Colour Up Wick

A project designed by young people aged 5 – 16 who use Chilgrove House Community Centre in Wick. Young people here planned a project intended to lift the mood on this large estate in the centre of Littlehampton. They wanted to bring colour to the estate and have co-designed a project which delivers this in many different ways such as:

• Large scale murals painted by hand and a hand painted welcome ​‘rug’ decorating the entrance to Chilgrove Hub. 
• Large scale multi-coloured vinyl designs created by young people at Chilgrove House, The Littlehampton Academy, St Catherine’s School, Lyminster Primary School and River Beach Schools 
• Colourful yarnbombing created by community volunteers of all ages on lamp-posts posts across the centre of the estate 
• Illuminated stencils that light up the Dog Walk footpath that wraps around the north side of the estate. 
• Mosaic-inspired ceramic tiles created by young people at Creative Heart’s Home Ed and After School Clubs. 
• Brightly coloured stencilled shapes on the entrance pillars and exterior buildings of the central flats. 
• New flower beds with painted pebble borders to go on to Heo Green 

The central motif is a recurrent brightly coloured circle, which expands, fragments and reappears across all the art works – whether they are wrapped around lampposts or printed on to walls – alongside celebrating nature and the overlooked natural world of the estate. 

The project has been led by play-based visual artist Kathy Williams who led a range of workshops and a weekly Arts Club at the Hub, exploring colour, form and self expression, all strongly child-led to develop works that could transform parts of the estate. 

We are grateful for the massive support of Community Engagement Officer Belinda Brighton who runs Chilgrove Hub and of local councillors and officers at the Town and District Council who have supported the development of this project.