Next week we will be welcoming artists Keith Hopewell and Nikki Goldup to Nene Park to work with local young people in a new community art project - Jubiliation! - to celebrate the Queen’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee and the diversity of young people in Peterborough. 

The artists have been working with young people from Thomas Deacon Academy and The Kite Trust to design a series of mural artworks that will be painted under Longthorpe Parkway at Thorpe Meadows.

The Jubilation! project is part of a series of projects taking place in the Park celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. Nene Park is one of 91 organisations across the country to be awarded funding from the Platinum Jubilee Fund, which has been launched by The National Lottery Community Fund to celebrate 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign, by providing impactful grants to projects across the UK that are helping to bring communities together.

Nikki Goldup, founder and creative director, Black & White Creative said, "We want to bring together the young people’s ideas, showing the rich culture and diversity that Peterborough has. After several years of limited travel and venturing out, we are excited to work with young people again, both indoors and in the Park. Nene Park is such a beautiful place and we are looking forward to producing an artwork that the young people are proud of and that represents their lives in 2022. The site we are painting in is an interesting place where urban meets nature and we are looking forward to reflecting that"

Louise Thirlwall, Project Development Officer (Arts) at Nene Park said, "The Jubilation! project provides the opportunity to mark the Jubilee within Nene Park and also a moment in time with young people in Peterborough. We want to ensure that everyone has access to greenspace and young people are celebrated and welcomed in the Park. Working with Nikki and Keith, young people have been given the opportunity to make their mark in Nene Park’"

The mural will be painted during half term week, 30 May & 1 June. If you would like to get involved and join our mural art workshops contact Louise [email protected]

  

About Nikki Goldup

Nikki’s professional practice spans the breadth of educator, researcher, visual artist and consultant, working in museums, galleries and institutions such as Cambridge University, V&A, National Horseracing Museum, The Halifax Museum, MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) & World of Wearable Art (New Zealand). Her own practice is often influenced by people, community and place using a combination of textiles, photography, printmaking and painting to express her ideas. Following her degree in 1996 (University of Ulster, First Class (hons), Textiles), she has worked in a range of educational roles, from community & gallery education, degree and art foundation tuition, adult education, secondary school education as a head of Department (she is a fully qualified teacher).

Nikki has worked with educationally excluded groups of young people and young parents. This experience, alongside her own arts practice, has provided her with a focused understanding of working with individuals and groups. 

Nikki continued her studies at Cambridge University, gaining an MPhil in Arts & Culture in Education (2008). This experience has led her to specialise in developing and leading arts-based initiatives that

focus on community integration by the development of social capital, empathy, making and creative thinking. Her interests now combine a background in visual art and education with an interest in the wider community, how art can provide voice, collaboration and opportunities to learn beyond the remit of formal education.

For more information visit: www.blackandwhitecreative.co.uk

About Keith Hopewell

Keith has a professional history of utilising spray paint and other media in public spaces to express his reaction to people and place, creating visual stories that explore contemporary culture. His work has been shown internationally, in galleries and public spaces and he has produced many large commissions for well-known corporations and events. As a mature student he gained a BA & MA (Fine Art, first class / distinction) from Winchester School of Art. Keith has worked extensively with young people, facilitating workshops and events to explore painting and other media as well as music making. As an artist working in spray paint for over 35 years, Keith was one of the first exponents to work with the medium to paint photo-realistic portraits (painting under the name Part2ism). Keith is also a professional record producer, having worked with his own band, New Flesh, but also artists such as Ty, Roots Manuva, Rammellzee & Gift of Gab. He continues to produce music and make art for both public and gallery settings.

For more information visit: www.keithhopewell.co.uk