Catterick Garrison’s Shute Road and Coronation Park will be adorned with eye-catching artworks, including a sculpture designed to promote reflection and entrance markers to welcome visitors.
The artworks are a ‘crucial’ aspect of North Yorkshire Council’s ‘Public Art Catterick’ project, which has been given £175,000 to highlight the area’s strong military connections and instil a sense of pride in the community.
Katayoun Dowlatshahi, Hazel Oakes (known artistically as Nocciola The Drawer), and Steve Anwar from Sapien Studio have been tasked with bringing these ideas to life.
Last week, they met with stakeholders, community members, military personnel, headteachers, and councillors to gain insight and inspiration from the community.
Councillor Simon Myers, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, said: “By investing in public art, we’re not only enhancing the new town centre’s public spaces but also fostering community spirit and engagement.
“It was great to see so many people at the event last week meeting the artists and talking through their ideas with them – I am now looking forward to seeing it all come together into exciting pieces of art for the town.”
Each artist will bring their unique style and vision to the project.
Ms Dowlatshahi, an experienced artist, printmaker, and photographer, will be responsible for the creation of the entrance markers.
Her recent work has been largely inspired by nature, and she has a history of using natural materials in her art.
Mr Anwar, who will be crafting the ‘Reflect’ sculpture, is known for his site-specific public artworks that blend with the industrial heritage of the North East.
His Sheffield-based studio is well-versed in producing dynamic sculptures for public realm projects.
Ms Oakes, who specialises in creating vibrant and colourful mural art, is tasked with the welcome artwork for the new community centre’s entrance.
Her past work combines human figures and lively patterns, aiming to uplift, inspire, and empower.
Frances Smith, a principal consultant for Beam, the cultural development organisation overseeing the project, said: “We’re delighted to be working with such a talented group of artists to help support the ambitions of the Catterick Garrison regeneration scheme through creativity.
“The appointed artists will be engaging with local people and carrying out detailed research to create bold new artworks which are unique to Catterick, and which will celebrate what makes the town so special.”
Catterick’s regeneration scheme, created in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, will not only see the installation of these artworks but will also include the creation of a new town square on Shute Road and a community and enterprise building.
The plans also include improvements to Coronation Park, upgrades to play spaces, better footpaths and cycleways, and more accessible routes to the town centre.
Councillor Kevin Foster, North Yorkshire Council’s Armed Forces champion, who represents the Hipswell and Colburn division, said: “This development will be of great value to all our residents – both local and military.
“It is very exciting to see work starting on creating these artworks which will see the artists working with the community.”
The council received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund North for the overall town centre project, with the remaining funding provided by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the council.
North Yorkshire has a strong military history and is home to one of the largest Army bases in the country, with 10,770 military personnel in the county.