A new project backed by Gloucester City Council and Gloucester BID is set to turn local shop windows into an open air gallery.

The Gate Streets Gallery, which launches on Friday, August 6, will feature work by Gloucester artist Russell Haines, who discovered painting after art therapy helped him through a period of ill health.

 

Russell who started painting after suffering a brain stem stroke at the age of 44 was commissioned to create the artworks for the project organised by Gloucester City Council.

 

The artworks will decorate the windows of ten empty shops on Gloucester’s gate streets and in the East Gate Shopping Centre, and will depict people who have played a part in the life of the city.

 

The project is also supported by the Cathedral Quarter High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) with Historic England, and the European Regional Development Fund.

 

It’s aimed at helping to revitalise the high street following the difficulties retailers suffered during the pandemic and to encourage more people into the city through cultural activities.

 

It hoped that it will encourage people to explore Gloucester and show how walkable the city is as well as supporting local retailers.