A positive message: ‘The Future Demands Your Participation’ revealed in new mural by internationally acclaimed Luton artists
On Friday 15 November a new mural was revealed on the Culture Wall in Luton’s Hat District creative quarter. Called This Is A Promise, the mural is a collaboration of two internationally acclaimed artists from Luton, Mark Titchner and Jonathan Barnbrook. The artwork was commissioned by the Culture Trust Luton to promote a bold, modern positive message asking for the town’s participation in its future.
New mural ‘This is a Promise’ revealed on The Culture Wall in Luton’s Hat District on 15 November by internationally acclaimed artists Mark Titchner (pictured right) and Jonathan Barnbrook (left).
Photo: Alex Warchol
The striking mural carefully produced by scenic artist Russell Oxley on the Culture Wall (also known as Gurney’s Wall) of the Storefront Gallery, was once a hat factory owned by Walter Gurney. The mural is on the junction of Bute Street and Guildford Street, making it an ideal place for passers-by to see in the busy thoroughfare between The Mall shopping centre and Luton’s mainline train station.
The new mural is the final part of the ‘As You Change, So Do I’ three year (2016-2019) contemporary public art project commissioned by the Culture Trust Luton and delivered by a creative curatorial team headed by lead artist, Mark Titchner. The project promoted and commissioned major projects in the public realm alongside a programme of performances, projections, screenings and talks. Artists created new public works in response to Luton’s unique industrial and cultural history. The work helped to shape discussion on Public Art and evolve resources on Art in the Public Realm for Luton.
‘As You Change so Do I’ was supported by Arts Council of England Luton Investment Programme and Luton Bid.
The mural design was co-curated by acclaimed artist and Luton raised Mark Titchner, who also created the public artwork Beacon on the side wall of the Hat Factory Arts Centre in Luton. Born in 1973 in Luton and studied at Central St Martins College of Art and Design. His work involves an exploration of the tensions between the different belief systems that inform our society, be they religious, scientific or political.
Mark Titchner said:
'I am delighted to have collaborated with the world renowned designer and Lutonian, Jonathan Barnbrook on the new large scale mural 'This is a Promise'. This is my largest outdoor mural work and working with Jonathan to produce it was an absolute pleasure and a great learning experience. I hope the work will serve to remind us of the importance of our actions today to all our futures.'
The modern design of the mural has a subtle reference to Luton’s hat making heritage that leaves the idea open to discuss other parts of Luton’s history and future. The graphic used in the mural reflects the hat weaving methods used.
Hat weaving patterns
The Expletive Script chosen for the mural has been created by co-curator of the artwork and acclaimed Luton born British graphic designer, film maker and typographer Jonathan Barnbrook.
“Expletive Script is a modular font based on a circular form. Its characters can sit above or below the baseline to create unusual display typography and complex repeating patterns. Expletive Script has a playful spirit and simple geometry that makes it suitable for a variety of uses from fine detailing to expressive headlines.” Barnbrook
Expletive Script used font.Barnbrook.net
NOTES TO EDITORS:
PRESS ENQUIRIES: For further information about this press release, please email Emily.Finney@lutonculture.com Marketing & Communications, or call 01582 878123. Interviews with the Hat District project director and Trust Chief Executive Marie Kirbyshaw can be arranged, as can a tour of the Hat District.
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Luton
Statistics taken from The Luton Investment Framework (2017)
• 22 minutes by train from London
• 23 million people within a 2 hour reach
• 10 miles from the M25
• Ranked as one of the 5 most affordable towns for commuting to London.
• London Luton Airport UK’s 5th busiest & fastest growing airport
• Catchment with 4th highest level of retail spend in the UK
• Rich culture and heritage. 122 languages, Award winning museums and parks
• More than £1.5 billion private investment
• Enterprise Zone status
Mark Titchner was born in 1973 in Luton and studied at Central St Martins College of Art and Design. His work involves an exploration of the tensions between the different belief systems that inform our society, be they religious, scientific or political. He works across a number of media including digital print, wall drawing, video, performance, sculpture and in his installations he often employs motifs taken from advertising, religious iconography, club flyers, trade union banners and political propaganda. The common denominator among this material is a quest for idealism and enlightenment; a desire for some form of transcendence. He has exhibited extensively internationally, was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2006 and participated in the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007. Over recent years his practice has focused on the production of public works including permanent works in London, Manchester, Toronto and Warwick. Titchner’s works are held in many permanent art collections, including Tate; Arts Council Collection; British Council Collection; The City of London; Government Art Collection, and South London Gallery.
