Christmas shoppers can enjoy an eye-catching new pop-up art installation at Wayfarers Arcade thanks to students from Southport College.
Artworks inspired by famous artists and designers have appeared in a number of shop windows in the elegant arcade on Lord Street in Southport town centre.
The paintings add to a really festive and bustling feel at Wayfarers, which sees its Santa’s Grotto open this Saturday (4th December), the same day that a Christmas Makers Market also takes place.
A beautiful Christmas tree and stunning festive decorations were recently installed inside the Victoria era landmark, while a Frozen Grotto is set to take place there later in December.
Students used their imagination to create their own designs onto boards shaped as houses, which have been installed in addition to the Christmas tree-shaped boards previously created.
This has been a positive year for the arcade with Beales department store, the new Remedy at Beales cafe and the Naked Peak candle and body product shop all opening.
The artwork has been installed in the windows of the remaining vacant units.
Southport College Art Tutor Kelly Broughton said: “We challenged students from all levels across our Art and Graphics courses to work in small teams to design and paint the houses on display.
“It was a great project for the students to work to a set brief and produce something that can be displayed in the local community.
“Wayfarers is a great building and it is great to see our work on display locally.
“We are proud of how our students have responded to the brief and I know they are all excited to see their work on display.
“It’s great to be able to work with local businesses as it is so valuable for our students’ future career progression to experience working with live briefs and real clients.”
Wayfarers Arcade Centre Manager Yvonne Burns said: “Wayfarers is a strong supporter of the local business community and we see Southport College students as the town’s future entrepreneurs.
“Two years ago, we asked the art and design department to produce artefacts with a Christmas theme that we could display within the arcade over the festive period. They came up with the most incredibly artistic wooden Christmas trees each painted in the style of a specific artist.
“This year we have thrown out the challenge again and the students have been working in teams to prepare wooden shaped houses in the style of famous artists and designers.
“These will be displayed alongside the Christmas trees the students completed two years ago in our shop windows.
“We are very fortunate to have such talented and gifted students attending Southport College and we are delighted to be able to exhibit their work during the run up to Christmas.”
The grottos at Wayfarers Arcade are among a large package of festive entertainment people can enjoy in Southport in the run-up to Christmas, thanks to Southport BID and local businesses, which also include a Gingerbread Family Trail, Digital Winter Wonderland, a Trail of Trees, and lots more besides. People are asked to post any pictures taken on social media with the hashtag #southportchristmas
Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “We are excited to unveil a comprehensive package of festive themed attractions throughout the BID area that will attract shoppers, diners and other visitors to Southport throughout these crucial few weeks in the run-up to Christmas.”
For more details about Southport College please visit: www.southport.ac.uk
For more details about Wayfarers Arcade please visit: www.wayfarersarcade.co.uk
For more details about what’s on in Southport this Christmas please visit: southportbid.com
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
