Public support is the only thing stopping Hyson Green becoming a leader in sustainability and artistic innovation after a New Art Exchange project, the Art Solar Garden, was shortlisted for the People’s Millions public vote.
Public support is the only thing stopping Hyson Green becoming a leader in sustainability and artistic innovation after a New Art Exchange project, the Art Solar Garden, was shortlisted for the People’s Millions public vote.
The project will go head-to-head with a Royal British Legion project in Mickelover on 25 November and if it gets the most votes, New Art Exchange (NAE) will receive funding to create an innovative community garden with a difference. The project will harness the energy of the sun through new solar panels installed at NAE in the heart of Hyson Green. It will also bring local people together to design the garden – an energising yet tranquil space, energised by solar energy, for the diverse peoples of Nottingham to create the international climates needed to grow plants and herbs from around the world. The garden will also have an inspiring light installation and an interactive cooking and events space which will represent the diverse cultures settled and settling in Nottingham’s inner city.
The garden will be designed and maintained by local people, gardeners and artists. Chief Executive of NAE, Skinder Hundal, said the Art Solar Garden is about improving the lives of local people in Hyson Green and inner city Nottingham by stimulating new creative collaborations. It will aim to create a community spirit that is healthy, happy and creative, conscious about renewable energies, garden culture and the environment.
“The garden will bring worldwide sights, sounds, smells and tastes – from the Caribbean to Nepal – to Hyson Green in Nottingham. It will connect with gardens and allotments across the city and inspire local people, young and old, to get involved in gardening, cooking and working creatively together in the community,” he said.
“We hope the space will be used regularly by local communities to share recipes, feast together and engage in cultural events and festivals, be conscious about the environment and active in making Hyson Green, green again, making the area even more vibrant and interconnected creativity – unleashing the imagination!” The People’s Millions is a grants programme run by the Big Lottery Fund, in partnership with ITV, which has been running since 2005. To date they have made a total of 523 awards worth over £27.8 million and put the power in the public to decide which projects to support.
Jennifer Spencer, Chief Executive of Experience Nottinghamshire, who is also a Trustee of New Art Exchange, said: “The New Art Exchange gallery play an important role in the local visitor economy. It would be tremendous to get some local support behind their bid to gain funding from The People’s Millions, as this would enhance their offer and help to raise their profile and Nottingham’s nationally.”
Voting for the Art Solar Garden opens at 9am on 25 November and closes at midnight. The phone number to call will only be revealed on this date – when an ITV special previewing NAE’s project will air – at the following link: http://goo.gl/sJLG4L
