Darwen’s new cultural venue – Fourteen Market Street – has been transformed with an awesomely autumnal window display!
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council commissioned the window art project, created by artist and illustrator Lucie Cooke in collaboration with children from Ashleigh and Avondale primary schools.
Around 60 children joined Lucie on Wednesday (September 25th) to create the beautiful window display for Autumn.
Lucie drew the trees and set the scene with some outlines of key features and then encouraged the children to find a section to colour in or space to draw.
The window is now filled with everything from pumpkins to woodlands, creatures and falling leaves!
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:
“Fourteen Market Street is part of major new investment plans for the town centre.
“The hugely successful adidas DECADE event was held there earlier in the year, and we have exciting future plans for it which we are busy developing.
“While the internal works are completed – including making the building fully accessible – we wanted to make the most of the new window space – turning it into an art project for children in the town.
“It’s a wonderful display, and everyone that took part in its creation should be proud of themselves.
“I would encourage anyone to go and take a look whilst you are shopping in the area, it certainly brings a smile to your face!”
Artist and Illustrator Lucie Cooke added:
“There was lots of excellent work from all pupils.
“They were such a delight to work with, polite and enthusiastic.
“Thank you to all who took part – I hope they keep on with the creativity!”
This is the latest in a seasonal display programme on the window at Fourteen Market Street, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
It follows on from the Summer Big Draw where Lucie encouraged members of the public to come and unleash their creativity about all things summer.
Lucie also worked with the Shop Darwen Scheme to create a trail of Darwen Towers around the local businesses and created a trail sheet with a Christmas drawing competition.
Following on from this Autumnal window scene, Lucie will be incorporating the ideas from the competition winner into a Christmas-themed window display, which we look forward to seeing later in the year.
For more information about Lucie visit her at luciecookedesign.co.uk or @luciecookedesign on social media.
