The Steeling Skies art project involved working closely with residents from the Shiregreen community using creative activities to highlight issues raised, discuss future ideas and capture any ideas to be incorporated in the design of the improvements to the streets.
Steeling Skies has succeeded in raising the profile of Shiregreen with an ethos and approach of ‘looking upwards and looking again at your environment to vision new spaces and look forward.’ The project has spanned over three years and included creating temporary artwork and interventions within the Shiregreen estate, developing a large scale high profile art trail for the adjacent Concord Park and leaving permanent design features as a legacy.
The Lamppost Sky Map Trail was developed to fit the wishes of local residents to keep original characters and features of the estate. The artworks compliment the new positive changes around the estate and fulfil an idea of bringing signage to help visitors navigate around the large estate and have a visual representation of local groups and services nearby. The Lamppost Sky Map Trail included reusing 78 of the original 1930’s lampposts and painting these with images gathered from the community to represent many groups, individuals and businesses within the estate.
Shiregreen Streetscene improvements was a finalist for The Sustainable Housing Awards in the Transformation category and RICS pro Yorkshire Awards.
Steeling Skies was developed and delivered by lead artists rednile Projects and gave opportunitities to the following artists to paint the lampposts in their own distinct styles: Sarah Abbott, Neil Bunn, Chris Butcher, John Louis Higgins, Adam Papprill, Sarah Jane Richards, Frank Styles, Alison Unsworth and Steve Wright. Rednile Steeling Skies event in Concord Park included temporary public artworks by artists Carl Gent, Kate Lynch, Hondartza Fraga and Gayle Chong Kwan.
The project was funded and supported by Sanctuary Housing, Sheffield City Council and Planit Landscape architects.
We would also like to thank the support, ideas and enthusiasm of all the groups, individuals and businesses in Shiregreen with a special mention to Maureen Shipley (Friends of Concord Park) and Danny Levick ( Shiregreen 231st Scout group).
Steeling Skies, Lamppost Sky Map trail: Publication PDF
Steeling Skies, Lamppost treasure hunt and colouring book: Click, Print Fold and Go
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE STEELING SKIES PHASE 1 DOCUMENTARY FILM