Jonathan Barnbrook
Barnbrook is one of the most well regarded graphic design companies in Britain. Its founder Jonathan Barnbrook was born in Luton and studied in the town. They specialise in cultural work having collaborated with the Victoria & Albert Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles and Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. However, the studio is probably most well-known for its collaborations with David Bowie, having designed his last 4 album covers. They also work with a number of activist projects believing that design has a role to improve and led society as well as to serve it.
The studio’s ubiquitous font designs are in many museum permanent collections including the Museum of Modern Art New York. This project features the first use of a new typeface that they will release later this year.
Barnbrook’s contribution to graphic design has been recognised with major retrospectives worldwide that include Japan and at the Design Museum, London.
About the Culture Trust Luton
The Culture Trust, Luton is an independent charity (formerly known as Luton Culture) and company limited by guarantee established in 2008. We produce and present year-round programmes of activity across our two theatres, museums, arts centre, gardens, historic hat factories and network of libraries. We deliver and develop library services for Luton Borough Council and we also manage the town’s heritage collections and archives. We have a collection of over 2 million artefacts, and we hold the most extensive and complete hat and headwear collection in the UK and the Mossman carriage collection at Stockwood Discovery Centre is the largest in Europe. In addition, we have an incredible resource of over 1.5m local photographs and maps and provide access to millions of books through the London Consortia. We are proud to be based in Luton and we welcome thousands of regular local and regional users to our 15 venues. We also invite the wider international community to engage with this incredibly diverse and stimulating town through our cultural offer.
About the Hat District project and where it is
Purpose-designed creative work, show and share spaces in the cultural heart of Luton led by the Culture Trust Luton.
Following successful funding bids in summer 2017, the Culture Trust Luton (formerly Luton Culture) secured £7.2million investment towards developing a collection of inspiring creative work, study and show spaces called the ‘Hat District’ across 3 old hat factories and one new build in Luton’s conservation area. The collection of imposing buildings will provide 25,000 sq. ft. of new workspace for the creative industries, enable 133 additional jobs, further inject life into a vibrant cultural district and attract 135,000 new visitors by 2022. Furthermore, this ambitious project will protect the area and its historic buildings for future generations.
The Hat District portfolio consists of 3 buildings and one new build:
• Hat Factory Arts Centre - 65-67 Bute Street (Reopened September 2019)
• Hat House - 32 Guildford Street (Opened October 2019)
• Hat Works - 47 Guildford Street (Opens late 2020* )
• Hat Studios -33-35 Guildford Street (Gap site - Opens late 2020*)
*Estimated dates
The Trust is well placed to inject new life and vibrancy into this run-down area and protect the heritage of these old hat factories that are currently falling into disrepair. Two of these sites, Hat Works and Hat House, are vacant historic hat factories that will be brought back into new use. The Hat Factory Arts Centre will be refurbished to increase and widen access to the arts. The buildings are centrally located in Luton between the station and the town centre. Given the conservation area, consideration will be given to the design of the existing properties and Hat Studios as this will be a new building on a gap-site recently secured by the Trust.
The quality of arts, architecture, design, heritage and conservation will aim to exceed public and user expectations and set new standards for urban regeneration fitting for a town as exciting as Luton.
Hat District funders
The Hat District project is an important and innovative cultural project for Luton and the region. It has been conceived and developed by the Culture Trust Luton and made possible with investment from:
The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP)| Local Growth Fund | £3.961m
This major funding has enabled us to make significant progress in developing new creative workspace which will provide more jobs and new spaces for business. The Creative and Cultural sector is a focus for SEMLEP and is promoted through their ‘Strategic Economic Plan’ and ‘Heritage, Sports, Visitor Economy, Cultural & Creative Industry Plan’.
Local Growth Fund
Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.
That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing the LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.
Some additional key facts:
There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England.
The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth. LEPs are investing in a wider range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.
Arts Council England | Small Capital Grant | £499,500
This significant funding is towards the redevelopment of the Hat Factory Arts Centre and will enable us to open up the centre to more people and increase access to the arts. The grant will, amongst other things, enable us to improve the quality of our theatre and music venue and provide sound-proofing so that we can deliver more high quality events.
Luton Borough Council | £340,000
This significant funding is enabling us to upgrade facilities at the Hat Factory Arts Centre, to sustain a long-term future for the building and enable the Trust to broaden its audiences and contribute even more to the delivery of Luton’s 10 year Arts and Cultural strategic plan.
Also:
The Heritage Fund| Heritage Enterprise Grant First-Round Pass
Historic England | Repairs Grant for Heritage at Risk
It is a public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment. Historic England works with communities and specialists who share its passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation.
The Culture Trust applied for funding to undertake urgent repairs for Hat Works to sensitively halt the decay caused by pests and mould. In September 2018 Luton Culture secured additional funding for repairs to the roof tiles, brickwork, plastering, drains, windows and joinery work.
DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund | Project Development Grant
The Steel Charitable Trust
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