We’re delighted to have donated £2,000 to Calne Clean Up Crew, a group of artists working to make more attractive sites in the town of Calne in Wiltshire.
Calne Clean Up Crew have so far created nine murals around the town, four of which have been in partnership with GSA. We initially reached out to them to help brighten up our old garages and the art was so popular that some of our residents asked the team to create another mural near their homes in Honeymead.
Alongside the murals, the artists have also worked to make Calne more attractive through planting and painting street furniture.
Our £2,000 funding has supported a new mural by Abberd Brook in Calne. The theme of the mural is native nature and animals, as well as highlighting the source of the River Marden and its tributaries. It aims to promote the importance of wildlife conservation and discourage fly tipping around the river.
The rest of the funding will go towards reopening a GSA communal garden in nearby Fitzmaurice Square, which will be maintained by volunteers. The Clean Up Crew will be adding more raised beds, planting fruit trees, veg patches, shrubs and an edible hedge. The garden will then become part of an edible trail throughout Carne, allowing local people to pick their own fresh produce for free.
Cath Crofts, a member of Calne Clean Up Crew, said: “The mural is really beautiful, it has made such a difference to these drab walls and helps to preserve them for the future. We’ve removed over 40 bags of litter from the Marden in Calne this year, so this mural is an appeal for littering to stop.
“This is our designer Jaimie’s second mural in town, she also planned the nearby 'Where the Wild Things Are' mural.
“Thank you to GSA for the opportunity to use one of your walls to brighten up the area and for the further funding.”
Cllr Tim Havenith, Deputy Town Mayor of Calne, said: “This latest striking mural sends a clear message: there is no place for litter in our rivers. I commend the design and all the volunteers who brought it to life. Their creativity and commitment reflect the very best of our community. It’s a visual call to action and a celebration of local pride in protecting our natural spaces.
“Thank you to the Calne Clean Up Crew for championing public art with purpose and thank you GSA for your support. Your continued dedication brings colour, care, and a strong sense of community to the heart of our town.”
This donation was made possible by our Community Impact Fund. The fund is an initiative designed to benefit our localities and the people who live there. Grants of up to £2,000 per project are available for charities and community groups working to support local people.
Sian Every, our Community Investment and Social Value Lead, said: “I’m so pleased we’re working with Calne Clean Up Crew again, following fantastic feedback from local people and GSA residents on our previous collaborations. The artists are incredibly talented, and their work has really transformed the look and feel of a number of locations in Calne.
“Both projects are in areas almost exclusively occupied by GSA residents so it’s great to be able to directly improve their community.”