Stratford-upon-Avon town centre boasted a new urban art installation on Friday 21st April 2023. Project aims to revamp the local high street. The first-of-its-kind immersive exhibition is a collaboration between Global Street Art, the Stratford-Upon-Avon District Council, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Artists Church of Best Ever, Cee Illustrate, Ed Hicks, Tom J Newell, Zoe Power, and Pete Barber have been selected to showcase their work, inspired by William Shakespeare’s sonnets. The installation brings to life some of the poet’s most notable works in the form of urban art.
The art exhibit features installations in now-disused retail spaces on the high street. This unique exhibition will marry the quintessentially British nature of Shakespeare’s prose with a modern take on art. The mobile exhibit will remain in the district following the unveiling to be showcased in different parts of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Immersion and Rejuvenation
The immersive experience curated by Global Street Art will serve as an example of how art in the streetscape can be used to rejuvenate the high street for both the local community and tourists. The project aims to renew a sense of pride amongst the local community and draw together those from neighbouring towns to congregate and enjoy these captivating pieces of art.
In 2022, over 17,000 shops were permanently closed in the UK, a 50% increase on the previous year due to the pandemic. The UK Centre for Retail Research estimates that retailers and landlords will have to pay close to £1.1bn in the coming tax year to cover business rates on empty sites. This project seeks to reverse this trend by bringing tourists from across the country and beyond to visit the new landmark, and thereby increase investment to local businesses.
The installation demonstrates how urban art can play a key role in regeneration. Various research projects in the UK and USA have shown a positive relationship between urban and street art and real estate values. Moreover, the exhibit’s unique feature of QR codes linking to information will make it even more interactive and educational.
Interpreting Shakespeare’s Sonnets
The installations, which are featured by Shakespeare’s Birthplace at 22 Henley street in Stratford-upon-Avon, are inspired by historic graffiti left by visitors dating back to the 1500s. These visitors inscribed their initials and names into glass as a mark of honour and pilgrimage.
The selected works for the exhibit include:
Sonnet 65 – Mortality, by Church of Best Ever
Sonnet 18 – Beauty, by Cee Illustrate
Sonnet 119 – Infidelity, by Ed Hicks
Sonnet 63 – Jealousy, by Tom J Newell
Sonnet 12 – Time, by Zoe Power
Sonnet 130 – Love, by Pete Barber
Prof Charlotte Scott, director of knowledge and engagement at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, remarked that although Shakespeare’s sonnets are sometimes less publicly accessible than his plays, they are central to his lyrical development as an artist. She further stated that it would be fascinating to see how these talented artists have interpreted and responded to specific sonnets.
Dr Lee Bofkin, CEO of Global Street Art, expressed his excitement about partnering with Stratford-on-Avon District Council on the project. He commented on the installations by the six talented artists, saying they were thought-provoking, engaging and brought a fresh take on Shakespeare.
