A COLOURFUL mural unveiled in Barnard Castle a the culmination of an art project aimed at encouraging youngsters to take a look inside an award winning museum.
The mural, which covers the wall of one of the rooms in the Teesdale YMCA centre, in Galgate, depicts a variety of elements from the town and The Bowes Museum.
It was painted by graffiti artist Dan Walls with the help from youngsters who attend the centre as part of an art appreciation project with the museum.
The project was funded by Teesdale Action Partnership through a grant from the children, young people and families task group.
As part of the project the youngsters visited the museum then mapped out what they wanted on the mural with Mr Walls.
The youngsters then spent six art sessions helping Mr Walls create the artwork, trying their hand at a little spray painting on individual boards to start with.
Mr Walls, who is a classically trained artist, said: “It was a great activity and way of working with The Bowes Museum trying to create something artistic but with their take on it. The kids came up with the idea of creating an insignia and we have incorporated lots of elements they felt were important into it.”
Some elements featured were directly inspired by museum exhibits including swans and leaf motifs as well as a two headed cow, but there are others which youngsters wanted included as they were key parts of their YMCA experience. These include a football, the Market Cross, a pizza slice and several pasties.
Julia Dunn, from the education department of The Bowes Museum, said: “We wanted to encourage more young people into the museum and this was an excellent way to engage to bring the museum into the community.”
