£70k bird brainwave for Hull's Avenues area

ABOUT £70,000 has been given to fund a community bird-themed art project in the Avenues.

The residents of Ella Street have been given money for the art scheme, which includes bird houses, bird sculptures, texts on feathery friends and floor patterns and shadows along the length of the road.

Now basic road improvements have been made at the Newland Avenue end of the street, residents can begin in earnest to start making their plans a reality.

The proposals for the art were first suggested four years ago and should be installed by spring next year.

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Sarah Pennington, of community gallery Artlink, has helped Ella Street Residents' Association with the plans – helping them to find artist Martin Heron and hosting workshops so residents can design some of the sculptures.

She said: "There are lots of different elements to the project.

"What's great is that everyone in the street has been encouraged to get involved.

"We've also been including young people in the street and are encouraging those interested in art, digital photography and design to come forward.

"We want to form a small group of young people aged 14 to 16 from in and around Ella Street to come forward and be advocates of the project."

Money for the scheme has come from Hull City Council's Wyke area committee, Network Rail, KC and Arts Lottery Award by Arts Council England.

Ella Street Residents' Association member Rick Welton, of The Limes, said: "The project has been split into four parts – the first is hand-modelled birds, which will sit on the bollards.

"There will also be a series of texts about birds, which might be famous poetry or something the residents have written which could appear on walls or even the pavements.

"We also want shadows with a twist. So, for example, you see a shadow that you think has been cast by a tree, but it is actually in the shape of a bird.

"The fourth element is the only bit we need planning permission for – the bird houses. We're currently awaiting approval but hopefully there will be four based on the places we are twinned with – a windmill for Rotterdam, an Icelandic longhouse, a skyscraper for Brooklyn and a house based on those seen in Freetown."

Residents say the idea of the artwork is to not be obvious or offensive.

Therefore, those people walking down Ella Street will "discover" the art, rather than spot it from a distance.

Anyone wanting to join in art workshops for the scheme are urged to e-mail Sarah Pennington at Artlink on arts-development@artlink. uk.net or 01482 345104.

Have you got a story for Up Your Street? E-mail Emma Wright at e.wright@mail newsmedia.co.uk or call 01482 315154.