How art is uniting communities across Bristol
2025-02-05
Category: entertainment

Hundreds of people have been meeting their neighbours and breaking down social barriers by taking part in art workshops.The creative activities aimed at uniting communities have been taking place across the city as part of a council scheme.In Henbury, people have made a mascot for their area at a local library, which will be showcased at a parade later this month.Resident Ramona Bigwood said: "Doing art activities together is a great way to meet your neighbours that you live next door to and have something mutual to bond over."
Locals wrote what they loved about Henbury's Crow Lane on colourful fabric feathers.These were then sewn together by Kelly Jago, a Bristol-based costume maker who made the chicken feet in The Masked Singer.
"People just get to know each other and chat to neighbours they didn't know before," said resident Claudia Collins, who helped run the workshops."There's been some people that found some things tricky so others have helped and supported them."
The mascot will be paraded through the Bristol suburb on Sunday 16 February at an event called the Crow Of Triumph.Leaving at 13:30 GMT, people will wind down Crow Lane High Street, with art activities and free refreshments at the library after.The event was arranged as part of the council's High Streets Culture and Events Programme, which is funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority.
Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.