We are an arts organisation working in Druids Heath, Birmingham for the past two years on a project called A Level Playing Field .
We believe the arts have much to bring to Druids Heath and can make a big contribution to people’s everyday lives.
One of our 2021 projects sees the arrival of Mohammed Ali MBE, Birmingham based international graffiti artist extraordinaire, who will get to know the community and create a mural on the side of SKM supermarket. The mural will enhance the location, which has become run down through years of neglect.
Mohammed has created murals in cities around the globe such as Melbourne, new York, Johannesburg and Dubai as well as several places in his home city of Birmingham. His key messages are hope and peace and we asked him to work in Druids Heath because of the positivity he brings.
Mohammed says “The shops are on the way to the local schools and when children see it, they and their families will be uplifted mentally, at a time when we really need it coming out of lockdown. This won’t be some irrelevant artwork, but something meaningful that will represent the community and the time we are in”
It is also important to us that this work happens in a place where many people will see it. It's not just for people in the community, but for people who drive through it, on the busy Bells Lane, people who do not know the area, but who may dismiss it because of its tower blocks and appearance, when in fact there is an amazing community here.
It will create a new landmark and bring much needed colour to the estate and interest to those passing through.
We have seed funding from The Active Well Being Society, but need to raise another £10,000 to repair the wall and render it, before being primed ready for the mural and to pay for paints, materials and the artists time.
We hope this artwork will be created in the summer of 2021 and ideally need the funds by May.
Your support will mean this project can go ahead and that the people of Druids Heath whose area has been forgotten for so long will have a high quality piece of public art on their doorstep that they can be proud of and the outside world will see.
Every single penny will be gratefully received and every donor who wants to be will be acknowledged at the end of the project.