Burg Arts re-launches with billboard celebrating community activism

A new artwork has been installed on a dormant billboard in St Werburghs this week, marking the relaunch of the ‘Burg Arts’ project in the neighbourhood.

The art work references historic campaigns to have corporate advertising billboards removed in the area and was  designed by Matt Bonner in collabation with the St Werburghs Neighbourhood Association and Adblock Bristol.  Residents of the area were asked, “What do you like living about living in St Werburghs?” and their response were gathered as visual concepts to be included in the piece.

Adblock Bristol will be working with artists throughout 2018 including reknown poet Robert Montgomery.  Montgomery will hold a public event in St Werburghs in April 2018 to present his previous work and hear ideas for a new piece to be installed on the Burg Arts board later this year.

Robbie Gillett, a local resident and organiser with Adblock Bristol said,

“We wanted to produce a piece that celebrates the green spaces, community spirit and things that matter to people in St Werbughs.

Burg Arts aims to create a postive alternative to the corporate advertisements bombarding us with consumer messages for new cars, fizzy drinks and junk food.

With advertising companies pushing harder across the city for more billboards, especially digital displays, this project is about reclaiming public space for public good.”

St Werburghs Neighbourhood Association ran a successful campaign to remove 6 out of 13 billboards from the area.  In addition to artist Robert Montgomey, the Burg Arts project will be working with local youth groups to co-create future pieces for the board.

If you’re an artist interest in contributing artwork to the Burg Arts project this year, please email adblockbristol@gmail.com.