Community art celebrates stories of Andover at the Chantry Centre
This month Andover residents will have the chance to admire two pieces of community art which will be displayed in the former O2 unit inside the Chantry Centre.
The artwork was created by members of Andover’s Cultural Sharing Forum in a series of workshops last summer, through an initiative developed by Test Valley Arts Foundation and Test Valley Borough Council.
Hannah Cantellow, an artist working with Chapel Arts Studios, led the ‘Art of Belonging’ workshops which saw more than 50 Andover residents, aged between three and 70 years, exchange stories about Andover, its people and heritage through words, drawings and sketches. Their contributions helped to shape two large banners, which have been themed around nature and culture, and mythology and imagination.
Participants were able to improve their artistic skills and several individuals reported feeling a deeper sense of belonging within their local community, a new-found connection with people from different cultural backgrounds and a sense of pride from contributing to the public art project.
The banners were first displayed at the World Street Party event, which took place on Andover High Street last August. They will now be placed in the Chantry Centre to encourage residents to take a look at the artwork and discover a little more about the people in their local community.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North said: “This has been a brilliant project helping to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together to share their experiences of Andover. I look forward to seeing the banners on display and I hope anyone visiting the town centre will have the chance to see them.”
This project was funded by Hampshire County Council through Test Valley Arts Foundation, with support from Test Valley Borough Council.
The banners will remain on display until the end of February.