A couple of weeks ago we launched a public vote to see which local London area should get the first Colour in the City street art festival. This is a new collaboration between Londonist and Global Street Art which will see street art festivals staged across London to help boost regeneration and kindle community spirit.
The results are in, the votes have been counted and it's Brockley that's come out on top:
- Brockley Road to Brockley Rise: 873
- St James Street, Walthamstow: 728
- Streatham: 627
- Leyton: 415
- Wood Street, Walthamstow: 396
- Poplar: 322
- Stoke Newington/Clissold Park: 114
Total: 3,475
Thanks to everyone who voted. Brockley's success is even sweeter considering the nomination came from an individual rather than a community group. There is clearly strong support for this idea around SE4. We also note that three nominations came from Waltham Forest and their combined votes also create a compelling case for a festival.
Next steps are for us and Global Street Art to make connections in Brockley, including Lewisham Council and community groups, and start seeking permission to use walls etc. Our intention is to roll out street art festivals across all nominated areas, building on a successful pilot project in Brockley.
Any help in making the first festival fly is most welcome. We are particularly looking for sponsors for paint, equipment and artist fees, and for local people who want to get involved in activities around mural painting. Think you can help? Got ideas? Email [email protected]
As a reminder, Brockley Road to Brockley Rise was nominated by Honor Oak Park resident Ian:
I think the Brockley/Crofton Park/Honor Oak Park/neighbourhoods of Lewisham in south east London would really benefit from some exceptional street art. The community is diverse, independent-minded, and supportive of the local arts scene. Some corners of these neighbourhoods are beginning to thrive due to some great community initiatives but some corners would certainly be improved by inspired mural work. It would certainly be appreciated here more than in some London areas!
Photos by Ian Brimacombe. Please note these are for illustrative purposes only.