trail has been commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council using developer contributions from the Broadleaf Park housing development.
Public engagement
In February 2024 Nicola held two workshops at the Rownham’s Community Centre. Participants shared their ideas, memories and stories of the area, and had the chance to explore local heritage, including the ancient, coppiced woodland, tanner’s brook and the remains of a Roman road.
These were followed by a drop in workshop on the Broadleaf car park and an art table at Nursling and Rownhams May Fayre where residents once again got involved in inspiring the trail by taking part in interactive map and haiku poetry workshops with the artists.
Nicola and Michael also worked with the children at Rownham’s School to gather local material and input into the trail.
Nicola said: “Working with Rownhams residents on community engagement, alongside Michael Johnson has been immensely successful. We hosted a series of creative curiosity workshops which included mapping, mark making and culminated in creative writing. The outcome was a series of haiku poems written by residents, along with a series of beautiful, illustrated maps which marked favourite routes and special places in the village. All these outcomes provided the source material and inspiration for my designs for the sculptures."
