B:Inspired, Public Art Project in Shropshire:

B:Inspired is an ambitious and distinctive visual art project, which the Hive Music and Media Centre in Shrewsbury has been working on with international street artist Matt Sewell.

With the aim of enlivening and enhancing the town of Shrewsbury in addition to other selected sites around Shropshire, the project incorporates young people in the development of ideas, artwork and a creative programme.

The Hive will engage young people and the local community in consultation and an artistic programme, which will work torwards creating exceptional, eye-catching and positive public art that Shropshire will be proud of.

The Public Art project aims to help young people discover and develop their artistic potential, enabling them to express themselves creatively for the benefit of the wider community. The public art will be painted in locations in Shrewsbury such as the Hive, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery and heritage sites such as the Flaxmill Maltings in Ditherington.

As the delivering organisation, the Hive Music and Media Centre will be working in partnership with Severnside Housing, The Wakeman School, Lakelands School, Evolution PRU, Shropshire Museum Service, Shropshire Hills AONB and National Trust. Further partners are welcomed to the project.

The project will include a series of 12 beautiful and striking public art pieces, situated in different locations, including Shrewsbury, Ellesmere, Bicton and Church Stretton.

B:Inspired - benefits of engaging young people:

There a number of benefits that the B:Inspired Public Art project can bring to Shropshire and its County town;

• Providing structured activities for young people across the County
• Developing the artistic abilities and creative talents of young people
• Enhancing the tourism offer of Shrewsbury and other towns through a trail of youth engaged public art
• Engendering a sense of local pride with public art which reflects young people's love of Shrewsbury
• Reducing antisocial behaviour and increasing the sense of pride and involvement of young people within their communities.

B:Inspired - taking the project forward:

In September 2011, Matt Sewell, who has gained an international reputation for his public art, painted one of the walls of the Hive's courtyard garden. This was unveiled to VIPs and guests at a special launch evening in September which was hosted by Councillor Tony Durnell, the Mayor of Shrewsbury.

The Hive is preparing to submit an Arts Council bid in order to develop the Public Art project further and take it to the next level.

If you are a company or organisation which would like to get involved with the project, please contact the Hive's Director Alyson Lanning by emailing:

Project Taster - The Hive's Courtyard Wall:

About the Artist - Matt Sewell:

Leading the creative aspect of the project is dynamic and highly acclaimed young artist, illustrator and ornithologist Matt Sewell. Matt has worked extensively across the UK and internationally on public art projects for clients as diverse as; The RSPB, Volvo, Honda, The Guardian, BBC, Crown paint, Jodrell Bank, Vans footwear, Eastpak, Paul Smith clothing and Helly Hansen clothing. His work has taken him to locations including Tokyo, Melbourne, Brisbane, Dublin, Manchester, Brighton, London, Bilbao and Madrid.

Shrewsbury-based Matt Sewell loves to draw birds and has even started a new website; 'Spotting and Jotting' is dedicated to birds and related products by artists from all over the world. Recently Matt has illustrated a bird book and designed the artwork for a 'Spotting and Jotting' iPhone application.

Matt has been involved with the B:Inspired project since the initial development of the project proposal and he will be the lead artist throughout the project as it progresses in the future.

Project Launch - The Hive, September 2011: