New mural unveiled in Bedford's Queen’s Park

A new mural has been unveiled in Queen’s Park after residents and artists teamed up to create it.

The mural, located at 60 Carlisle Road, was painted with 49 local residents and artists during February half-term and was originally inspired by Covid-19 lockdowns.

It was organised by Bedford Creative Arts (BCA), in partnership with bpha and designed around the themes of communication, community and unity.

It features images representing communication such as the symbols for WiFi, Bluetooth, USB ports, letters and phones.

Throughout a series of workshops, residents shared how these symbols made them feel connected to loved ones across the world, even when things like Covid-19 lockdowns kept people apart.

The project was delivered by lead artist and Queen’s Park resident, Andy Holden, in partnership with illustrator David Vallade, resident mural expert Paul Nicolson, Amina Pagliari, and Emily Alleyne and over 40 children and parents who participated in designing and painting the mural to create the finished result.

Ami Aubrey, Programme Producer for BCA, said: “In such a multi-lingual community as Queen’s Park, where many residents have loved ones all over the world, it felt like a great way to create a large participatory mural using these themes and to produce something beautiful to brighten this corner of the ward. We are so proud of the amazing team of dedicated local residents and children who participated in the creation of this mural and have helped to make it unique.”

bpha donated the wall location for the mural and have cleared space for a community planting project to line the wall in the future.

The mural is part of the Take Part Queen’s Park project – an art project both inspired by and created with the community. Through engaging residents of all ages with the creative arts and exploring Queen’s Park’s cultural diversity, the project seeks to celebrate and strengthen residents’ sense of place and community and share that with the wider residents of Bedford. It is delivered in partnership with The Higgins Bedford and funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Harpur Trust and housing association bpha.