Works by local artists brighten up public space

Artwork by local artists of all abilities is displayed on the Community Arts Wall in the general hall, near the Northampton Road entrance. 

Chairman of Harborough District Council, Cllr Peter Elliott, recently had the honour of opening the space officially when he visited the indoor market.  

The Chairman said: “The Community Arts Wall is a wonderful way to support local artists who want to display their work in public. I’m sure many visitors will stop to enjoy the pieces of art as they pass through the market.” 

Annie Harrison from Colour Studio at the market will be the curator of the wall. Annie said: “We are thrilled to have been given funding to have a Community Arts board erected in the indoor market. This gives us the opportunity to celebrate the creativity from across Market Harborough.” 

During his visit, the Chairman also took the opportunity to view over 50 chairs decorated by local artists in the Market Harborough Chair Art exhibition, which the indoor market had welcomed to St Mary’s Place. 

Chair Art is the idea of local man Martin Galloway and aims to encourage people to be creative and tap into their inner artist to turn an everyday dining chair into a work of art. Martin first started the community project in 2015 and it has grown from just a handful of chairs in the early years to 52 being displayed this year. 

Chairs from some of the market traders were exhibited and included a fabulous crochet picnic chair by the regular Crochet and Chat group who meet most Thursdays in the market to be sociable while they crochet (or knit).  

There is also a community piano by the wall for anyone who can play to enjoy. 

This project has received £1,051 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. 

For more information, visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus 

The indoor market is open from Tuesday to Saturday (8am to 4pm), and on Sunday (10am to 3pm). The current display on the Community Arts Wall features a photo montage of Chair Art artists with a specific focus on market traders who have created chairs for the 2024 exhibition. 

Anyone who would like to be considered for displaying their work can email details of what they would like to display and their contact information to harboroughmarket@harborough.gov.uk