Bedminster Green Public Art
The scale of development taking place at Bedminster Green provides a unique opportunity for the site-wide delivery of public art.
Scoped and agreed with developers, and informed by a community ‘Hive’ group, the ‘Futureweave’ strategy sets out the foundations for developing a programme of cultural commissioning across the regeneration area, with an aspiration that this leads to ongoing cultural and creative programming within Bedminster Green and surrounding area.
Hive workshop process. Credit: Harriet Hand
Futureweave
‘Futureweave’ (as the strategy is named) is a programme of artist residencies leading to a range of permanent and event based cultural activity and public art commissioning within and beyond the Bedminster Green plots.
The programme began in Spring 2025 with the commissioning of two residencies attached to the ‘Metalworks’ development on Dalby avenue by Watkin Jones. Working alongside Bristol City Council and Ginkgo, Watkin Jones commissioned ‘Common Threads’ by poet Leeza Awojobi and ‘A Rivers Path’ by composter Liam Taylor-West.
The Residencies
Ongoing residencies will respond to three identified themes with relevance site-wide: Shared happening (bringing people together), greening, and connecting narratives and deliver to the following wider priorities: growing skills capacity, communications, legacy development.
Many projects coming out of the residencies will have a physical presence within the built environment or public realm; others will result in enduring memories/experiences which will come out of the opportunities for existing and new residents and communities to engage with artists and their creative practice.
Public Art and Upfest
East Bedminster plays an important role in Bristol’s celebrated street art culture, with large-scale murals and creative interventions transforming everyday spaces into places of inspiration and interest. Through partnerships with festivals such as Upfest and ongoing local initiatives, new artworks continue to bring colour, character and identity to the neighbourhood.
Several locations across East Bedminster have been shaped by visiting and local artists, creating a diverse and evolving outdoor gallery. These works not only enhance the visual landscape, but also encourage conversation, creativity and community connection. Artists often engage with local people and draw inspiration from the area’s environment, history and shared stories.
A notable example can be found at the pumping station on Dalby Avenue, where Italian artist RAME13 created a striking mural for Upfest 2026 that wraps around the building. Inspired by water and the natural rhythms of the surrounding environment, the artwork uses bold colour and fluid forms to transform a functional structure into a distinctive local landmark. It reflects both Bristol’s relationship with its waterways and a broader connection to nature.
Alongside the pumping station, adjacent walls were included in Upfest, some along Dalby Avenue and some alongside the River Malago.
The public artworks across East Bedminster are freely accessible and form part of an open, ever-changing collection that residents and visitors can explore at any time. Together, they contribute to a strong sense of place and highlight the area’s ongoing commitment to creativity in the public realm.
These projects are made possible thanks to the support and collaboration of valued partners, including Upfest, Wessex Water, Metalworks Student Building, Stafford Yard, AtkinsRéalis and Watkin Jones, whose contributions help bring public art to life across the area.
