To raise funds to renew the internationally renowned Exeter West Gate mural, painted in 1979 by local artist Andrew Stacey.
With this crowdfunding effort, the Fore Street Collective (a group of traders from all around the West Quarter of Exeter), hope to raise funds to renew the internationally renowned Exeter West Gate mural, painted in 1979 by local artist Andrew Stacey.
Due to vital building works needing to be carried out on the property, two thirds of the mural was lost in the process, despite our best efforts to save it. However, due to the response on social media and the outpouring of affection for this outstanding mural, we've teamed up with the original artist to restore the remaining third and while using that as a platform to create a gradual transition to a new mural, stylistically coherent with the old mural.
Andrew Stacey has written this appeal to the people of Exeter:
"This is the thing...the original Westgate mural is woven into the fabric of the city, it holds countless collective memories over its 35 year history, and still resonates for all ages and communities, with today's city.
Along with being locally loved, witness the incredible reponse in 24 hours, it is also of national significance, shown by the use of the mural to front the UK Mural Exhibition by the British Council which toured internationally. The proposal of the Twentieth Century Society to survey it and to consider it for listing with English Heritage, further justifies its placing as the number one mural in England in the Penguin Book of Street Murals around the cities of America, Britian and Western Europe.
I have done everything that I could do to save the original, but it has not been possible therefore I intend to lead a collaborative reinterpretation of the West Gate mural, creating a transition aesthetic from the old mural to a new contemporary piece, but still featuring key characters and images from the old, especially featuring the Footbarn theatre characters eg the fire-eater could be featured as a Pheonix arising anew from the ashes of the old.
Please remember there won't be anything like this coming our way again, if we allow it to remain two thirds blank through lack of funding, it is clear from the responses of thousands of well-wishers, what a loss that would be.
It is after all a unique locally distinctive voice in an increasing corporate city, please help breath new life into this beautiful beast, feel good through your direct funding action, have your protests and prayers heard, retain the vibrancy of this special part of Exeter.
Join me in helping make this happen, Reprieve and Repaint..."
We hope you'll agree that the mural is a significant part of the culture and history of Exeter, and will donate as much or as little as you can in the hope of seeing it as you enter the city for many years to come.
This project closed unsuccessfully on 11th October 2014