Northallerton and Catterick benefit from art projects

The two schemes, in Northallerton and Catterick Garrison, are aimed at bringing a boost to high streets and cultural opportunities.

In Catterick Garrison, a series of artworks are to be created as part of the town centre development project.

The £21m regeneration scheme will revamp the area around Shute Road and Coronation Park.

Coronation Park will feature in plans for artwork in the Catterick Garrison town centre regeneration scheme (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL) Based on five key themes including connect, welcome, playful, natural world and reflect, several pieces of artwork will enhance the public spaces.

They will also recognise the area's military history, and the cultural richness that exists within serving personnel from the Nepalese, Fijian and Commonwealth communities, along with their families and veterans.

Artwork will also be appearing on the hoardings of the new development after children and young people from around Catterick produced drawings, designs and poetry over the summer months.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, Cllr Simon Myers said: “This is a very exciting part of the Catterick town centre regeneration scheme.

Beam artists Frances Smith (left) and Kate Watson check out locations for artwork in Coronation Park (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL) “We want to foster a sense of place, particularly around Coronation Park with installations of all types from sculptures, nature trails and murals to planted areas.”

In Northallerton, the Sophia sculpture has stood overlooking the former town prison development, Treadmills, since July 2023.

But in the last few months words explaining her history have been penned on the wall of the neighbouring campus building.

The eight-foot-high sculpture depicts the youngest female inmate ever incarcerated in Northallerton’s former prison, with a warden.

Traditional signwriter, Steve Blackwell, puts the finishing touches to words explaining the history of Sophia Constable whose statue stands overlooking Northallerton’s former prison site, Treadmills (Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL)

The prison site has now been converted into a retail, business, education and leisure destination.

North Yorkshire Council has appointed the arts organisation, Beam, to act as the producer for the Catterick Garrison programme, and briefs are being issued this week to find four artists to lead the work.

Beam’s principal consultant, Frances Smith, added: “We’re excited to work with the local community and with artists to develop a series of playful and inviting artworks in public spaces as part of the regeneration of Catterick Garrison.

“The planned artworks will be led by artists and developed with input from local people. We hope the artworks will foster connections, encourage reflection and celebrate the natural world."

The briefs, totalling £123,000, cover orientation, creating space for reflection in the new public square and enhancements to the new community and enterprise centre.

They include physical artwork to highlight key entrance points to the new development and to creatively support access within the park and towards Shute Road.

North Yorkshire Council’s armed forces champion, Cllr Kevin Foster, who is also ward councillor for the Garrison area, said: “It is very important that art in the development reflects the Garrison and I hope to see a lot of community involvement from everyone - young and old.”

Two online question-and-answer sessions will be held for artists to ask questions on any of the briefs on Thursday, October 24, from 4pm until 5pm, and on Friday, October 25, from 1pm until 2pm.