Town centre mural shines a light on culture and heritage of Bury

A community mural showcasing the culture and heritage of Bury has been designed and painted by Bury College at Mill Gate Shopping Centre.

An external wall on 18-20 Minden Parade has been transformed with students’ artwork after the students were given a brief by Mill Gate partners, property developers Bruntwood and Bury Council, who wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the vibrancy of the town as part of the redevelopment of the site.

The idea was to create artwork that gives vibrancy in an area of the Mill Gate which is underused and provide a positive welcome for the shopping centre. The vacant Minden Parade building is due to be demolished as part of the redevelopment, but in the interim, the mural can be enjoyed by the community for 12 to 18 months.

The 37ft x 8ft mural aims to inspire civic pride by showcasing the much-loved culture and heritage which makes Bury unique. Some highlights of the mural include Mill Gate, Bury Market, the Metrolink, Peel Tower and the East Lancashire Railway.

Bethany Adam, Head of Purpose and Impact at Bruntwood said:

“It’s fantastic to see this finished piece - this bold and beautiful artwork highlights the rich culture and history of Bury. We’ve enjoyed working with the students and tutors at Bury College on this piece of art. Everyone has been so hardworking and it's great to see the talent of the students come to life through the mural.

“We want this artwork to bring vibrancy to the community and act as a celebration of all things Bury. We believe art has a huge impact on enriching neighbourhoods and we hope the people of Bury agree."

Jennifer Minshull, Team Leader for Art at Bury College said:

"Our level 3 students have shown excellent collaboration skills and resilience when working on this project. The mural became weather damaged by a stormy weekend straight after it's completion, meaning we had to return to complete repairs once the weather improved. The students approached this with determination and commitment to ensure a successfully completed artwork, that showcases their creative skills, and celebrates the Bury community."

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, the economy and skills, said: “This is a great idea, showcasing the artistic talents of Bury students and bringing a welcome dash of colour to the town centre. We have ambitious plans for the Mill Gate centre to ensure it remains a thriving place to visit for generations to come, and this will prove a popular and welcome attraction while those plans come to fruition.”

Joint venture partners, Bury Council and Bruntwood, will be looking to revitalise part of the town centre and deliver around 700 new homes.

The council describes it as having "the potential to deliver one of the North West’s most ambitious regeneration projects" which could take up to 15 to 20 years.

Mill Gate Shopping Centre is open Monday - Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and Sundays (10.30am-4.30pm).