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Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax

by Sarah Slaunwhite

Chebucto Lane PlaceMaking
Information booth and paints to begin
The first colours being painted.
Mark and his daughter Morgan painting the mural in their neighborhood.
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
Volunteer Kelsey Hill directing traffic. “Halifax has a unique ability to bring people together from all ends of the spectrum. It isn’t about being the same or different, it is about working together and caring about one another.”
This side of Chebucto Lane served as a gathering place with bowling, games, live music, chess, food, and lemonade.
“This is bringing people together in a wonderful way and I’m meeting people in my community.” Said Erin Walker(left). Erin Walker, Susan Murray, and Couragyn Chretien take their turn using the typewriters.
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
The naked bike ride gets lots of cheers from the PlaceMaking party.
“We are hoping that art is a catalyst for neighbors to build relationships and create social capitol” said Kate MacLennan, Community Arts Facilitator for HRM
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
“It is not bout just having a street party, it is about the experience of creating something together, creating community, creating relationships.” -Sophia Horwitz, a member of the neighbourhood who helped organize and facilitate this project.
Colouring the Concrete: PlaceMaking Halifax
“The project is six months, the painting is just one day. The painting is just an excuse for neighbours to dream together and to exercise their right to make an impact in their community.” - Kate MacLennan
The final piece.

PlaceMaking Halifax is a community arts project that aims to bring neighbours together and build community.

Kate MacLennan, community arts facilitator for HRM, explains that PlaceMaking is also a way to bridge the community and the municipality through arts-based community projects. “We are hoping that art is a catalyst for neighbors to build relationships and create social capitol.” HRM and the community come to an agreement on the design, the area for the project, and dates. The entire community has to agree to the design, which means everyone gets to have their voice.

The neighborhood around Chebucto Lane has been working together for the past 6 months to plan, design, and create a mural that was painted across the lane on July 13th.

Erin Walker, a member of the community, commented "this is bringing people together in a wonderful way and I’m meeting people in my community.” 

PlaceMaking is partnered with the 4Cs Foundation and Halifax Regional Municipality and is citizen-led.

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Topics: IdeasArts
159 words

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